Penny For your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker
Most of us have heard the biblical story of Noah and the ark. This is a Bible story of how God destroyed the earth by water and gave Noah orders to build a boat that was to be a certain size.
While some are skeptical; many question, but believe. God had told Noah to build this vessel and to take 2 of each species of animal and his family into the ark as He was going to destroy the world by a big flood.
Many people laughed at scorned Noah, but when the ark was finished and the animals and people were aboard, it began to rain. In fact, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and the world was destroyed.
I am sure Noah was glad he obeyed God and therefore saved his family and the animals.Scientists have estimated that Noah was on the ark for almost a year.
Let’s skip some time here and say it is 2017 and Noah lived here in the U.S. instead of biblical times. God spoke to Noah while he was sitting on his front porch and told him to build an ark or a huge boat because earth was going to be destroyed by water. God told Noah to take 2 of every living creature and his family.
In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an ark. Fearful and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark. “Remember,” said the Lord, “You must complete the ark and bring everything aboard in one year.”
Exactly one year later, a fierce storm cloud covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw Noah sitting on his front porch weeping. “Noah,” God shouted, “Where is the ark?”
“Lord, please forgive me!” cried Noah. “I did my best, but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction and your plans did not comply with the codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans.”
“Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the ark needed a fire sprinkler system and floatation devices. Then my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.”
“I had problems getting enough wood for the ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won’t let me catch any owls. So, no owls.”
“The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Union. Now I have 16 carpenters on the ark, but still no owls.”
“When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me only taking two of each kind aboard.”
“Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn’t take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the universe.”
“Then the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed new flood plane. I sent them a globe.”
“Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard!”
“The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I’m building the ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the ark as a “recreational water craft.”
“Finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore, unconstitutional. I really don’t think I can finish the ark for another 5 or 6 years!”
Noah wailed.
“The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully. “You mean you are not going to destroy the earth, Lord.?”
“No,” said the Lord sadly. “I don’t have to. People already have.”
When I first read this piece about Noah and todays world, I thought, “How times have changed.”
It took a lot of faith and preseverance to build the ark and I can just imagine Noah trying to explain what he was doing. I might have been chicken to get on the ark, I bet the place smelled after a while from the humans and animals. I am also scared of the 2 mice which was on board. Then in enclosed quarters, there may have been a fight or 2.
Many explorers through the years have claimed they located the old ark. But according to research they say it has not been found. What would you do if you observed someone building a boat this big? Would you offer to help or have enough faith to get on it? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny for your Thoughts.
