FIELD OF STREAMS (Genesis 6-11)
The movie Field of DREAMS tells the story of an Iowa farmer hearing voices telling him, “If you build it, they will come.” So he plows under his corn crop and builds a baseball field where the ghosts of old pro players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, would play. Now, of course, the neighbors and the town folk think he is nuts and is risking his farm for the sake of old baseball players that no one can see but himself.
Sounds like the story of Noah
Sounds like the story of Noah
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis:5-8
And so God tells Noah, If you build it, they will come. Genesis 6:13-21 (field of streams paraphrase) IT is an Ark, and THEY is a literal ‘boat-load’ of animals.
And so God tells Noah, If you build it, they will come. Genesis 6:13-21 (field of streams paraphrase) IT is an Ark, and THEY is a literal ‘boat-load’ of animals.
If you think an Iowa farmer got funny looks plowing under his crop/livelihood so that he could build a ballpark, that's nothing compared to Noah building a humungous boat in the middle of a desert. It became Noah’s “Field of Streams.”
So Noah builds this ark out of GOPHER wood (a type of Cyprus tree). It is 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 40 feet tall, as designed by God, and constructed by 600-year-old Noah with the assistance of his 100-year-old sons.
Of course, this Desert Ark attracted severe ridicule from the town folk.
Of course, this Desert Ark attracted severe ridicule from the town folk.
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ALL ABOARD!
Anyways, the ark is built, and then the collection and housing of the animal pairs begins.
Let me add a little perspective here...
Below are a few other boarding issues.
Anyways, the ark is built, and then the collection and housing of the animal pairs begins.
Let me add a little perspective here...
- If MY DOG was in line to board the Ark and spied Mr. & Mrs. Squirrel about to board.. he would have to chase them, and gone would be any chance of him getting back in line before the rain falls.
- Then there is... THE CAT. There is a reason why the phrase 'like herding cats' is used to describe near-impossible tasks, and so it goes without saying boarding two cats onto a big boat filled with numerous other animal sounds and smells is not a given.
Below are a few other boarding issues.
May I see your TICKET PLEASE.. All to shore that's goin' ashore.
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GRAB YOUR UMBRELLA
Once the animals were all boarded, God sealed the Ark, and the skies opened up, which was not on the local Weather channel forecast, and so... everyone perished. These floodwaters rose higher and higher until the highest mountains were covered.
The question sometimes arises as to whether or not this was a local or worldwide flood.
What I do know is it was a WHOLE LOT OF WATER.
Once the animals were all boarded, God sealed the Ark, and the skies opened up, which was not on the local Weather channel forecast, and so... everyone perished. These floodwaters rose higher and higher until the highest mountains were covered.
The question sometimes arises as to whether or not this was a local or worldwide flood.
What I do know is it was a WHOLE LOT OF WATER.
and the RAINS came down, and the FLOODS came up
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LIFE AT SEA... on the world's largest petting zoo?
So now is a time when God floats the boat. Loaded with animals of every kind, I cannot imagine how this all worked out. I am challenged to get my one rescue dog out several times daily to ensure he does not have an accident on the carpet, so say 'say-no-more' about waste management at this sea-sick petting zoo.
But on the bright side, the excursions and amenities were not found on any other Cruise line, and since they would be in the Ark for 371 days, they might as well make the best of what Noah's Luxury Cruise had to offer
So now is a time when God floats the boat. Loaded with animals of every kind, I cannot imagine how this all worked out. I am challenged to get my one rescue dog out several times daily to ensure he does not have an accident on the carpet, so say 'say-no-more' about waste management at this sea-sick petting zoo.
But on the bright side, the excursions and amenities were not found on any other Cruise line, and since they would be in the Ark for 371 days, they might as well make the best of what Noah's Luxury Cruise had to offer
- Deep Sea FISHING (Wicked Tuna)
- WATER-SKI,
- Summit MT EVEREST long before Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
- or simply engage in the simple pleasure of caring for the two GOLDFISH on the Ark
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LAND HO!.. and watch your step.
ALL ASHORE THAT'S GOING ASHORE! Finally, the waters subsided, and the ark settled on one of the mountains of Ararat. Once it became safe to leave the Ark, the animals were let go, which must have been as interesting as the boarding), and shortly after, the first pooper scooper was invented. In all seriousness now, this was the new beginning for mankind, and God signed with a RAINBOW His promise that he would never destroy the Earth by flood again. Noah was a righteous man and lived to be an incredible 950 years, just 19 years less than longevity king Methuselah. |
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ONE CRAZY BOAT RIDE..
To be honest, the story of Noah, the Ark, and the boarding of every animal two by two, all culminating with a Flood killing all life, leaves me scratching my head. I believe, but can I tell you how it happened?.. NOPE.
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 55:8,9 where God declares, “My ways are not your ways. Neither are my thoughts your thoughts. For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways than your ways and my thoughts than yours.”
So again... while I don’t understand – I still believe!
In summary, the story of Noah today is often told as a children’s story. Christian Gift Shops have cute figurines of Noah and his Ark, all filled with smiling animals. Also, in my cartoon world, the story of Noah's Ark is loaded with silly fodder. But the story of Noah has a sobering message balancing perfectly God’s providence for the faithful and obedient with the harsh judgment of a wicked world.
Genesis 9 begins with God's Covenant of the Rainbow with Noah, who says He will never destroy Earth again with a flood. Then, the story of Noah drinking a little wine and then cursing his son Ham. Chapter 9 concludes with Noa's death at 950 years, 350 years after the flood.
The story of Noah and the Ark is our story.
THIS IS... a fallen world deep in sin where the hearts of man (just like in Ge 6:5-6) appear to be evil all the time. The Great News is those who love God receive His Amazing Love and grace.
May God bless you and find you faithful while living in this self-indulgent world.
To be honest, the story of Noah, the Ark, and the boarding of every animal two by two, all culminating with a Flood killing all life, leaves me scratching my head. I believe, but can I tell you how it happened?.. NOPE.
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 55:8,9 where God declares, “My ways are not your ways. Neither are my thoughts your thoughts. For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways than your ways and my thoughts than yours.”
So again... while I don’t understand – I still believe!
In summary, the story of Noah today is often told as a children’s story. Christian Gift Shops have cute figurines of Noah and his Ark, all filled with smiling animals. Also, in my cartoon world, the story of Noah's Ark is loaded with silly fodder. But the story of Noah has a sobering message balancing perfectly God’s providence for the faithful and obedient with the harsh judgment of a wicked world.
Genesis 9 begins with God's Covenant of the Rainbow with Noah, who says He will never destroy Earth again with a flood. Then, the story of Noah drinking a little wine and then cursing his son Ham. Chapter 9 concludes with Noa's death at 950 years, 350 years after the flood.
The story of Noah and the Ark is our story.
THIS IS... a fallen world deep in sin where the hearts of man (just like in Ge 6:5-6) appear to be evil all the time. The Great News is those who love God receive His Amazing Love and grace.
May God bless you and find you faithful while living in this self-indulgent world.
Nimrod and the Tower of Babel Genesis 10-11
