Noah and the Ark
The Story
God saw that people on earth had become wicked and violent, but Noah was a righteous man who followed God. God told Noah to build a large ark because He was going to send a great flood to cleanse the earth. Noah obeyed and built the ark exactly as God instructed. God brought two of every kind of animal (and seven pairs of some) onto the ark. Then it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, flooding the entire earth. The ark floated safely, protecting Noah, his family, and all the animals. After many days, the waters receded and the ark rested on Mount Ararat. God made a covenant with Noah, promising never to flood the entire earth again, and placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of this promise.
Key Bible Verses
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
Genesis 6:9
“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
Genesis 9:13
The Moral of the Story
Noah's story teaches us the importance of obedience, faith, and righteousness. Even when everyone around us is doing wrong, we should choose to follow God. Noah obeyed God's instructions even though building a huge ark seemed strange and difficult. His faith and obedience saved his family and gave the world a fresh start.
How to Honor and Glorify God
We can glorify God by obeying Him even when it's difficult or when others don't understand. Like Noah, we should have faith in God's promises and trust His plan for our lives. When we see a rainbow, we can remember God's faithfulness and His promise to never flood the entire earth again. We honor God by being righteous and walking faithfully with Him, just as Noah did, even when the world around us doesn't follow God's ways.
Ways to Apply This Story:
- 1Obey God even when it's difficult or seems unusual
- 2Have faith in God's promises, even when you can't see the outcome
- 3Choose to do what's right, even when others are doing wrong
- 4Remember God's faithfulness when you see a rainbow
- 5Be patient and trust God's timing, as Noah waited many months in the ark
Let's Talk About It
Discuss these questions with your family or Sunday school class:
1. Why do you think God chose Noah to build the ark?
2. How would you have felt if you were Noah and God asked you to build a giant boat?
3. What does the rainbow remind us about God?
4. How can you obey God this week, even if it's hard?