As the years went by there were more and more people on the earth. Sadly, there weren't many who were good and loved God. It made God very sad that people could be so wicked. You remember that God's plan was to fill the earth with people who loved Him and wanted to serve Him. God decided to destroy all the wicked people.
However, there was one family who pleased God. They were trying to do the right thing even though their neighbours laughed at them and called them names. God came to them and told Noah of His plan.
He told them to build a boat, a big boat, one that would hold his family plus a great number of animals and food to feed them all for a long time. Noah and his boys began to build the ark right away. It was to be of wood coated inside and out with tar. It was to have three levels with a door in the side and a window. The boat would be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high.
It took Noah and his family a long time to build the ark. Their neighbours watched and laughed about it. They thought Noah was crazy to build a boat where there was no water. When Noah told them what God was about to do, they laughed harder. Noah was sad they wouldn't listen but he carried on with his work.
When it was finally finished, God brought the animals to Noah. Two of every kind, male and female. The clean animals (the ones they were allowed to eat) came by sevens. Then Noah and his family gathered all the food they would need and climbed into the ark. God shut the door.
It began to rain. It rained and it rained. The land began to flood. It rained for forty days and forty nights. When it finally stopped, even the mountains were covered. That's a lot of water, isn't it?
Noah and his family and all the animals spent a whole year living in the ark before the earth was finally dry enough for them to leave. Noah opened the window and sent out a raven which flew around and didn't return. He then sent out a dove but she could find no place to rest her feet. So she came back to Noah. He waited another week and then sent her out again. This time she brought back a leaf from an olive tree. Noah was very happy to know that the trees were growing again. He waited one more week and then sent out the dove again. This time she did not return and so Noah knew it was safe to leave the ark.
How happy they were to be on land again! Noah was so happy that he built an altar to God and offered sacrifices to thank God for looking after his family. God was pleased and he put a rainbow in the sky to show that He promised never again to destroy everything with a flood.
Things to remember:
Discussion
Noah spent many years building the ark. While he worked on it, he would have told people how God was sending a flood to destroy everything. Still when the day came to get on the ark, it was only Noah and his family. Noah had faith that God would do what He said. He believed Him and therefore obeyed Him. We learn obedience first by obeying our parents. God is pleased with this.
Why did God decide to destroy every living thing on the earth?
What was the first thing Noah did when he left the ark?
What promise did God make to Noah?
Activity Suggestions
Draw a rainbow. See if you can get the colours in the right order. Maybe add Noah's ark to the picture and a few animals.
Make a boat ark out of an old shoebox. Use modelling clay to make some animals for the ark.