And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. God might have saved Noah and his family by miracles, but He chose to accomplish that object by the instrumentality of an ark, sufficiently large and strong to contain the living cargo which was to be rescued in it from a watery grave; and further, regardful of the laws established for the preservation as well as transmission of animal life, He took care not only to provide proper food for the sustenance of all the creatures, but to introduce them into it male and female, for the multiplication of their respective kinds. Thus, He showed, by such arrangements, that He never resorts to miracles, except when purposes of importance in His moral government can be promoted in no other way; and He never departs from the use of natural or ordinary means when these are suited as well as sufficient for the occasion.