Noah's Ark: Gathering the Animals, Two by Two!

Meta Description: 

Join Noah as he shares the amazing story of how he gathered all the animals, two by two, into the great ark, just as God commanded! A story of faith, obedience, and incredible creatures for children aged 3 and over.

🚣‍♀️👉👉Read:  Noah's Big Boat Adventure: A Story of Faith and Rain!

Noah Gathers The Animals Bible Verses

Genesis 6:17 -23

“And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

“And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.

“Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

“And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.”

Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 7:1-3.

Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.

“You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

“also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.

Introduction: Noah Gathers The Animals

Hello, my dear children! It is I, Noah, and I am so glad to see your bright faces again! Do you remember our story from last time? We spoke of a time long, long ago, when the world had become a very sad place. People were not being kind to each other, and their hearts were full of evil. God, who loves us all so very much, was sad too. He told me that He would send a great flood to wash away all the sins, but He also gave me a very special job.

A World Without Rain

I must tell you something very strange and wonderful about the world back then. You know how you see big, gray clouds today and run inside because it’s about to rain? Well, in my day, we had never seen rain!

Can you imagine a world where water never fell from the sky? Instead, God had a different way of taking care of the trees and the flowers. Every morning, a soft, heavy mist would creep up from the ground. It was like a giant, gentle sprayer that watered the whole face of the earth (Genesis 2:5-6). The air felt thick and sweet, and the ground was always moist enough for our crops to grow, even without a single drop from the clouds.

When God told me He was going to bring "floodwaters from the heavens," it was something no one had ever heard of before! It took a lot of faith to build a boat for a "rainstorm" when the sky had always been clear and dry.

God's Grand Plan: A Quick Reminder

God told me to build a magnificent boat, an ark, that would be so big it could float on the highest waters! It was to be made of gopher wood, covered inside and out with pitch to make it waterproof, like a giant, sturdy tub. Do you remember how big it was? It was as long as a football field and as tall as a three-story house! It had many rooms inside, like a big house. God wanted me, my wife, my three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives to be safe inside. He promised to keep us safe from the coming flood. And so, with heavy hearts but trusting in God, we began to build.

God's Most Amazing Command Was To Bring The Animals Into The Ark

Then came another amazing command from God! Not only were we to build the Ark, but we were to bring all sorts of animals into it. Can you imagine?

God wanted us to bring two of every kind of animal, a male and a female, so that after the flood, there would still be animals on the earth. And for the "clean" animals, those we could eat or offer in thanks to God, He wanted seven pairs! Why seven? Perhaps because seven is often seen as a special number in God's eyes, a number of completeness and blessing.

Can you imagine the sight? Lions and lambs, elephants and tiny mice, tall giraffes and hopping kangaroos, all coming towards the Ark! We didn't have to go and catch them; God, in His amazing power, brought them to us. They walked in an orderly line, two by two, just as God had said. It was an incredible parade, a sight that still fills my heart with wonder when I think of it!

We spent many days gathering food for all these creatures – hay for the cows, and fruits for the monkeys! It was a very busy time, but we knew we had to obey God's command. Can you imagine how much food that would be for so many animals for a whole year? We filled the Ark with many different kinds of plants and dried foods, all stored carefully in the different rooms.

Even the birds of the air, little sparrows and mighty eagles, came too. They flew into the Ark, finding their resting places. It truly was a miracle to behold! Why did God do this? To show us His great power and His great love for all His creation, both people and animals. He wanted to make sure that life would continue on earth after the flood.

A Biblical Truth: Obedience and Trust

The story of the animals coming to the Ark teaches us a very important truth: obedience to God is always rewarded. Even when things seem impossible, or when God asks us to do something very big, if we trust Him and obey, He will help us. My family and I trusted God completely, and He guided every step. Do you think it was easy? No, it was very hard work! But with God's help, nothing is impossible.

Conclusion

So, my dear children, that is the story of how the animals, two by two, came to the Ark. It was a time of great wonder and a powerful reminder of God's amazing plan and His loving care for all His creation. Next time, we will talk about the great flood itself and what happened when the waters came.

What do you think was the most amazing animal to walk into the Ark? Draw a picture of your favorite animal coming to the Ark and share it with your family!

References

Arnold, B. T., & Beyer, B. E. (2015). Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Theological and Critical Introduction. Baker Academic. (Provides context on ancient Israelite life and customs)

Matthews, V. H. (2018). Manners and Customs in the Bible: An Illustrated Guide to Daily Life in Bible Times. Hendrickson Publishers. (Offers insights into daily life, family structures, and social interactions in biblical times)

The Holy Bible, King James Version. (2019). Public Domain. (Original work published 1611)

Walton, J. H. (2009). The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Zondervan. (Explores the geographical and environmental context of ancient Israel and Mesopotamia).

 Noah's Big Boat Adventure: A Story of Faith and Rain!

Meta Description: 

Journey back in time with Noah as he shares his incredible story of building a giant ark to save his family and all the animals from a great flood, just as God commanded! Dive into this true story of obedience, trust, and a whole lot of rain for children aged 3 and up.

