Noah’s Ark and the Rainbow

In the Bible story, Noah loved God and listened to him. One day, God asked Noah to build an ark: a very big wooden boat. A great flood was coming, and the ark would shelter his family and the animals.

Noah began to work. His wife, his three grown-up sons and their wives helped prepare for the journey. There would be room for tall animals, small animals and everyone in the family.

They fitted the wooden planks together and made a roof, a door and places to rest. Tap, tap! Little by little, the great ark took shape.

Then they brought food aboard. Baskets and sacks filled the stores. Caring for so many animals would take plenty of food and many helping hands.

At last, the ark was ready. Animals came toward it: some with hooves, some with paws, and birds with fluttering wings. Noah watched them arrive in pairs.

Two sheep stepped onto the ramp. Two rabbits waited close together. The tall giraffes had to duck their heads to find their places aboard.

Noah and his family welcomed the creatures and guided them to their resting places. There were rustles, bleats and soft little snuffles all around.

When everyone was inside, God closed the door. The family and the animals were sheltered together. Outside, the first drops of rain began to fall.

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter! The rain tapped on the roof. It rained for forty days and forty nights, and the rising water lifted the ark from the ground.

The big wooden boat floated on the water. Inside, the animals had dry places to rest, and Noah’s family stayed close to them.

Each day brought useful little jobs. Someone carried food, someone checked the resting places, and someone made sure the smallest creatures were comfortable.

Sometimes Noah paused to listen to the rain. He could not see the end of the journey yet, but he trusted God and kept caring for the life aboard the ark.

Then the rain stopped. God remembered Noah and all the animals, and a wind began to blow across the water. Slowly, the water went down.

One day the ark came to rest among the mountains. But the ground was not ready for everyone to leave. Noah and his family still had to wait.

There was plenty to do while they waited. Noah brought food to the rabbits, and his wife carried hay to the sheep. The rest of the family helped care for the other animals.

Small jobs made a difference, day after day. A filled basket, a clean resting place and a gentle touch helped everyone through the long journey.

Noah opened a window. He sent out birds to see how the world outside was changing. One of them was a dove with soft, fluttering wings.

At first, the dove found nowhere to rest. She returned, and Noah reached out his hand to welcome her back into the ark.

Seven days later, he sent her out again. That evening she came back with a fresh olive leaf in her beak! Noah knew that the water had gone down farther.

He waited another seven days before sending the dove out once more. This time she did not return. The family kept watching and waiting until it was time to leave.

At last, the ground was dry. God told Noah that the family and the animals could come out. The door opened, and paws and hooves stepped into the fresh air.

The sheep stretched their legs, the rabbits sniffed the grass, and the giraffes lifted their long necks. Noah and his family gave thanks to God for bringing them through the journey.

Then God made a promise to Noah and every living creature: a flood would never again destroy all life on earth. The rainbow in the clouds was the sign of that promise.

Noah looked at the wide arch in the sky. There was land to care for and a new life to begin. Beneath the rainbow, the family set out together.