March 18, 2006
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This came in today. I have seen it before and enjoyed it tremendously. Remember the animals could have been babies too especially the dinosaurs. I actually once took a sixth grade Sunday School class outside in the parking lot with a tape measure and had them measure out the dimensions of the ark. We only were able to come up with 1/2 of the size of the ark, and the kids were suitably impressed. Sure drove home to them how incredible Noah’s story is.
Heather.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Genesis 6:15 (NIV)
TODAY’S TOUGH QUESTION:
How did Noah fit all of those animals on the ark?
Based on the size the Bible says the ark was, and on the number of species of animals, this really was not a problem. On the basis of volume, the ark was roughly equivalent to 522 railroad stock cars. A standard railroad stock car can carry 240 sheep. This means the ark could have carried 125,000 sheep. The average dry land animal is considerably smaller than a sheep, as there are only a few large animals.
The ark was constructed in three stories and each fitted with rooms or nests (see Genesis 6:14). So how many animals needed to fit on the ark? There are not very many species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Ernst Mayr, the leading systematic biologist gives the number as 17,600. Allowing for two of each, we are only at 35,200. Lets assume we are off a bit and two of each actually comes to 50,000. This is still far less than the 125,000 that could have easily been carried, so there was ample room for food storage and living space for Noah and his family. God knew how much space would be needed, and He provided.
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Comments (16)
It is amazing when you take some of these things and set them out on a “real’ basis. Like you did with the kids. There was a demo of the wilderness sanctuary an hour or so drive from here last year. We never did get there to see it but I think it would have been terribly impressive. Its good to bring it to life!
tim
Thank you for your valued opinion…I sense discernment from you and this is an issue that I have been asked about several times. I appreciate your insights~ Sherry
What an awesome teacher you are–so creative to have donw that with the kids…They are blessed to have you as a teacher! Loved this post! With much love and many prayers, Paula
When you are in God’s will and are building what He has told you to with His dimensions you don’t have to worry if the animals will fit.
Love ya, Darlena
Great idea measuring off the parking lot! I bet your kids just think you are the greatest! I know I always enjoy your wonderings.
Hi Heather, this is hazie.
For some reason Xanga deleted my whole
website, ForHisglory2!!!! GRRRRRRRR
Now I am Hazie2
That is TOO kewl. I went to the site to find more ‘tough questions’ and couldn’t locate ‘em, though. Not even this one. Am I looking in the wrong place? Hrm…
That’s interesting. I wonder where they get the number 17,600? It’s hard to decide whether that sounds reasonable or not; I don’t know enough about different species to hypothesize. Also, didn’t God command Noah to take seven of every clean animal and two of every unclean one? That raises the number a little.
I’m of the opinion that may just have been a miracle. Certainly, living for so long shut up in an ark full of noisy, cramped animals, and not losing their sanity, was a miracle!
Thanks for the site; I had not heard of that one!
Kids (& adults, actually) learn best through a multisensory approach… how cool that you were able to give your students a real appreciation for the ark, & God’s greatness. Thanks too, for the study the study in Revelation.
THAT IS AN AWESOME SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON!!!! How wonderful!
Thank you for your suggestions and prayer Heather. They are very much appreciated and helfpul. Thank you.
I often have worship music playing in my room. I fall asleep to it and some mornings wake up to it.
Thanks again.
Can you imagine how that ark smelled? haha
Annette
Thank You for your prayers!
The real question is why didn’t Noah smack those two misquitos? …or at least one of them?
That info is worth saving,I could use it for my ss class!