“Father, this is my new friend Corey.”
“Corey, I’m Noah. Grateful you’re here with us.” The man shook Corey’s hand and gave him a friendly hug, like Corey was part of the family. “There’s still a lot of work to do. Shem, put the lions away, and then you can show Corey around.”
Noah stepped to the side, and Corey followed Shem into the ark. Cypress wood had been formed into pitch-covered beams and walls to create an engineering masterpiece.
Corey looked up and saw sunlight pour in through a foot-and-a-half opening that ran all around, directly under the massive roof. The natural light illuminated the three main decks of the boat. He was standing in Noah’s ark! From where he stood, Corey could see that many wooden stalls were filled with a variety of wild animals. Nearby, two cheetahs rested on a bed of straw, and in a second-level stall, two zebras paced back and forth.
“A little while longer and this place is going to be loaded with animals,” Shem said. “The Lord told us to take two of every living creature, male and female.”
“Birds, too?”
“Birds, too, and even the reptiles that crawl on the ground. So, Corey, you got here just in time to finish helping us gather all of God’s creatures and get them safely on board.”
Corey was suddenly overwhelmed with thoughts of his mother. “Can you help me get back home?”
“Where is home, Corey?”
“Texas.”
Shem looked confused. “To be honest, I’ve never heard of that land.”
“That’s because it hasn’t been named yet.” Corey tried explaining that he was from four thousand years in the future. But the more he talked, the crazier he sounded. “Never mind.”
Shem just smiled and led the two lions into a modest enclosure. He seemed to be considering what Corey had just told him. “You are from the future?”
“I don’t understand how I got here, but yes.”
Shem rubbed the lions and closed their gate. He turned to look at Corey. “Then you know how all this works out, don’t you?”
Corey hesitated. “Yes. I can tell you everything I’ve read in my Bible.”
“That’s okay. God commanded this move, so He will see us through. He told my father that He was establishing a covenant with him. God is a promise keeper, Corey. I have faith in His plans for our lives.”
Corey thought about his own move and how he didn’t want any part of it. He remembered his mother saying they all needed to rely on God because He doesn’t change. Four thousand years later, God was leading Corey and his family to a new home. Noah and his family had no idea where they were going, but they knew the One who was calling.
After making sure the lions were secure, Shem led Corey up through the three levels of the ark, past the nervous zebras, a stall with wolves, and even a row of smaller cages filled with cats, rabbits, and badgers. When they reached the upper level, Shem climbed through an open hatch in the roof. He sat down near the edge and invited Corey to sit next to him. The valley stretched out far below them.
Corey took in the panorama and shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was on Noah’s ark! He still couldn’t explain how he got here or how he was getting home.
“Don’t worry, Corey. God is taking care of everything. But we have to hurry. See the sky?”
Corey looked up and noticed the sky was dotted with gray clouds. “What on earth were those giants who tried to attack us?”
“They are called Nephilim. Very dangerous. As you saw, they aren’t normal humans. They possess superhuman strength. Their size defies explanation. The stories say that they used to be heroes a long time ago. Now they are bent on destruction, but the Lord will protect us. We must have faith.”
Corey would be completely satisfied if he never saw another one of the giants ever again.
Noah’s son pointed to the west. “Some of the animals are waiting there.” Then he pointed to the east. “And the others will come from that direction. We have to finish bringing all of them here before the Lord wipes the land clean. Will you help me, Corey?”
Corey felt stronger sitting next to this man. Being on top of the ark didn’t hurt the feeling, either. Here in this place, Corey felt like he had a purpose, and that purpose was directly related to God. “Of course, I want to help.”
“It’s not going to be easy. There are many more giants. Next time they’ll send more than three to try to stop us.”
“Well, like you said, God made a covenant with your father.”
Shem turned to face Corey. “That’s right. We just have to be obedient and not lose faith. No matter how difficult it gets, we must never stop believing that the Lord is who He says He is. Now follow me.”
Corey followed the man back down through the ark’s multiple levels. As they made their way through the lower deck, Shem stopped to check on the lions. Both were resting and appeared to be recovering from the skirmish with the giants. He grabbed his staff from the floor next to the enclosure and started for the entrance ramp. Ham and Japheth were just finishing with the elephants and horses.
“Come, brothers. Father believes that some of the local villagers are planning on using the Nephilim to steal the animals.”
Corey listened, wondering where Shem was headed.
“We’re going to find some help.” Noah’s son offered his staff to Corey.
Corey took the wooden staff, feeling like a track runner in a relay race. He couldn’t believe that he was getting to help rescue the animals along with Noah’s sons. His heart was filled with courage, and it was a feeling unlike any he’d ever felt before.
He walked down the huge wooden ramp and stared back up into the sky. Many more clouds had formed in the last few minutes. His eyes were probably playing tricks on him. In fact, Corey thought that, just possibly, this whole experience with the ark and Noah was some kind of trick.
But it wasn’t. It was real. Just like the coming flood was real.
“I’m proud of you, Corey. You are very brave for someone so young.”
Corey did feel brave. He smiled and followed Shem, Ham, and Japheth back out across the valley. Surrounded by these strong men of God, Corey felt like a superhero.
If only his parents were here to see him.
He knew they would be proud of him, too.