Noah is one of the most well known figures in all literature, and certainly one of the most known in the Bible. After a few minutes of researching Noah and The Flood, I was really overwhelmed! There are several theories that claim to verify that a flood took place. I also came across many claims that show inconsistencies between the story and 21st century facts. I could write an entire series of posts on Noah. This won’t be nearly that exhaustive. My goal here is to give a small overview of the story as it relates to young ones.
We first meet Noah in Gen. 6:9-10: “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth.” Noah is your typical protagonist in a myth of this nature; he’s easily pinned as the good guy from the start.
As we read Genesis chapter 6 and 7, we realize that man has been naughty. As punishment, Noah is to build an arch and take his family and “along with two of every living thing of all flesh.”
What I learned this week that I did not know before is contained in Genesis Ch. 7:2: Of every clean beast though shalt take to they by sevens, the male and his female; and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” It’s interesting that God chose the number 7; one can only suspect the writers were acknowledging the number 7 as a ‘Godly number.’ They forgot that God only wanted one male and one female to mate at a time: no mona je twa here!
Genesis Chapter 7: 17-24 is where the actual flood takes place in the Bible. As a child, I remember vividly the questions that ran through my mind when I was old enough to actually understand what had happened. I realized that God had killed so many things: bunny rabbits, babies, dogs, cats, he had killed all these things just to punish man. I remember thinking: why doesn’t God just punish man: why kill babies for things they didn’t do? This question was never satisfactorily answered and contributed largely to my Agnosticism.
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So, imagine there’s a guy watching TV after work. It’s hot and he’s drunk–oh, and he’s naked. Now, the man’s son comes in and says, “Oh crap! Dad’s drunk and naked!” He gets his other brothers to cover up his father; they don’t look at him. When the dad comes to, he blames the son who accidentally walked in and saw him naked and drunk, cursing all his children–and his children’s children. Well, unfortunately, the man is Noah, and his child is Ham.
I have no idea why Noah is viewed in such a positive light. I find him frustratingly abhorrent. If he were a father today, we would see Noah on Jerry Springer. We’d shake our heads, and wonder why he was allowed to have children. Nevertheless, Noah is credited with helping God begin anew the project that is man.
So, why do Secular kids need to know about Noah, his good and bad sides alike?
Well, because its a great allegory! It shows us, without naming names, that those in society who do great works are also capable of great folly. You must skeptically evaluate everyone, and look at them from more than one perspective in order to understand who they are as a whole person; Noah included. Young ones need to know that Noah built the ark and saved all of humanity. They also need to know that he was a bad father.
Now, my suggestion: if your child hasn’t already learned this story, let them listen toRaffi‘s version! This is just a cool story, and whether you’re a Christian or an Atheist, you’ve gotta give and and sing! Later, you can talk about the ethics of the story: is it right only save two? You can talk about the sheer mathematical impossibility of the story: is it physically possible to put two of every species on an ark with the specifics in the bible? What can we learn about the world today from Noah?
You are the judge of what level is appropriate for your child, but THEY MUST KNOW NOAH!
Additional resources for my researching parents: I found an interesting 10-minute geological study you mind enjoy
PBS also did a nice publication that supports the idea of a world-wide flood…you be the judge! You can visit their site here. Ultimately, you’ve gotta dig in and do some research on this one!
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