Go to the Ark: A Modern-Day Allegory on How the Animals Got to the Ark

By Christopher Murray

Go to the Ark is a fascinating story on how the animals made their way to the Ark to escape God's judgment. All throughout their journey, the animals encounter some of the common stumbling blocks Christians face in their walk with Jesus. This story is an allegory of apologetics that will identify these stumbling blocks and help equip the believer to counteract them. This story will also cause you to think deeply about what you believe in light of God's judgment. As you journey with the animals you will be encouraged as your faith is strengthened with each encounter. Relax, get comfortable, and begin reading a story like no other!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098028787

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Christopher A. Murray

Go to the Ark!

A Modern-Day Allegory on How the Animals Got to the Ark

ISBN 978-1-0980-2876-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-2878-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2020 by Christopher A. Murray

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

ESV

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NKJV

Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION®. Copyright© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NASB

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org"

NLT

Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

NIV

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - The Rainbow

Chapter 2 - God Speaks to Mr. Kangaroo

Chapter 3 - The Mongooses (Apostasy)

Chapter 4 - The Hyenas (Terrorism)

Chapter 5 - The Lions (Pride)

Chapter 6 - The Monkeys (Evolution)

Chapter 7 - The Cow and the Bull (Addiction)

Chapter 8 - The Bears (Believers in Name Only)

Chapter 9 - The Sheep (The False Prophet)

Chapter 10 - The Beavers (Earning God’s Grace)

Chapter 11 - The Giraffes (Everybody Is Born Good)

Chapter 12 - The Rabbits (Spiritual but Not Religious)

Chapter 13 - The Pigs (Mother Gaia)

Chapter 14 - The Sloths (Karma)

Chapter 15 - The Elephants (Reason)

Chapter 16 - The Snakes (Evil)

Chapter 17 - The Horses (Love)

Chapter 18 - The Hippopotamuses (Sexual Identity)

Chapter 19 - The Camels (Socialism/Communism)

Chapter 20 - The Bats (Worldviews)

Chapter 21 - The Owls (Wisdom)

Chapter 22 - The Rhinoceroses (Morality)

Chapter 23 - Dinosaur Danger

Chapter 24 - The Koala Bears (Truth)

Chapter 25 - The Ark!

Chapter 26 - Inside the Ark

Chapter 27 - The Flood

Chapter 28 - The New World

Chapter 29 - The Rainbow Covenant

Epilogue

Endnotes

A special thanks to God.

I would like to thank God for making this book happen.

This book took thirteen years to write.

The reason I wrote this book is because I believed the whole time that God wanted me to write it.

It was God who gave me the idea for this story.

It was God who motivated me to write this story.

It was God who caused me to finally finish this story.

This book is dedicated to God.

Thank You, God.

Introduction

Our culture today treats the Genesis flood as a myth. ¹ There are also many children’s books with cute little smiling animals on a small boat giving the impression that the Genesis flood is a fairy tale. The Genesis flood is not a myth, nor is it a fairy tale. Jesus Christ referred to the Genesis flood as a historical fact. ² Secular research is often discovering evidence of a global flood, but they refuse to attribute it to the Genesis flood. ³ The surface of the earth is filled with beautiful and majestic mountains, landscapes, waterfalls, canyons, and all kinds of other breathtaking scenery. But underneath all the beauty, buried beneath the surface, is a global graveyard known as the fossil record. ⁴ The Genesis flood is the stark reality of the judgment of God on an ungodly world full of violence, ⁵ where the wickedness of man was so great that people wanted to do evil all the time. ⁶ The evil and wickedness was so normal that Jesus said that before the flood, everyone was preoccupied with everyday life and unconcerned about God’s impending judgment. ⁷ While building the Ark, Noah was preaching God’s righteousness to this ungodly world. ⁸ After Noah finished building the Ark, the Bible says that God made the animals go to the Ark. ⁹

What if Noah was alive today and preaching righteousness and warning the world of God’s coming judgment? What would that look like? How would the world respond? How would God make the animals go to the Ark?

This story aims to answer these questions in an allegorical way. Every chapter is created from historical and modern-day current events, books, philosophies, articles, belief systems, etc. I have provided references where applicable to help you see how the subject matter was formulated.

In today’s culture, animals are often used in books and animated movies to convey a moral message or other lesson to children. Although this book uses animals, this story is intended for adults to hopefully cause you to think about what you believe in light of God’s judgment. The Ark was the only way to escape God’s judgment in the Genesis flood. The Ark was symbolic of Jesus Christ who was better than the Ark because He not only saves us from God’s future judgment but He also changes our heart so that we desire the righteousness of God.¹⁰ For this reason, you will see the A in Ark always capitalized to cause you to think of Jesus every time you read the word Ark in this story.

There are a lot of animals in this story so to help eliminate confusion, only the animals that are going to the Ark will be identified as Mr. and Mrs.

Please resist any temptation to jump ahead and read a chapter out of order. This story is designed to flow from start to finish and jumping ahead may cause confusion and disturb the flow of the story.

Join me now in this fascinating story of how the animals got to the Ark…

Chapter 1

The Rainbow

As the rain was tapering off, the clouds began to part and reveal a beautiful blue sky. One by one the sun’s bright rays poked their way through the parting clouds until they lit up a fully formed perfect rainbow. Little Joey Kangaroo was the first to notice the full rainbow arcing across the cloudy sky. It was the first time he had ever seen a rainbow.

Mom! Dad! Look! Look over there! shouted Joey.

