Noah and the Great Flood

Once upon a time, in the beginning, when God gazed upon the Earth He had lovingly crafted, His heart swelled with joy. For it was a world of beauty and wonder, where people were kind, animals roamed peacefully, and the birds filled the skies without fear.

God’s smile beamed, for He was delighted by the harmonious tapestry of creation.

Many years flowed like a river, and God’s eyes again turned toward Earth.

However, His heart grew heavy, for the world had taken a dark turn. Wickedness had spread like a shadow, and goodness seemed scarce. Fierce creatures prowled the land, and the once-friendly birds took flight at the slightest approach of humankind. God’s heart ached, for He was deeply saddened by what He saw.

With a compassionate sigh, God decided it was time for a change.

He whispered to the winds, “I will send a flood, a great flood of water, to cleanse the Earth of its wickedness.”

In a beautiful green valley nestled near a great cypress forest, there lived a kind man named Noah and his wonderful wife.

Noah was a special man because he had a unique connection with God. Every morning and evening, he would have conversations with the mighty creator of the universe.

One day, during one of these conversations, God shared some extraordinary news with Noah. He told Noah about a great flood that was going to come to wash away all the wickedness from the Earth.

God explained that the flood would be so deep that it would cover even the tallest mountains and the majestic cypress trees.

God then entrusted Noah with a very important task.

He said, “Noah, my faithful friend, I want you to build a massive ark. This ark will be a sanctuary for all the creatures that will seek refuge in it during the flood.”

Noah listened carefully as God gave him detailed instructions on how to build this incredible ark.

“Make it long and wide,” God instructed. “Build it three stories high so that there will be plenty of room.

Create a special window in the roof to let in light, and craft a sturdy door in the side for everyone to enter. Inside, make separate rooms for people, animals, and birds, and don’t forget to store enough food for everyone’s journey.”

Noah knew he had a big task ahead of him. He needed to build a gigantic ark, a special boat that would keep everyone safe during the great flood that God had told him about.

Building the Ark

So, Noah did something really clever. He hired some skilled workmen who had sharp axes and saws to venture into the cypress forest.

Can you imagine the sounds they made?

The forest echoed with the sounds of chopping and sawing, and it was so powerful that even the ground shook when a giant cypress tree fell down!

But that was just the beginning.

After the trees were cut down, strong and mighty bullocks helped drag those huge logs out of the forest and into the green valley.

There, more skilled men worked hard, sawing those massive logs into beams and boards. These beams and boards would be the building blocks for the ark.

Now, while all this hard work was going on, something very special happened in Noah’s family.

Noah and his wife were blessed with three wonderful sons.

They named the oldest son Japheth, the middle son Shem, and the youngest son Ham. These three boys grew up to be strong and smart, and they loved helping their father with the ark.

As they grew, there were so many things they could do to assist their dad. They could be water boys, carrying buckets of water to quench the thirst of the hardworking workers. They could gather sticky pitch to seal the ark, making it waterproof. And they could even ride on the backs of the bullocks, helping to guide them as they hauled those heavy logs.

Many, many years passed, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth grew into strong and wise men. They even found lovely wives to share their lives with.

People from all around the land came to watch in amazement as Noah, his sons, and the skilled workmen labored tirelessly, day by day, to build the magnificent ark.

Noah, with his heart full of love for his fellow humans, tried to warn them about the great flood that God had planned to wash away all the wickedness from the Earth.

He pleaded with the people, “Listen! There is a flood coming, a flood like no other! We must prepare, and the ark is our only refuge.”

But, oh dear, the people didn’t take Noah seriously. They laughed and mocked him, saying, “A flood? Nonsense! There has never been a flood, and there will never be one. You are a foolish old man!”

Can you believe it? Noah faced this disbelief for a very long time, a whole one hundred and twenty years! But he never gave up, and he continued to work diligently on the ark.

Day after day, Shem sawed the last board, Ham pounded the last wooden peg, Japheth carefully daubed the last bit of pitch, and Noah warned the people one last time.

Finally, after years of hard work and unwavering faith, the moment everyone had been waiting for had arrived. The enormous ark was complete, standing tall and majestic in the green valley. Its door was wide open, beckoning all who wished to be saved from the impending great flood.

Noah, his loving wife, Shem, Ham, Japheth, and their devoted wives stepped inside the ark.

But you know what, my little friends? The people who lived outside the ark, they weren’t very kind. They would point at Noah and his family and laugh heartily, saying, “Ho! Ho! Ho! Where’s the water to float that big ark? Who ever heard of a flood? It’s never rained here, and it never will!”

The Final Call

And just as the sun peeked over the horizon one day, something magical began to occur.

A little boy or girl at the edge of the crowd pointed excitedly into the distant forest, and everyone turned to look.

And what did they see, my dear friends?

They saw wild animals of all shapes and sizes coming out of the forest, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. From the lush green valley, tame animals strolled over, friendly and unafraid.

And then, something truly wondrous happened. These animals, in pairs and even in groups of seven, formed a majestic parade. With each step, they approached the enormous ark, as if they knew exactly where they were headed.

But, wait! High above in the sky, two by two, colorful birds gracefully soared towards the ark. Can you imagine the beautiful sight, my little ones? Birds of all colors, flying in harmony, guided by angels that were invisible to the human eye.

Inside the ark, Noah and his sons worked tirelessly. They were like heroes on a mission to save these incredible creatures.

They lovingly guided the animals, each to their own special place – stalls, pens, and cages. Every animal had a comfortable and safe space where they would be protected.

