Noah: Man of God

by Tim Chaffey

  Noah was reminded of days long ago as he strode toward his middle son. Shem bore many similarities to Noah in his youth. They both shared a deep interest in following the Creator, his son’s trait that gave him the most joy. As a young man, Noah could work with others, but he preferred to be alone in his woodshop. The primary difference was that Shem’s independent attitude blended well with his love for animals, an interest he definitely inherited from his mother.

  Shem rose to his feet and yawned as Noah arrived. “Morning peace, Father.”

  “Morning peace.” Noah hugged his son and then handed him the bag. “This is for you.”

  His eyes brightened. “From Great Grandfather?”

  Noah nodded.

  “Wonderful.” He opened the sack and withdrew a few pieces of dried fruit and popped them into his mouth. “These are so good.”

  “How’s the herd?”

  Shem nodded as he chewed and swallowed. “They’re fine. No sign of any predators.”

  “No grendecs?”

  “How would I know, since I’ve never seen one before?”

  “If you saw one, you’d know.” Noah grinned. “But if that ever happens, don’t confront it. Just stay out of sight and let it take what it wants. You’re more important than every animal combined.”

  “I know. All people are.” Shem tossed a piece of fruit into the air and caught it in his open mouth. He chuckled. “Well, maybe not my little brother.”

  Noah raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m only joking.” He spit a seed onto the ground. “Father, did you really do what mother said?”

  “Your mother says a lot of things about me. Which one are you talking about?”

  “Face down a grendec and shout that you weren’t going to die?”

  Noah laughed and shook his head slightly. “It wasn’t quite like that. Yes, I was in the center of the arena, and they released the horned beast to kill me. Your mother wasn’t there, so the story has become a little exaggerated. I didn’t shout about not dying. I told the princess and those around her that I wasn’t going to die.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Elam said when I asked him about it, but then he got quiet. That’s where his wife was killed?”

  Noah nodded. “And Purlek’s mother and father.” The old ache of those losses resurfaced as Noah thought of his friends, but it was duller now, like the worn edge of an often-used blade. “Tubal-Cain was my most trusted friend for much of my life. And Elam’s wife, Kal, was the sister of my best friend when I was just a little older than you are.” Noah clenched his fist and let it out. “And the wicked king of Havil killed all of them.”

  “Purlek’s grandfather?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked toward the fields where Japheth and Rayneh worked alongside his own grandfather. “And she was there, too?”

  “Mmhmm. Just a tiny little girl at the time.”

  Shem shook his head. “It’s so hard for me to imagine what it would’ve been like.” He swept his arm from left to right. “All I’ve ever known is this place and the people that live here. You’ve been all over the world, seen so many things, and met so many people.”

  “And so much I wish that I’d never seen.” Noah put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know it’s hard for you to understand because everyone here is so kind, but—”

  “Except for Japheth.”

  Noah tousled Shem’s hair. “Everyone here is so kind. But out there” — Noah gestured beyond the trees — “it’s the opposite. The world is full of wicked people. At least it was before we came here. I’m grateful you don’t have to see the things I’ve seen. Trust me.”

  “I believe you. But it would be nice to see other places.”

  “You will. Someday.” Noah squeezed Shem’s shoulder. “I need to get to work. I love you, Son.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Oh, by the way. The reason I said I wouldn’t die is because of you and your brothers.”

  Shem furrowed his brow. “What do you mean? We weren’t even born yet.”

  “I know, but the Most High told me a few weeks before that day that I would have sons. So I trusted that He would protect me because that hadn’t happened yet. Either that, or He would bring me back to life.”

  “You don’t have any doubts about the Creator, do you?”

  Noah shook his head. “Not anymore. You’ll see. The Most High always keeps His promises.” He turned and walked toward the end of the field opposite the tents, cherishing the conversation with his son. Of the three boys, Shem asked the most questions about the Creator. Noah loved that he was so interested in the Most High’s ways.

  Soaking in the morning sunlight, he chose the roundabout path to the shipbuilding barn. It would take him a bit longer than the other route, but the walk would give him time to reflect on matters before the busyness of the day started.

  Staring past the trees to his right, Noah spotted the distant hill he had visited many weeks earlier. He thought about his encounter with the guardians as he walked along the edge of the orb plant field. He had told only Emzara about the meeting so far. They had decided to keep it secret until the appropriate time in case the boys allowed their curiosity to get the best of them and tried to visit the site.

  His path veered a little to the left and directed him straight toward the burial mounds of Greatfather and Greatmother. The setting always brought peace to his mind and helped him focus his thoughts. Today, his concentration centered on his sons. Being a father thrilled him more than he had ever imagined it would. Watching the boys grow up warmed his spirit, even on the worst of days, when they fought with each other or were less than respectful toward him or Emzara.

  O Most High, thank You for providing us with a safe place to raise our sons and for allowing them to grow up around my father and grandfather. Help me to teach them how to live so that if the time comes when they are confronted by this world’s wickedness, they will choose to follow Your ways.

