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Chapter 12 "Your God Must Hate Us"
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The giant carpenter bid his wife go on into the ark while he spoke to the crowds once more. As he preached, his family carried their last belongings through the open door. "May I have your attention," Noah called. "Yea," jeered a trouble-maker, "if you've got something interesting to say." Laughter flickered through the crowd. "You all loved Methuselah." Noah ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted to establish some common ground. "Most of you attended his funeral this morning. Now, think about his name. Me-thu-sel-ah." He pronounced the elements of the name to accentuate its meaning. "My grandfather's name is really a sentence, carrying the core of Enoch's message about God's coming judgment. "The same God who spoke through Enoch asked me to build the ark so that everyone who chose to follow Him could be saved." Noah pointed his finger at the crowd. "Don't you think it's worthy of note that Methuselah didn't die until the ark was finished?60 Ah, yes. But God kept him alive . . . longer than anyone else in history. Some of my carpenters believed in the coming flood, but they have died.61 Methuselah, the oldest one of all, was living proof of God's extended mercy to a sin-infested world. "Now Methuselah is dead." Noah pounded his fist into his palm. "Mercy has come to an end." A man in the front shouted at Noah. "Your God must hate us if He plans to kill everybody except your followers?" "That's not true," answered Noah. "God loves all of you; you're all his children. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. No. He wants all of you to turn from your evil ways and live."62 Noah raised his finger to the sky. "God had me build the ark so everyone," he swept his other hand in a wide arch, "who wants to live, can have a way to escape the flood. Can't you hear Him calling you? 'Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why do you choose to die?'"63 Tears streamed down Noah's cheeks as he preached his heart out. "Repent, my friends. Come with me into the ark while there's still time. God will forgive you. He'll teach you a better way to live. He'll save you from the flood." Someone near the edge of the crowd pointed to the forest, and people began to "Oooo," and "Ahhh!" A pair of wild elephants ambled out of the woods, crossed the empty meadow, and went up the ramp into the ark. Noah scratched his head and smiled. "God wants me to save a pair of all the animals on earth. I never knew how I'd get them all into the ark," he laughed as the large animals disappeared through the doorway, "but I guess God plans to lead them in Himself." People laughed—not because the elephants entered the ark. They found the notion funny that God would bother with such a trivial matter as leading animals into Noah's ark. A scholar from the university—dressed in academic robes—climbed the steps and stood beside Noah. Many professors had spoken to small groups, but none before had sought an open debate. The man cast a condescending smile toward Noah, and turned to the people. "Those elephants . . . very interesting, Noah." He spoke in a monotone voice. "Someday you'll have to explain how you taught them that little trick." The explosion of laughter and heckling lasted for several minutes before the scholar could speak again. "Noah." He didn't look at the ark-builder, but maintained eye-contact with his audience. "We've watched you build your ark, and we have nothing but admiration for your skill in constructing this gigantic boat from such difficult materials. Magnificent." He straightened his robes, and ran his hand over his head to be sure every hair remained in place. "But Noah, your sermons don't make any sense because you don't understand the laws of nature. These laws have been fixed for millions of years . . . ever since God set evolution into motion. All the learned men in the world agree that even God can't change them now.64 "But there's never been anything like this . . . this thing you call 'rain.' Where would those water drops come from?" He used his fingers to mimic rain drops, and the crowd roared. "'Out of the sky,' you say. But Noah, the earth has always been watered by a mist that comes up out of the ground!65 How can rain come out of the sky?" "I don't really know," returned Noah, humbly, "but God said He would do it, and I believe He will."66 A sound of "Oooo"ing and "Ahh"ing swept through the audience again, and once more fingers pointed toward the forest. Two gold-colored tigers—male and female—shuffled out of the trees, ignored the people, climbed the ramp, and disappeared into the ark. "You can do it with tigers too!" chided the scholar, slapping the side of his face. "Noah! I must know your secret!" Noah tried to speak in his own defense but the scholar stopped him. "You've had a hundred years," he hissed, anger distorting his reddened face. "Now give me just a few minutes!" He turned back to the people, his face evolving into a smile again. "You say a flood will cover the whole earth, Noah." He rocked up onto his toes, and raised his eyebrows. "Why Noah," he scolded, "there's never been a river, a lake, or a sea that's been known to pass over its shoreline . . . never! And we're supposed to believe in a worldwide flood? Have mercy on our intelligence!"67 When the applause