And so, my dear children, as the last animal found its place inside the ark, the sky began to change. Dark clouds gathered, and the raindrops started to fall.

Now, picture this: all the birds and animals were safely aboard the ark, cozy in their stalls, pens, and cages. Noah, with a heart full of love and kindness, knew that he had to give the people outside a chance to be saved too.

So, with a warm smile, he approached the door of the ark and called out to the people, “Come into the ark and be saved, dear friends!”

But, oh dear, the people hesitated. They were afraid and unsure, even the hardworking folks who had helped build the ark.

With each passing moment, Noah’s heart sank a little. The door was open wide, but the people wouldn’t come. They shook their heads and turned away. It was a sad sight, indeed.

And then, something extraordinary happened.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the great door of the ark began to close.

Can you say “s-l-o-w-l-y” with me, my dear ones? That’s right, s-l-o-w-l-y. It was as if time itself had slowed down.

God had decided that it was time for the door to be shut, and once God makes a decision, there’s no changing it.

The Great Flood

Inside the ark, Noah and his wife, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, along with their wives, waited with bated breath. They listened carefully, and they waited patiently. But you know what, my little adventurers? Nothing happened that day, nor the next, nor the next, nor even the next after that.

It was a time of waiting and wondering. Would the rain come? Would the floodwaters rise? Noah’s family and the animals were ready, but the world outside was still and silent.

Noah and his family waited and listened with bated breath. Seven long days they sat, surrounded by all the animals they had lovingly brought aboard the ark.

Can you guess what they were waiting for, my little friends? That’s right, they were waiting for something very special. And then, it happened. Can you make the sound with me? “Splat, splatter, splash!”

Raindrops began to fall upon the ark’s roof. But it didn’t stop there. The rain came down harder and harder. “Splat, splatter, splash, pour!” It was like a mighty waterfall pouring from the sky.

Noah, with a heart full of faith, looked out of the ark’s window. What did he see, you wonder?

Angry clouds, flashes of lightning, and the loud rumble of thunder. The wind howled and roared like a fierce lion. “Flash! Crash! Roar! Pour!” It was quite a show, my little adventurers.

The animals inside the ark were frightened. Oh yes, they were! Cows bawled, tigers screamed, and elephants trumpeted. But Noah and his family, they were as calm as a peaceful pond. You know why? Because they knew deep in their hearts that God would take care of them.

As the rain kept falling, something incredible happened. The water became deeper and deeper, and deeper, and even deeper, until it was like a vast sea of tumbling waves.

The ark rode those waves like a brave sailor, going up and down, tipping this way and that. But it was made of strong cypress wood, built just as God had planned. Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth had crafted it with love and care.

And you know what else? Day and night, angels watched over the ark, making sure it stayed safe and sound as it sailed through the storm.

For a whole forty days and forty nights, the rain poured down, and then, as if by magic, it stopped. The ark floated quietly on the water, and the animals and birds started to feel less scared.

When Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth fed them, the animals showed their excitement with eager sniffs and snuffs. Monkeys chattered, and birds began to twitter happily.

But there was still more to this amazing adventure. Noah felt something remarkable one day. Can you guess what it was, my dear friends? The bottom of the ark scraped against the ground, and then it stood still. “The water must be going down,” said Noah.

Now, Noah had a clever idea. He decided to send a brave bird out the window to see if the water had gone down below the treetops. First, he sent out a Black Raven, and then a White Dove. But both of them returned to the ark.

“The water must still be covering the trees,” said Noah, a little worried.

But then, one wonderful day, White Dove brought back a green olive leaf, and on another day, she didn’t come back at all. “The water is drying up,” Noah exclaimed with joy.

in the midst of their amazing adventure, days and days, and even more days went by.

And do you know what special day arrived? It was Noah’s birthday! Can you guess how old he was? A whopping six hundred and one years old! That’s quite an age, isn’t it?

Now, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth wanted to make this day extra special. They had been inside the ark for quite a while, and they had a surprise in mind. They carefully removed the roof of the ark and looked out.

What do you think they saw, my little friends?

They saw that the ark had come to rest high up in the mountains.

Outside, they saw trees that had been uprooted and rocks scattered about. But, oh, there was something even more amazing! The ground was dry, and green grass was beginning to grow. It was a sign that the world was healing.

God still hadn’t opened the door of the ark, not just yet. They had to wait a little longer. And one day, after the grass had grown tall enough to give the animals plenty of food, something wonderful happened.

Can you say “slowly, slowly, slowly” with me, my dear ones? That’s right, slowly, slowly, slowly, the door of the ark began to open.

Noah carefully swung the doors open, and what a joyful sight it was! The animals came hurrying out of the ark. They barked, they trumpeted, they squealed with joy. They rolled over and over in the cool, green grass and then raced down the mountainside.

And as they frolicked and played, the songbirds joined in the celebration. They sang the sweetest songs, “God is good, God is love,” and then they flew away to find places to build their nests.

Token of Love After the Great Flood

Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth weren’t done yet. They gathered stones and built a special altar unto the Lord. The family knelt around the altar, and Noah offered a heartfelt prayer, saying, “Thank you, God, for keeping us safe. Thank you for this good, clean earth.”

God, in all His love and wisdom, answered their prayer in the most beautiful way. He hung a colorful rainbow in the sky, the very first rainbow ever to be seen.

God said, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token that the water shall no longer cover the whole earth.”

And so, my little adventurers, the world was renewed, and Noah and his family felt God’s love and promise shining brightly in the sky.