Question: Were there two of each animal in the ark?

    Answer: Our full question seems to express doubt in that it is worded, "were there really...." The Bible tells us two of each of the animals (except for the clean animals) were taken into the ark (Gen. 7). Scoffers mock Genesis seven and tell us such is impossible. We need to believe what God has said and not rely on human reasoning (cf. 2 Cor. 5: 7).

    Facts relative to Noah's task, the animals, and the ark. Noah was a righteous man, a man who did what God told him to do (cf. Gen. 6: 22,8, 2 Pet. 2: 5). Noah accepted God's commission by faith (Heb. 2: 7). We find the dimensions of the ark in Genesis 6: 15. The volumetric carrying capacity has been calculated as equal to 522 standard railroad stock cars, a transporting ability of 125,000 sheep. The ark had to transport only land animals. The ark was constructed in three stories. There were stalls or rooms to accommodate the animals (Gen. 6). Some suggest there are 17,600 species ("kinds") of animals. Using a number of factors and calculations, some have concluded there were a total of about 50,000 animals on the ark (cf. 125,000 sheep). The size and ability of the ark also is consistent with the universal scope of the flood (not just a local deluge).

    The need to believe the Bible. Some object to the account of the ark, claiming Noah could not have gathered all the animals. The Bible tells us the animals came to Noah (Gen. 6: 20). Once on the ark, the sudden darkness and atmospheric changes produced by the great flood probably had an enormous affect on the animals, before and during the flood.

    Kind reader, when the Bible speaks, we need to respect and accept it, whether we can intellectually verify it or not. Jesus said, "...He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mk. 16:16). Do we believe Jesus?