005. Noah–God’s wrath and refuge, in verse

Neighbor

Old Noah, for many, many years
   You’ve tried to fill our minds with fears.
Your God, you say, will punish us.
   You’re wrong! So why make such a fuss 

Prompter & Echoes

Hear Noah’s warning!

Noah

I walk with God! My faith is bold!
   Though all my neighbors’ faith grows cold.
I warn them; bloodshed they enjoy
   God shall oblige. Soon them he’ll destroy. 

Neighbor

Where is your God! You’re such a fool!
   To have my way is my one rule.
Observe my herds and lush fruit trees!
   The gods bestow whatever I please 

Noah

Please do not say “gods”. There is only One.

Prompter & Echoes

Only One true God!

Neighbor

The spirit to whom I’ve always bowed
   Gives strength to me and makes me proud.
He helped me slay all who began
   To thwart my rule over all my clan. 

Noah

God told me, “Build an ark with beam
   Of twenty-five yards and calk each seam.
Its length six times its width; and give
   The ark three decks in which to live.”

God plans to bring destruction huge,
   All flesh he’ll destroy with vast deluge.
My wife, my sons, their wives, he’ll save.
   All else will sink below the wave. 

He’ll bring to me a motely herd
   Each kind of animal and bird.
Much feed I’ve stored and need not fear
   When land sinks down and seas appear. 

Prompter & Echoes

A flood is coming!

Mrs. Noah

I’m Noah’s wife. He’s worked for years
   To make this ark with its three tiers.
I’ve brought supplies to feed a zoo,
   So much! It takes so long to do!

Noah

A neighbor steals a bag of grain
   I try to grab it back in vain.
He pulls a knife and I step back
   He sneers and grasps the stolen sack.

Prompter & Echoes

Hey! Stop that!

Mrs. Noah

I warn him, “Acts like yours will bring
   The wrath of God above, our King.
He laughs, “I fear no king above.
   Because my gods are gods of love.

Noah

At last, we’ve built this massive ark,
   And now the sky is growing dark.
Wild beasts approach. Folk shake with dread;
   They cry, alarmed, “What lies ahead?”

A wedding’s guests can feast no more;
   They hear and dread a growing roar!
Rock breaks down deep within earth’s heart,
   It grinds and groans, tears lands apart!

Neighbor

Earth shakes. It leaps! I cannot stand!
   Our gods can’t calm the ruptured land.
Huge geysers spout up miles high!
   Oh, stop, or soon we all will die!

Prompter & Echoes

They all will die!

Noah

Earth reels beneath God’s angry fist,
   No longer soaked by friendly mist.
Such rain! The water rises high.
   But eight are spared from angry sky.

Mrs. Noah

Another roar augments our fears;
   A thousand screams now pierce our ears.
Sharp knives men wield, with might they strain
   Upon the ramp, the door to gain. 

Noah

I hear my wife in tears implore,
   “Oh, let them in! Unbar the door!”
“I can’t!” I cry. “God shut it tight.”
   The water’s red! A dreadful sight!

Mrs. Noah

God’s fury rages forty days;
   Then all lies still beneath sun’s rays.
Months pass; God heals the tortured earth;
   Dry land appears and seeds give birth.

We see God’s pledge to keep earth dry;
   A rainbow graces clearing sky.
We start again to rebuild our race
   Oh thank you Lord, for saving grace!

Prompter & Echoes

Saving grace!

Noah

The Apostle Peter will later compare the ark
to the risen body of Jesus.
Now, let’s all discuss now how the ark
and Jesus’ risen body are alike.
(Need help? Jesus raises believers in his body,
as the Ark carried Noah’s family to safety, 1 Peter 3:18-21)