The story of Noah and the Ark is found beginning in Genesis 5:32 through Genesis 9:19. This is a classic Bible story that most people are familiar with, even if they are not faithful Christians. Noah’s story is a very intriguing story for children and can be used to convey many different lessons.
Key Lessons
1. Genesis 6:8 states: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” In a corrupt world, Noah and his family were in the minority when it came to living a righteous life. Children need to realize that just because an entire group of their friends is doing something doesn’t mean it is right. Every action that one makes must be based on the one true standard, the Word of God. In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus states: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
2. Noah built the ark before it began to rain. In Genesis 6:17 God says, “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.” Noah built the ark on faith through obedience to God. Noah had a faith like that mentioned in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Later in Hebrews 11, in verse 7 the Bible states: “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
3. God keeps His covenants. Unlike man, God is faithful to the utmost end and will always remember His promises toward man as one is faithful to Him. Genesis 9:12-16 states: “And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
4. Quality is more important than quantity. God destroyed the entire earth and all the inhabitants except for eight righteous people. In 2nd Peter 2:5 the Bible states: “if he (God) did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.”
Read Week 3 – Bible Stories to Share with Your Children: Enoch