"Build it out of (uh) GOPHER BARKY, BARKY, Children of the Lord!"

A high school classmate of mine posed an interesting question yesterday on Facebook. She asked the following:

Given the current state of the city of Atlanta because of the floods, I was wondering what you would do if you were a modern-day Noah and God told you to build an ark and get ready for the coming floods. So, what would you do?

Tough question, no? I could give the stock answer and say that I would follow God’s commands, no matter their content, so I would build it, get the animals, and climb aboard.

We all know that it isn’t that simple.

Let’s get a little background. Read Noah’s story first (Gen 6:9-9:28):

• Like Shaekspeare? Read this one: King James Version
• Like more modern language? Read this one: The Message
• Catholic-approved? Read this one: New American Bible
• ¿En español? Lea esta version: Nueva Versión Internacional
• Just want the most common one? Read this one: New International Version

 The first thing that you should notice is that the last thing that the bible mentions before Noah dies is that he got wasted, naked, and was dragged back to his house cursing the son that found him and called his brothers in to see their passed out dad. That’s not really pivotal to my story, but I always found it amusing.

So, God decided that he is sickened by the evil that is his creation: humanity. He is going to destroy all of it, but Noah is too good of a person. So, God goes about setting out his problem, telling Noah how he will fix it, then tells Noah what to do.

You’ll notice that Noah doesn’t protest or even talk back. I’m sure that there were some words exchanged, but Noah doesn’t say, “WHOA! You want me to do what?” He just does what he’s told to do.

The Steve Carell movie Evan Almighty dealt with this very topic. The protagonist, Evan Baxter, has just been elected to the U.S. Congress, leaving behind a career as an anchorman and his life in Buffalo, NY. He and his family move to Northern Virginia to be close to D.C. He buys a newly-built home in a development that is still being built.

A series of signs and miracles ensue, causing Evan to believe that he’d better do what he’s told. The movie does not, in fact, have a storm-induced flood. I won’t give it away, but the boat comes in handy for sure.

The best part of the movie is this line, delivered by Morgan Freeman as God:

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

I think that after the first shocking moments of the first conversation that I had with God I would pray. If any believer were put in that situation, don’t you think that they would pray? My prayer would go something like this:

Lord,
Please give me a sign that this is really you and that this is really what you want me to do. I know that you don’t like when men ask you for proof of your presence or intention, but you sought me out and you haven’t done anything like this in thousands and thousands of years.
Show me the way, Lord.

Amen

Now, if God were really wanted me to build this ark, I would hope that he would then do something like what he did with Evan Baxter:

• Ship him Gopherwood
• Buy the vacant land right next to their house
• Force me to wear sackcloth no matter what I put on.

So, in doing that he has answered my pray. Harkening back to the line above, by answering my prayer for proof, he is giving me the opportunity to show my devotion to my Lord, my family, and all of humanity.

God has given me the greatest vote of confidence available to a human: you’re the one that I want to continue the human race. What are you going to do about it?

So, after I prayed and it was answered, the next thing that I would do is second guess God. “Lord, you know me better than anyone else. You knew me before you set the stars. I am as flawed as they come. I’m overweight, I battle depression, I fight to let my true self shine through, I am not good at Fantasy Football drafts, and I can’t appreciate a good dark beer. Why would you pick me?”

God’s done talking to me right now, so I’m left to answer my own question. Men are flawed. Noah was flawed. The first thing that he did after reestablishing a vineyard was get krunked. He was still the right man for the job. If I look at my self honestly, maybe I can find the one thing that God wants of his soon-to-be Father of Nations: I walk with God. I don’t do it perfectly, but I try.

I think that I build the boat. I think that many of my friends and family think that I am crazy. I honestly think that I cry for those that will drown. I'm a sap. I cried watching Marley & Me, but this is way bigger. I think that I get mad at God a couple of times and stop building for a day. Then, I remember who He is and get back to work. I know that my wife and son are right there beside me. Sam hopes that God will send the animals to help build the ark like in the movie.

Most importantly, I know that God has his thumb in the middle of my back, pushing me gently in the direction in which he wants me to travel, but allowing me to be the one that makes the final decision.