Long, long ago, the world was filled with people who forgot how to be kind and loving. They made many bad choices, and their hearts were full of sadness and anger. This made God very sad because He loves everyone so much.
But there was one good man named Noah. Noah loved God and listened to Him every day. One day, God spoke to Noah and said, “Noah, I want you to build a big boat called an ark. I will send a great flood to wash the earth clean, but you and your family will be safe inside the ark.”
Noah was surprised but trusted God. He began to build the ark with strong wood. It was very big—like a giant house that could float on water! Noah worked hard, hammering and sawing, even when people laughed at him. They didn’t understand why he was building such a huge boat.
God told Noah to bring two of every kind of animal onto the ark—two elephants, two lions, two birds, and many more. Noah carefully helped the animals come inside. The animals walked, hopped, and flew into the ark, finding cozy places to rest.
Then, dark clouds covered the sky. The wind began to blow, and the first raindrops fell. The rain danced on the roof of the ark like tiny drumming fingers. It rained and rained for forty days and forty nights! The water covered the mountains, and the whole world was filled with water.
Inside the ark, Noah and his family stayed safe and warm. They listened to the rain and took care of the animals. Sometimes, they felt scared and wondered, “When will the rain stop? Will the sun shine again?” But they trusted God’s promise.
Finally, the rain stopped, and the sun peeked through the clouds. The water slowly went down, and the ark rested on a tall mountain. Noah sent out a little dove to find dry land. The dove flew away and came back with a green leaf in its beak! “Look!” Noah said happily, “The earth is waking up again!”
When it was safe, Noah, his family, and all the animals came out of the ark. The world was fresh and new, like a beautiful garden after a big bath. God made a special promise to Noah and to us all. He put a rainbow in the sky, shining bright with many colors. It was a sign of His love and promise that He would never send a flood like that again.
Noah looked at the rainbow and smiled. “Thank you, God, for keeping us safe and for your wonderful promises.” And every time we see a rainbow, we can remember God’s love and care for everyone.
Questions to think about
- Why did God ask Noah to build the ark?
- How do you think Noah felt when it started to rain?
- What animals do you imagine were on the ark?
- Why did God send the rainbow after the flood?
- How can we show love like Noah did?
Message of the story
God loves us very much and keeps His promises. When we trust Him, He will take care of us, even in scary times.
Bible passage
You can read this story in the Bible in Genesis 6:9–22; 7:1–24; 8:1–22; 9:8–17 (World English Bible).
