World of Noah and the Ark

Noah stood in the doorway watching the sunlight dance on the Majestic Mountains. It was always a fascinating sight.

You might as well go.

What? he asked, turning toward Naamah.

Lately you stare at the mountains every day. You are not much use around here until you get it out of your system. So why not go?

He lowered his gaze momentarily before meeting her eyes again.

I’m sorry, Naamah. To a child growing up in Abel, the distant purple of the Majestic mountains fires the imagination. I have dreamed of them since childhood. It is one of the reasons we moved here. But lately I have this sense that God is calling me.

To climb the mountain? Why?

I don’t know. But you are right, I must go.

Four days later, he kissed Naamah and headed for the mountains with a knapsack on his back.

Before leaving, he picked a spot on the mountain that seemed likely to provide an easy climb. Setting his sights on that spot, he started out at a steady pace following a route unknown to man but heavily trod by wild animals.

&&&

Watching Noah as he headed for the mountains, Naamah silently prayed, O God, I don’t know why You are calling him into the mountains. I hear it is a dangerous place to travel alone. But I want Your will LORD, not mine. Whatever You want him to do, I will support him!

She stepped back into the house and looked around. I might as well take advantage of this and clean the house.

&&&

Laden with the knapsack, it took six hours before arriving at the base of the mountains. Turning north, he soon found a promising passage. Passing through the narrow opening, he followed a fairly steep route, which occasionally leveled off.

Climbing higher and higher, he reached a spot where he was faced with two possible routes. Once again he sensed God’s direction and turned left. He continued on a few more minutes following a natural trail before he came upon another passage.

Entering the passage confidently, he turned west. A short time later he came upon a plateau.

Long practice in worshipping God taught him what to do next. Before starting, he studied his new surroundings.

He noted the purples, browns, reds, oranges, and every color possible that seemed to caress the mountainside. It was one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen!

Looking upward he saw a mountain goat standing on a ledge. It appeared to be looking right at him.

Soaring overhead was a hawk that seemed to float on air. He stared in awe. What a beautiful view they must have!

Gathering stones and tree limbs, he quickly set about building an altar. Looking about, he realized he hadn’t brought anything to sacrifice upon it.

Noah.

He immediately fell prostrate before the altar.

Your servant listens, Lord.

The sacrifice of your heart is all I need. Remove thy shoes for thou art upon holy ground.

Obediently Noah removed his shoes. Immediately a fire fell from heaven and consumed the wood and stubble on the altar, leaving only charred stones. He bowed his head.

The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Noah could not believe what he was hearing. The preaching of Enoch spoke of a coming judgment upon all the earth, but he, like so many people familiar with it, had believed it was in the distant future, not imminent.

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

The Voice paused as Noah absorbed what he had just heard.

"And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

"A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

And, behold, I even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

A flood? A worldwide flood!

"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

"And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee: they shall be male and female.

"Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

As the Voice ceased speaking, Noah continued to worship and reflect upon what God had said.

&&&

Noah gathered up his things and returned home. His feet seemed to glide over the rocks as he quickly made his way back. Once back on the trail he broke into a joyful jog. He barely noticed the pack upon his back.

Dark was just covering the land when he arrived home to a startled wife. Kissing his wife, he immediately went to his altar and knelt before it. He spent such a long time there, talking to God, that Naamah became concerned. Coming to him, she touched his shoulder.

My lord, you need food and rest.

Noah slowly stood.

You are right, Naamah. I shall rest now, but tomorrow, I go to Uruk to preach.

Preach? But you have never preached before.

I know. But God appeared unto me and wants me to build an Ark and to preach of His coming judgment.

Ark? O my! You are not a carpenter or a Master Builder, yet you are to build an ark and preach, though you have never preached before.

That is correct. I will explain all later, but right now I’m famished.

They reentered the house and Naamah set a bowl of stew before him. He was so hungry that he asked for a second bowl.

After eating, he lay down on his bed and immediately fell asleep. Naamah stayed up a little longer before she also lay down and fell asleep.

&&&

In the morning he rose early, only to find that Naamah had preceded him and had his favorite stew waiting for him. As Noah nervously looked forward to his first sermon, he savored every bite, even though he ate the meal quicker than normal.

Sitting there he thought about what to say for his first sermon.

O Lord God, You have called me to preach to Thy people. Help me, I pray. That I might honor you and convince the people of their sin and need for Thee!

Once finished eating, he kissed his wife and headed for Uruk. Riding his horse at a quicker pace than normal, he arrived in Uruk within the hour and headed for the center of town where he would preach.

He stopped and dismounted. Watching the people move from shop to shop, oblivious to him. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward. As he made a quick prayer, he raised his hands in an effort to get their attention.

Awaken to my warnings, young men, he shouted, his voice ringing. Pay close heed to my words, you women. Children, listen to what I am about to say.

People stopped what they were doing and came to listen to him.

"God has spoken to me clearly of a judgment yet to come. You are a sinful and proud people who have not followed nor obeyed God. You say you worship God, but God says that He does not know you. He has said He will destroy all living.

"You say that only an unjust God would destroy mankind. That God is a God of love and would not do such a thing.

