Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 7:17

"And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth." — Genesis 7:17 (ASV)

And the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

You can see it begin to move until it is afloat. The same effect is often produced on us; when the flood of affliction is deep, then we begin to rise.

Oh, how often have we been lifted up above the earth by the very force that threatened to drench and drown us!

David said, It is good for me that I have been afflicted, and many another saint can say that he never was floated until the floods were out, but then he left the worldliness with which he had been satisfied before, and he began to rise to a higher level than he had previously attained.

And the flood was forty days upon the earth;

Just as it had been foretold, for God's providence always tallies with his promises or with his threats. Has he said, and shall he not do it?