Noah and the ark bible verses - Genesis 6: 5 - 22.

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 

7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 

10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 

12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 

13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 

14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 

15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 

16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 

17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you and your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 

19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 

20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 

21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 

22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Noah introduces himself

Hello, little ones! My name is Noah, and my father's name was Lamech. I was born before the Great flood that destroyed the earth, and I have a most amazing story to tell you. Read on to learn more.

A World Full of Busyness, But Not Always Goodness

Now, we were busy in those day, and we loved our families, but something sad was happening in the world. God, who made everything – the sun, the moon, the stars, and even you and me – looked down and saw that people were not always kind to each other. Their hearts were often full of naughty thoughts and plans, much like when you might feel a little grumpy or want something all to yourself. But this was much, much bigger than a little grumpiness. It was as if everyone had forgotten how to be good and loving.

God saw how much mischief and meanness filled the world. People were doing very bad things. It made God very, very sad. Have you ever felt sad when someone wasn't kind? God felt that way, but even more so. He looked at all the people He had made, and He wished He had never created humans.

God's Big Decision To Destroy The Earth

And so, God decided that He would start fresh. He planned to send a great flood, a huge amount of water that would cover the whole earth. The flood would wash away all the bad things and give everyone a new beginning.

But guess what? There was one person, one family, who still loved God and who did not practice evil. That was me, Noah, and my family!

God Speaks to Noah

One day, while I was probably working in my field, God spoke to me. Can you imagine hearing God's voice? It was an awesome! He told me about His plan for the flood, and then He gave me a very special, very important job.

He said, "Noah, I want you to build a great big boat, an ark!" Now, I had never built a boat before, let alone one big enough to hold my family and lots of animals!  Building a boat was a very, very unusual thing for me to do. 

The Plans for the Ark

God didn't just tell me to build a boat; He gave me very detailed instructions, like a blueprint or a recipe. He told me exactly how big it needed to be.  He told me to "make the ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high," He said. Now, a "cubit" was the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. So, this boat was going to be really, really, really big! Can you stretch out your arm and imagine a boat that many, many, many arms long?

He also told me to make it out of gopher wood. This was a special kind of wood, strong and sturdy. And then, He said, "You must cover it inside and out with pitch." Pitch was a gooey, sticky substance, a bit like tar, that would make the ark watertight, so no water could get in! It was like putting a super-duper seal on everything to keep it safe and dry. Pitch is really asphalt, the same substance that is used to make roads.

Rooms for Everyone!

God said the ark should have many rooms, like a big house with lots of bedrooms! He told me to build three decks, one on top of the other, so there would be plenty of space for everyone. He wanted a door in the side of the ark, and a window near the top, to let in light.

Imagine building something so big! It was a huge task, but I knew God would help me. I told my sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and my wife, about God's amazing plan. We all knew that God's word was true, and we trusted Him.

Trusting God's Plan

So, what did I do? Did I say, "Oh no, God, that's too much work!" No! Even though it was a very strange request, and no one around me had ever seen a boat like it, I obeyed God. The Bible says, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." That means I listened carefully and did exactly what God asked.

And that, my little friends, is just the beginning of our big boat adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What did people eat in Noah's time? 

A1: They mostly ate food they grew themselves, like bread from wheat and barley, fruits like grapes and figs, and vegetables. They did not eat meat products until after the flood.

Q2: How long did it take Noah to build the ark? 

A3: The Bible doesn't say exactly, but many believe it took a very long time, perhaps even 100 years! It was a huge project!

Q3: What is "gopher wood"? 

A4: We're not entirely sure exactly what kind of tree "gopher wood" was, but it was likely a very strong, durable wood, perhaps similar to cypress or cedar, that was good for building.

Conclusion

So, little ones, we have learned that Noah was a man who listened to God, even when God asked him to do something very big and very unusual. He trusted God completely. Just like Noah, when we listen to what is right and try our best to be kind and loving, we are following God's plan for us too.

Can you imagine helping Noah build that big boat? It took a lot of hard work and faith! What do you think happened next? We will find out more in the next part of our story!

Call to Action

What are some ways you can be like Noah and show obedience to God? Read  the bible to discover more. 

References

Block, D. I. (1998). The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth. Broadman & Holman Publishers. (While specifically for Judges/Ruth, this series often provides insights into ancient Near Eastern customs and daily life that are broadly applicable to the biblical period).

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Benjamin, D. C. (2000). Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient Near East (3rd ed.). Paulist Press. (Provides primary source material and context for ancient Near Eastern societies, including customs and legal practices).

Walton, J. H., & Matthews, V. H. (1997). The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Genesis–Deuteronomy. InterVarsity Press. (Offers cultural, historical, and geographical background relevant to the biblical text, aiding in understanding daily life and customs).

Wright, C. J. H. (2004). Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. InterVarsity Press. (Discusses the ethical framework of the Old Testament, which implicitly touches upon societal norms and beliefs).