died away, the man continued. "We've watched you, Noah, and we've listened to your arguments. At first we thought you might have something. So we waited. I'm sure you believe in what you're doing, but I'm just as sure that the warning God asked you to give us was merely to intimidate us into submission. Enoch preached the same message almost a thousand years ago, and God granted us another probation. I'm sure He'll do the same now. Why, in all the years you've worked, Noah, we haven't seen any changes in nature at all." He cocked his head to the side and frowned. "I'll have to agree that our society has become a terrible mess. The crime . . . the immorality. It's dreadful! But Noah, the answer doesn't lie in killing everybody with a flood. That's not in accord with science or philosophy . . . or love. No. What we really need is a stronger police force, more judges, stiffer penalties, more jails, and more effective counseling. But scaring people to death with this flood nonsense just won't cut it. It's just not . . ." At that moment the scholar lost the people's attention as a whirring sound filled the air, accompanied by the cries of thousands of birds. The sky blackened as clouds of feathered creatures flying in twos and sevens, winged in from all directions, and without any coaxing from human lips, flew into the door of the ark.68
"Just a minute, Sir." Noah strolled toward the ramp mortified over the affect of the scholar's arguments upon the people. He turned around. A little man who bulged at the middle waddled toward him. "What do you want?" Noah sighed, feeling weary. "I've heard you several times," confessed the bulbous fellow, "and I'm convinced you're right about the flood, no matter what that scholar says." He looked around to be sure that no one else could hear, and then whispered. "Me and the little woman want to go with you in the ark. Them animals going in by themselves convinced us there's something supernatural going on here. Maybe it's God, like you say. Maybe not." He wrung his hands as he talked. "Just wanted you to know. When it starts to rain, we'll come in there with you." Noah's face drooped. "I'm sorry," he said. "But you'll be too late." "Whaddaya mean!" the man bristled. "The door will close before it starts to rain," explained the giant. "Now's the time to move into the ark . . . while the door's still open." "But I'm not ready yet," the man objected. "I've got too many debts. Got to pay 'em off first. Then I'll come into the ark." Without waiting for Noah to answer, he disappeared into the crowd. For the next few days Noah's family circulated among the people, talking to individuals and small groups. They hoped to persuade some to enter the ark. Sometimes inquirers encountered them while they did their chores. A couple stopped Japheth as he carried a basket of dried apricots toward the ark. "We'd like to go into the ark, Japheth," the husband said. "But we need some sign that this is really what God wants us to do." At that moment fourteen oxen that grazed in a nearby meadow lifted their heads without human command. They formed into pairs—male and female—and marched up the ramp, through the door, into the ark. Japheth pointed to the oxen. "All those animals going into the ark without human leadership. That's about as direct a sign from God as you should need." Japheth's wife had joined the group. "You can add to that several more signs, husband. God's need to stop the terrible crimes happening everywhere. Then there's Enoch's prophecy of coming judgment, Noah's 120-year effort to build the ark, Methuselah's death—right after the ark was finished—and our family's willingness to risk the taunts of everyone by entering the ark ourselves." She cleared her throat. "How many more do you need? "Well, I suppose," wheezed the woman. "If it started to rain water-drops from the sky. . . ." "What's the hurry anyway?" interjected her husband. "Why are you so anxious to get us all into the ark?" Noah had joined the group, and listened quietly. But he couldn't be quiet any longer. He put his fists on his hips and spoke—fire in his eyes and authority in his voice. People heard him in the next valley. "My dear people!" He thundered. Japheth had never seen his father so close to anger. "God has given you 120 years to repent of your sins, and prepare to enter the ark. But now His mercy has ended. He will tell us to close the door at any moment, and when we do, all who remain outside will be doomed . . . forever." Several others had gathered around, hopeful expressions on their faces. "Now is the time to enter the ark!" Noah bellowed. "Today is the day of salvation!69 I cannot guarantee you another hour." They paused to watch seven pairs of deer ascend the ramp, followed by a couple of pigs. "But I live more than a thousand kilocubits north of here," whined a young woman. "I only heard about this last year. I need time to decide . . . time to go get my things." "There is no more time." Noah's voice softened, but remained intense. "Come on in, just as you are. We have enough. We'll gladly share it with you." She held back, wanting someone else to make the first move. Noah ascended the ramp with seven pairs of sheep. No one followed him. The young woman stood near the incline for over an hour, unable to move, her face blanched from fear. She wanted to go in, but didn't want to risk the ridicule of her friends—or leave her comfortable world.
