This week as we drive through town, evidence of a flood is everywhere. One afternoon as we drove Brenna asked, "Mom tell me again the story about Noah. Why did God flood the earth?"
What followed was a conversation that I want to hide in my heart.
I told my kids this story:
In the time of Noah, God looked over the whole earth and found only one man who was following His way. That made God really sad and really mad. He decided to flood the whole earth and destroy all the wickedness - BUT he gave Noah a chance.
God went to Noah and told him of his plan. He commanded Noah to build a HUGE boat. Now kids, you have to realize how crazy God's request was. Prior to this time, it had NEVER rained. God had watered the earth with underground springs, kind of like a hidden underground sprinkling system. So not only did it seem totally crazy to build a boat on dry land, but believing that water could fall from the sky was nuts!
Noah chose to trust! Noah chose to be faithful! He began building a boat! Can you imagine how hard it was to build a boat with the crummy tools of the times? This boat was HUGE... something like 2 football fields in length!
Can you imagine what his neighbors had to say?!? Noah was already misfit of sorts as a follower of God. Now he was building a BOAT because God told him it would rain?!? If the work of building the ark was not bad enough, the verbal bashing that came from his neighbors HAD to be worse!
Finally he had the boat done. Then the animals began arriving. How totally crazy did that look? Can you imagine loading all sorts of wild animals on the same boat? Do you think his neighbors began to wonder if perhaps he was right?
Finally all the animals were loaded. It was time for Noah and his family to enter the ark. They entered the ark, and here comes my very favorite part of the story! The huge door that allowed each and every animal and person to enter was closed by the HAND OF GOD!
Then the rain began.
What do you think Noah's neighbors were saying then? Imagine their fear, their confusion, their dread!
Following God looks crazy sometimes! Following God sometimes causes others to make fun of you! It is very difficult to be a "misfit" like Noah.
However, ultimately following God is what saves you.
So be like Noah, kids! Follow, trust, obey... and He will save you.
It was one of those beautiful conversations when my kids were captivated. They were silent as I recounted the story of Noah. They got it. They felt it. They were inspired by it. I was too.
You can read this story in God's inspired words in Genesis 6 & 7.
