Representations of Noah’s Ark
One of the important responsibilities of Christian parents is to teach their children biblical truths in preparing them for the worldviews that they will come across in their lives. Although there are many God dishonouring ideologies that are influencing education and society at the present time, it is important that we do not lose sight of the atheistic influence of evolution and the impact that this teaching has had on many of the God dishonouring ideologies that are permeating and being imbibed by society.
One post published by Creation Ministries International (CMI) that may well be of interest to parents is “How would your child draw Noah’s Ark?”
This article was written by a Christian parent in Northern Ireland who explained how his daughter was given some school homework during COVID-19 restrictions which included a colour-in Noah’s Ark worksheet. The ark on the worksheet was described as, by the writer, as a bathtub Ark and pointed out the dangers such of such depictions as downplaying the Flood is a real event in biblical (and world) history.
The writer also comments that when the nation of Israel was given the commandments of God’s Law, they were instructed to teach them diligently unto thy children (Deuteronomy 6:7). The same principle behind this command still stands, that parents should diligently (i.e. an active personal responsibility) teach their children what is in the Bible”. They further commented “Trying to communicate to children what is in the Bible should not include things which might stumble them. I believe that includes using silly, unrealistic pictures of Noah’s Ark (or for that matter, any other object clearly described in Scripture), just because they are the fashion of the day”. The article, which is worth reading, can be found by clicking here.
CMI also published on their website a video “The size and shape of Noah’s ark”. This video features a discussion between Doctor Jonathan Sarfarti and Keaton Halley that highlights, using graphical representations, the wisdom of Almighty God in directing Noah to build an Ark whose precise dimensions were such as to make it extremely stable and withstand the turmoil of the flood. Other aspects are covered in the video including misleading children with depicting the Ark in a non-biblical manner. The video can be found by clicking here.
Having written this piece, my thoughts went to a friend who has visited the AIG Ark Encounter in America and he has kindly added the following which reiterates the points made above:
“As the bus that took us from the car park rounded the hill the ark came into view – a full size model of the ark built by Noah to the dimensions given by the Lord God in Genesis 6.
The ark was simply an enormous vessel totally unlike the versions that are so popular in childrens’ books and toys –
It has been shown by engineers and scientists that the rectangular box shape of the ark would have been extremely stable in the turbulent waters that must have been present when all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened (Genesis 7:11).
The ship was designed to hold Noah and his family and Noah was commanded to take in the animals to keep them alive.
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth (Genesis 7:2) –
Having seen the enormous size of the ark from the outside, from the inside it seemed even bigger. The designers have included a method to show how the ark could have been ventilated and also a system whereby the waste products from the animals could be emptied outside the ark.
The exhibition is brought to life by various scenes such as this one showing the dove returning to the ark with an olive leaf.
The exhibition does not claim to be a replica of the ark built by Noah as that cannot be possible. It does demonstrate though that it is possible, within the dimensions given in the Bible, to build a vessel that will be stable in turbulent water and is big enough to house the various kinds of animals in sufficient numbers to replenish the earth after the flood.”
We need to remember, being ever mindful, that children are an heritage of the Lord and as such they are the Lord’s property put into our trust. Christian parents, grandparents and church leaders must fulfil their holy responsibility to ensure that children are taught biblical truths and provided with truth foundations. For we know that secular humanism and naturalism would seek to corrupt young minds, readily misrepresenting (and mocking) the worldwide flood and God’s typical provision of an Ark.