Animals entered the ark at intervals. Small flights of birds flew down the passageway to the first deck, and into cages prepared for them. Giraffes, horses, bears, kangaroos, rabbits, monkeys, and hundreds more came by twos and sevens—at odd intervals, day and night. Each pair found its own stall as though aware that Noah had built it just for them. People gasped to see mice, rats, guinea pigs, beaver—even koala bears—go into the ark. Still more amazing were the swarms of insects—grasshoppers and locusts by sevens and all the rest by twos—ants, fleas, praying mantises, goliath beetles, butterflies, mosquitoes, house flies, and moths of every kind. When observers examined the ramp, their keen eyesight allowed them to see myriads of microscopic animals entering the ark as well. For seven days, beasts of every description continued their procession.70 They included seven pairs of those known as "clean" animals—accepted by God for use as sacrifices—and one pair of those classified as "unclean."71 Many people asked the scholars and philosophers how the animals, birds, and insects could go into the ark without any visible guidance. But the worldly-wise men had no satisfactory answer. When the seven-day parade had ended, the ark sounded like a zoo. The animal inhabitants numbered more than 840,000—most of them insects and microscopic organisms.72 But the human count remained at eight. Many people were impressed by the supernatural aspects of the animal movements. But as they persisted in rejecting the inspired arguments of Noah, this overwhelming sign soon lost its appeal. "Look, Noah," contended a wealthy farmer from the lower valley. "The sun is still shining, the earth is still bringing forth her blossoms—almost as beautiful as Eden. Yet you say that God is going to destroy all this? Is your God against beauty?" Without waiting for an answer, he hurried away, anxious to attend a temple feast in the next field, and to worship with the sacred "virgins." Noah felt sick. He watched as hundreds of people turned their backs on their last chance for life in order to attend the nearby orgy. O Lord, he prayed. The world has become engrossed in amusements. They want constant excitement, and that causes them to forget about You. How can they hear the truth when their minds are filled with plans for their next diversion? Tears filled his eyes as he turned again toward the ark. For a hundred and twenty years they have been training themselves to reject the message of truth. Now, when God is sending unmistakable evidence that the flood is about to happen, their hearts are so hard that they laugh it away.73 He stopped when a grizzled old man approached, leading a small group of priests. "You're too exclusive," the old man shot at Noah as they watched another group of animals enter the ark. "You say the ark is the only way people can be saved. But I believe God has many ways to save His people." "I agree," put in one of the priests. "We know of several groups—just like yours—building boats to save them from the flood . . . if there really will be a flood." He spat on the ground in contempt of the whole idea. "None of the other groups require people to change their lifestyles like you do, or have such strict rules." "God will send the flood," Noah rebutted him, "and only God can save people from it. The only people who will survive are those who do what God re-quires . . . repent of their sins and come into the ark. All man-made plans will surely fail." "That's really narrow-minded," fumed another priest. "I wouldn't go into your ark if it were the last thing left on earth." His face contorted with rage. "As for this flood . . . well . . . if it does start to rain, I've got a good boat down at the marina. I can ride out the flood in that." He stomped away, followed by his companions. "I plan to go in," cackled a fat lady waddling up to Noah. She led a large group of her friends up to the ramp. "But I'm waiting 'till I see the rain." "Me too," echoed others in her group. "Look at the animals," Noah suggested. "They're not waiting for the rain. They know it's time to go in . . . now. Time is running out, folks! When God speaks, we shut the door . . . rain or no rain. And everyone left outside will die." But none of them would enter. "I believe what you say," cooed a beautiful blond woman after she'd taken a tour of the ark. "I definitely plan to go with you." "Good!" replied Shem. "Go get your things, and I'll show you