  Reaching the end of the last crop, Noah turned left toward the shipbuilding barn, which now stood between him and his tent on the far end of the clearing. Seeing no sign of Garun and Ham, Noah assumed they were already working inside on one of the lifts.

  “Noah.”

  He froze. The hair on his neck stood on end and tiny bumps appeared on his arms. The sound reverberated inside his head as if spoken by a thousand tongues. The voice he longed to hear terrified him while paradoxically calming him. It made little sense. How could he feel such fear while simultaneously enjoying the greatest comfort imaginable?

  With his head bowed and eyes averted, Noah cautiously turned back toward the gravesite, fully expecting to see the living flame hovering above the ground. As the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the fire, he dropped to his knees and pushed his face to the ground. This time heat emanated from the blaze, but just as before, nothing else burned. The light seemed to pierce his entire body, and Noah briefly wondered if a shadow could even form behind him.

  “Fear not, Noah. I am the God of your Greatfather Adam and forefather Enoch.”

  Due to the glorious and awesome presence of the Creator, the instruction to not fear did not put Noah entirely at ease. “Most High. T-t-to be in Your presence — n-nothing can compare.”

  “You longed for this day, did you not?”

  “I have, but I’m not worthy to look upon You.” Noah understood well why the guardian called the Creator the King of Glory.

  “Noah.” The voice, now only a singular sound, soothed his spirit and the fear departed.

  “I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. Stand up, for I wish to speak to you as a friend.”

  A lump formed in Noah’s throat and tears filled his eyes. A friend?

  “Yes, a friend.”

  A slight smile tugged at the corner of Noah’s mouth as he recalled that the Most High knew his very thoughts. He climbed to his feet before slowly lifting his eyes to see his Creator. The flame’s intensity softened, bu
t a precise understanding of the scene still eluded his comprehension.

  “I have set apart this place for you to fulfill your calling. You have done well by preparing to build. And you have met two of my guardians, but you must not return to the garden.” The flame danced as the voice sounded forth.

  Noah nodded. “I understand. I’m grateful for all You have given us.”

  “Noah, the end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. I am going to destroy them and the earth.”

  Biting his lip, Noah nodded.

  “You are to build an ark of gopherwood. Make rooms in it and cover it with pitch, both inside and outside. And this is how you must build it.”

  An image of a huge ship flashed into Noah’s mind. It looked like nothing he had seen before — so much longer than it was wide. Before he could consider the thought further, the Creator spoke again.

  “The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits, its width shall be 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.”

  Noah’s eyes grew wide as he realized that would be nearly twice the size of anything he had built before. He quickly repeated the numbers to himself, allowing the figures to etch themselves into his memory.

  “Make a roof for the ark and finish it, except for the final cubit from the top. Put a door in its side, and make three decks within.”

  As Noah contemplated the details, the flame grew brighter and heat once again radiated from it. He shielded his eyes with his hand and looked to the side.

  “I am going to flood the earth with water to destroy from under heaven all the living creatures in which there is the breath of life. Everything on the earth will die.”

  The flame calmed again, and a litany of thoughts and questions bombarded Noah’s mind. He forced himself to think through what he had just heard.

  “Noah, I will confirm My covenant with you. You will enter the ark — you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Of every living thing of all flesh, you must bring two of every kind, a male and a female, into the ark, to keep them alive with you. Of flying creatures after their kinds, of the beasts after their kinds, and of the creeping things of the ground after their kinds, two of every kind will come to you to be kept alive. And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten. Gather it together, and it will be food for you and for them.”

  “All flesh . . . every living thing . . . every kind of food . . . 300 by 50 by 30.” Noah gazed upon the flame, mesmerized by its beauty. He struggled to string together a complete thought until he finally said, “Thank You for entrusting me with this task.”

  A peace exploded in Noah’s frame. He watched as the flame before him quickly faded until it disappeared entirely. Lifting his hands toward the heavens, with tears streaming down his cheeks and his body alive with energy, Noah prayed aloud. “O Creator, You are truly the King of Glory. Thank You for the grace You have shown me — for preparing all of this.” Noah stretched his arms out wide, indicating the entire land around him. “You alone will I serve throughout my remaining days.” He glanced at the three graves before him. “Until I return to the ground as Greatfather did.”

  “Father?”

  The word barely registered in Noah’s ears, but it was enough to distract him. He closed his eyes to focus — to continue his prayer.

  “Father!”

  Noah jolted and faced the campsite to see Ham standing a few steps away.

  “What’s wrong?” Ham stood rigid and blinked rapidly.

  Noah held out a hand and Ham helped him stand. A smile grew wide on Noah’s face as he hugged his youngest son. Noah shook his head from side to side. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Go, gather everyone to meet at the circle.”

  Chapter 24

  His heart pounding from the short run, Noah ducked into his tent and blinked hard as his eyes adjusted to the darker room.

  “What is it?” Emzara asked.

