Noah Builds an Ark

Have you ever put together a model kit like this one? I have built several models and they are a lot of fun to build. I have built model cars, planes, and boats. Some kits have a lot of parts and are very difficult to build. Some are a little easier. There is one thing that every model kit must have -- instructions! Suppose I were to give you this kit with the instructions, do you think you could build it? Well, you might need some time and a little help, but you could probably do it.

What if I gave you a set of instructions like these (hold up the Noah's Ark plan) and told you I wanted you to build a boat that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Do you think you could do it? You would probably say, "No way! That is bigger than a football field! I can't build a boat that big!"

Well, that is exactly what happened to a man named Noah. I know you have heard the story, but every time I hear it, I learn something new. Maybe you will too.

One day God looked down on the world that he had created and he saw how mean and evil the people had become. It broke his heart to see the way people were acting. "I'm sorry I made them, he said, "I'll get rid of them all."

But God saw that Noah was different. God saw that Noah was a good man, so he decided that he would spare Noah and his family. God told Noah about his plan to send a great flood to destroy everything on the earth. He told Noah to build a big boat called an ark. God told Noah exactly how to build it. (Read Genesis 6:15-16) Then he told Noah after he had built the ark to fill it with animals -- two of every kind. Noah obeyed God. He built the boat and then he put two of every kind of animal into it. Then Noah and his family entered the ark and God shut the door.

Soon the rain began to fall. The raindrops made little puddles, then bigger puddles. The big puddles became streams and rivers, then mighty seas. Soon the whole earth was covered with water. The ark tossed up and down on the waves, but Noah, his family and all the animals were safe and dry inside the ark.

It rained for forty days and nights until finally, the rain stopped. It took many days for the flood waters to go down. When it finally did, Noah, his family, and all of the animals left the ark. Noah thanked God for keeping them safe.

God had a plan for Noah's life. Because he was faithful and obeyed God, Noah and his entire family were saved. God has a plan for your life too. God has told us about his plan for us in the Bible. Listen to what he said, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." If we obey God's Word, his plan for our life will be successful too.

Father, sometimes it seems that the job is too big for us. Help us to remember that when we put trust in you, anything is possible. Amen.