to your room. My wife will help you get settled." "What's the hurry?" She winked at him. "It's stuffy in here . . . all that smell of wood . . . and animals." She ambled toward the main door. "I've got a few things I need to do before I move in." "But you might be too late," Shem told her. "The door could close at any time." "Don't worry." Her smile disappeared. "You're just like your father, Shem. You think this ark is the only way people can be saved." She smiled again. "But there are many ways we can serve God, and He has many ways of saving those who serve him. I serve God in His temple and I know He'll save me . . . one way or another." She stepped through the door and started down the ramp, passing a herd of 14 goats on their way in. "You've got the best boat, though," she threw back over her shoulder, "so I plan to ride with you. See you later." So she's a temple "virgin," thought Shem. He never saw her again.
NOTES 60. "Some of the carpenters he employed in building the ark, believed the message, but died before the flood; . . ." Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 504. 61. "Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived until the very year of the flood; . . ." The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p. 70. 62. cf. Ezekiel 33:11. 63. ibid. "They reasoned then as men reason now, as though nature was above the God of nature, that her ways were so fixed that God Himself would not or could not change them, thus making God's messages of warning of none effect because, should His word be fulfilled, the course of nature would be disturbed. "[But] He who is Lord of nature can employ it to serve His purpose; He is not the slave of nature." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, p. 373. 65. cf. Genesis 2:6 (KJV; NIV--margin). 66. "It was true that Noah could not controvert their philosophies, or refute the claims of science so called; but he could proclaim the word of God; for he knew it contained the infinite wisdom of the Creator. . . ." The Signs of the Times, 4/18/1895. 67. "The rivers and brooks had never passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the great sea." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, p. 372. "Noah was tested and proved, opposition met him from the great men of the world, from philosophers and men of science, so called, who tried to show him that his message could not be true; but his voice was not silenced. One hundred and twenty years the words of warning continued to be heard in earnest tones, and were sustained by his energetic work upon the ark." The Signs of the Times, 12/20/1877. 68. "A noise like a rushing wind is heard; and lo, birds of every description come from all directions, clouding the heavens with their numbers, and file, in perfect order, into that ark. Philosophers were appealed to in vain to explain from natural laws the singular phenomenon. Here was a mystery beyond their depth. The world looked on with wonder—some with fear, but they had become so hardened by rebellion that this most signal manifestation of God's power had but a momentary effect upon them." The Signs of the Times, 2/27/1879. 69. cf. 2 Corinthians 6:2. 70. "Angels were sent to collect from the forest and field the beasts which God had created. Angels went before these animals and they followed, two and two, male and female, and clean beasts by seven. . . . For seven days these animals were coming into the ark, and Noah was arranging them in the places prepared for them." The Spirit of prophecy, Vol 1, p. 71. 71. Before the flood, God hadn't given permission for humans to use the flesh of animals as food (cf. Gen. 1:29; 3:18). But He permitted it afterward (cf. Gen. 9:3)—presumably because of the lack of a ready supply of edible fruits and vegetables. After the flood Noah and his family only ate "clean" animals. The divine instructions for this health practice were passed down by word of mouth to Moses, who wrote it in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. 72. "When we consider that there are 840,000 species of animals in the world today we may wonder how that many could live in the ark. However, . . . 800,000 of [these] . . . are insects . . . [which] could easily live among the larger animals. . . ." Creation and Catastrophe, by Harry Baerg, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1972. 73. Paraphrase of paragraph 12, "The Days of Noah", The Signs of the Times, 4/10/1901. |