  He spun to his left and found his wife sitting at her table with several scrolls sprawled out before her, animals sketched on many of them. He took a quick breath and wiped sweat from his brow. “He spoke to me again.”

  She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. Slowly, recognition spread on her face and her jaw dropped. “The Creator?”

  Noah nodded.

  Emzara sprang to her feet and moved around the table. She grabbed his hands. “What did He say?”

  Taking a deep breath, Noah tried to make sense of what he had learned. “He called me His friend.”

  “His friend?” She looked at the ground. “That’s kind of strange.”

  “I thought so, too.” Noah shook his head in wonder. “But I’m not complaining.”

  “And He told you about the ark?”

  “Yes. I need to write down the directions before I forget.” He pointed to the table. “Do you have a scroll I can use?”

  “Of course.” She turned toward her supplies, but then stopped and spun back to face him. “What did He say about our friends?”

  Noah’s excitement faded as he realized the recent conversation included nothing about them. He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “And you didn’t ask?”

  “Em, I—” He scratched his head. “I can’t explain it, but when He was right there before me, I couldn’t think like I normally do. He is so wondrous to look at. It’s as if all of my concerns disappear in His presence.” He kissed her hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “Ham is gathering everyone outside so that I can let them know what I heard.” A smile formed on his face. “We can finally start.”

  Emzara furrowed her brows. “And what will you say if someone asks about who the ark is for?”

  Noah bit his lip and stared at nothing in particular on the tent wall. “I don’t know.”

  “Maybe we should ask Garun and Laleel what they think first.”

  Noah thought through her proposal before slowly nodding. “That’s a great idea. Would you mind getting them? I need to write down some notes.”

  “Here.” Emzara handed him a small scroll and kissed his cheek. “Be right back.”

  After unrolling the first portion of the parchment, Noah dipped Emzara’s pen into the inkwell and started jotting down notes as he spoke to himself. “Gopherwood. Make rooms. Pitch, inside and out. Cubits — 300 by 50 by 30. Leave one cubit from the roof unfinished. Three decks.” He quickly sketched the image of the ship that he had seen as the Creator spoke to him.

  “Noah,” Emzara’s soft voice broke his concentration.

  He turned to face her. She stood in the middle of the tent next to Garun and Laleel. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you’d returned.”

  Laleel nudged her husband and smiled. “I know what that’s like. Sometimes I have to call his name three or four times.”

  Garun shrugged. “Guilty.” His smile faded and he folded his arms. “Zara said you had something very important to ask us about before talking to the group.”

  Noah took a deep breath. “The Creator spoke to me again.”

  Laleel grabbed Garun’s arm and looked expectantly at Noah. “So you have the rest of the details?”

  Glancing at his notes, Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s big. Really big. But I’ll share all that with everyone when we go out there. There’s one detail I want your advice on.”

  “Our advice?” Garun wrinkled his forehead. “About the Creator’s message?”

  Noah swallowed the lump in his throat. “The first time He spoke to me, He said that the ark would be for the animals and for me, my wife, our sons, and our sons’ wives.”

  “And you didn’t have any children at that time.” Laleel clapped her hands as she bounced on her toes slightly.

  “Right.” Noah held out a hand. “That’s why I was so confident about surviving things in Iri Geshem. I know the Most High will keep His word.” Noah shifted his weight to one side. “And this time, He said essentially the same thing, that H
e would confirm His covenant with me, my wife, our sons, and our son’s wives.”

  Garun lifted his head as if he understood. “And He didn’t say anything about the rest of us?”

  Noah lifted a finger toward him and nodded. “Exactly.”

  Emzara placed a hand on Laleel’s shoulder. “We’re concerned about the rest of you. The Creator didn’t say anything about you — whether you’ll be on board or not.”

  Laleel patted Emzara’s hand. “Don’t worry about us. Noah, didn’t you tell us that God will always do what’s right?”

  “That’s what He asked me the first time He appeared, when I became troubled over the idea that the whole world would be destroyed.” Noah stared out the opening of the tent. “I know He’ll always do the right thing.”

  “Then you have nothing to worry about,” Garun said. “If He wants us on the ark, then that’s where we’ll be.”

  “And if not?” Emzara asked.

  Garun and Laleel exchanged a look, and it seemed to Noah that their eyes held peace. “We know God will do what’s right. For now” — Garun unfolded his arms — “we’re committed to helping you build this ark. We’ll leave those concerns for the Most High.”

  “But what do I tell the others?” Noah asked. “I can tell them the instructions for the size and how it’s to be built, but what do I say about this?”

  “Do you need to say anything about it?” Garun scratched his head. “Just tell them about the ark itself and what we need to do. We can worry about the other issue when the time comes.”

  “And what if someone asks about it?” Emzara wiped her eye with the back of her hand.

  Garun shrugged. “You said that you aren’t really sure about the answer. So just be honest and tell them that you aren’t sure. It sounds like this thing will take a while to build.” He turned quickly to Noah and snorted. “Some of us may not even live long enough to see it completed.”