"But God does not owe you or me His grace. Will he save me and my family from judgment? Yes. But that is because He has plucked me as a burning ember from a roaring fire. But for Him, I and my family would perish.

"But God’s grace is not limited to me or my family. It is open to everyone that seeks Him. Trust in the Lord and He will cast His shadow over you. Fear Him, and He shall delight in your ways.

He knows your every weakness, yet He loves you with an unending love that will some day send His promised Redeemer to save us from our sins. Who will be that Redeemer? I do not know. God has not revealed that nor the time of His arrival.

Noah paused. A small crowd of men, women, and children had gathered around him. He let the silence reign a moment longer before opening his mouth to continue.

"But I do know that He will come and that He will come in power and majesty! My friends, do not hesitate. Do not listen to false voices which claim God does not care.

"It was a caring God Who gave us Enos. It was a caring God Who lent us Enoch. It was a caring God Who raised up Methuselah. And it is a caring God Who has called me to preach of His love and coming judgment. He is a caring God, Who provides for your salvation!

There are some who say that things are as they always were. But the Sacred Writings say: God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

"Man, created in the image of God, has an immortal soul. He has the capacity to know and commune intelligently with his Creator. God sought out Adam and Eve to converse with them. He delighted in them. He loved them much. And when they sinned, He did not destroy them. No, because He loved them, He kicked them out of His garden.

"Adam traveled south and founded Abel and built there a great city. Believing in God, he worshipped Him, and gave us His ‘Writings’ that we might know his God.

"But man despises those ‘Writings’ and loves himself, violating the will of God without thought. While every man follows his own conscience, we also have giants in the land today because the daughters of men have mated with the sons of God.

"Such vile wickedness has tested God’s patience. You may have heard that His patience is everlasting, but He says His spirit will not strive with man forever.

He has seen our wickedness. He has weighed us and found that every imagination of man’s heart is evil continually. His judgment is one hundred and twenty years. But Time is running out; turn to God now!

TWO

1537AC

After a year of hard work Noah had cleared a fair amount of land, but there remained much to do. And he was working alone!

Why don’t you ask Methuselah? Naamah asked after listening to his complaints.

I can’t do that.

Why not? He’s your grandfather and he loves the Lord. Surely he would want to be a part of this.

Noah silently contemplated her reasoning. The more he thought about it the more it seemed right.

I’ll ask the Lord.

With that he went outside to the altar and knelt before it.

"O Lord, Thou knowest how hard it is for me to clear the land. This gopher wood is the hardest wood I have ever worked with. I desire to do Thy will but I have little to show for it.

"And I have yet to lay the first plank for the ship. My wife is correct in that we know Methuselah loves you and has always been willing to use his wealth and position on Thy behalf.

Should I seek Methuselah’s help?

Seek his help.

The answer had come so quickly and so clear that Noah almost forgot to thank the Lord.

The next day he left on a three day journey to Abel. After arriving, Noah visited his grandfather. He wasted no time in taking the opportunity to speak eloquently to Methuselah of how God was going to judge the land and had given him 120 years to build an Ark.

But I am a vine dresser. Not a carpenter. I know nothing of ships. Nor do I have the supplies. And I, only I, am available to the work He has called me to do! And I have only managed to clear a portion of the land needed.

But why 120 years, Noah? It doesn’t take that long to build a ship.

This is no ordinary ship. It will be 450’ by 75’ by 45’ high. It will be 3 stories tall.

"I see. Still, 120 years seems a long time. What else can you tell me about it?

Well, I am now a preacher, Noah said smiling. I warn people of the coming judgment.

And are there any listening?

Only a few listen. Igdaliah, of course. There have been a few that have expressed interest and have confessed their faith in the Elohim, but they are few indeed.

I am very intrigued, Noah. I will pray upon this.

&&&

Methuselah lay musing on his bed. The news from Noah had not been a complete surprise. Methuselah’s influence was so wide and extensive that little happened without his knowledge. Especially someone preaching judgment.

Still, the details about the Ark had been a complete surprise as was the 120 years. His thoughts drifted back to the vision he had seen at Noah’s birth. The details had not been given, but he knew that the Ark must be part of it.

He quietly prayed for wisdom to know what he should do.

Suddenly a bright light shone in the room. He slid off the bed and unto his knees.

Methuselah.

Yes, my Lord. Thy servant listens.

"Thy prayers have been heard. The judgment Noah speaks of shall surely come to pass in the very same year you die. You shall be the last great ruler, though not the last, of Abel.

"In your day the power and influence of Abel shall spread. Thou shalt see the power to the south destroyed, the city of Arba leveled, and thy wealth shall exceed that of all men.

"But I have called upon Noah to build Me an Ark, a refuge for mankind. I shall bring great judgment and open the windows of heaven and overflow this world with water.

Thou shalt assist him in money, material, and men. The 120 years are for the hardness of men and the destruction of the Ark, which he knoweth not nor shall know before the time.

As God ceased speaking, Methuselah considered all that he had been told. Understanding came slowly.

Then he remembered that God had said the Ark would be destroyed. Gathering strength, he broke the silence to ask a question.

"If the Ark is to be