Mom and Dad hurried to where Joey was. Look at what? they asked as they looked in the direction that Joey was pointing.

What is that? asked Joey.

That’s a rainbow! Mom and Dad answered together in one voice.

It’s beautiful and amazing! announced Joey.

Yes, it is! Mom agreed. I love how they are so colorful.

There was much that Dad wanted to teach Joey about God and the rainbow, but Joey was very young and not ready to understand the deeper things of God. But Joey was growing fast, and Dad decided this was a good time to teach his son about the true meaning of the rainbow.

Son, the rainbow has a special meaning, Dad began.

A special meaning? inquired Joey. What special meaning?

Dad continued, Son, the rainbow is a sign from God to the humans and every living creature that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood.¹

Destroy the earth by a flood? Joey asked confused. God destroyed the earth?

He sure did, Dad replied. God caused rain to come down on the whole earth for forty days and forty nights until everything was underwater.²

After the recent rain, Joey saw how puddles and streams drained away or dried up, but he could not imagine how much rain it would take to flood the earth until everything was underwater.

It rained for forty days and forty nights straight? asked Joey to be sure he heard his dad correctly.

Yes, it did, Dad confirmed.

Why did God do that? asked Joey.

Because God saw that the wickedness of everyone was great on the earth, and that all of the thoughts of their heart were only evil,³ answered Dad. God decided to put an end to all the evil and violence by destroying all living flesh in a flood.

Did everybody drown? asked Joey.

Not everybody, answered Dad. Sit down, Joey, and I’ll explain the whole story from the beginning. After I’m finished, I’m sure that all your questions will be answered.

Joey sat next to his dad, intently staring at him with his full attention. Dad always told Joey how much God loved him, so Joey was eager to know why God would destroy everybody in a flood. That didn’t sound like love to Joey.

Dad began the story by going back to a time before the flood and before Joey was born when God first spoke to his dad, also known as Mr. Kangaroo.

Chapter 2

God Speaks to Mr. Kangaroo

Mr. Kangaroo was minding his own business eating a shrub when he was suddenly hit in the head with a rock.

Whack!

Ouch! Mr. Kangaroo groaned. He looked down at the rock as it rolled to a stop. He looked up just in time to dodge another rock coming at his head. It was that pesky bully kangaroo again. The bully and all his kangaroo friends turned on Mr. Kangaroo ever since he asked them if they believed in God. They have been mean to him ever since. They kicked him out of their mob but the bully continues to hassle, torment, and mock Mr. Kangaroo every time he sees him. This time the bully was throwing rocks at him.

Why did you do that? Mr. Kangaroo asked while rubbing his head. Why are you throwing rocks at me?

Because I feel like it! the bully shouted as he was throwing another rock.

God is watching you! he shouted even though he knew the bully didn’t believe in God.

What God? I don’t see any God, the bully replied with sarcasm.

Mr. Kangaroo just hopped away from bully as fast as he could, but not before being hit in the back with another rock.

Thump!

Ouch! he groaned again.

The bully chased after Mr. Kangaroo until he caught up to him and yelled at him, That is some God you have, He doesn’t even protect you! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Mr. Kangaroo continued to hop and hop until the bully finally stopped chasing him. He found a place to hide in some bushes while he caught his breath. He thought that he was the only one around that believed in God. Nobody cared about God. Whenever he asked others about God, they just mocked him or laughed and made fun of him. And now they even bullied him.

Why does God allow all this evil? he thought to himself. How come nobody else believes in God?

The more he thought about it, the more saddened he would get. He felt very lonely and depressed. He looked up to the sky and asked, God, I know You’re there, and I believe in You, but how come I’m the only one who believes in You?

Mr. Kangaroo sighed as he wondered why God was so silent. Why did God make it so difficult to believe in Him sometimes? He prayed from a desperate heart, O God, where are You?

He became overwhelmed with sadness. He felt all alone in an evil world full of unbelievers while God remained silent. He sat in silence feeling very sad and lonely.

Suddenly a bright light shown all around him.¹ The light was so bright that he couldn’t see anything. Then a voice from the light said, Mr. Kangaroo, Mr. Kangaroo.

Here I am… I can’t see. Who are you? he asked trembling with fear.

Do not be afraid, for I am God, the voice proclaimed.

Mr. Kangaroo bowed to worship, trembling with fear, Why are You speaking to me? What do you want?

Do not be afraid, Mr. Kangaroo, God declared. I have seen all the violence, and I see that there is continually evil in everyone’s heart. I see that no one seeks after me, and they never will. I am going to destroy all flesh, and I have chosen to save you because of your faith in Me. Do not be afraid. I have heard your prayers. Mr. Kangaroo, I want you to go to the Ark.

What’s an Ark? he asked.

You’ll know it when you see it, God said. When you get to the Ark, you must enter it.

Where is this Ark? he asked.

I will lead you to it, God promised. Do not fear or lose heart, for I will be with you, I will not leave you nor forsake you.²

The light went out, and the voice stopped.

Mr. Kangaroo looked around, but the light was gone.

What just happened? he thought with excitement. Did God really just speak to me? Yes, yes, He did! God just told me to go to the Ark. What’s an Ark? Where is this Ark? God said I would know it when I see it and He would lead me to it. What does that mean? Where do I go from here?"

Mr. Kangaroo was no longer sad. He was excited…yet fearful.

Chapter 3

The Mongooses (Apostasy)

Excuse me! came the sound of another voice.

Yes, God, here I am, Mr. Kangaroo replied.

Excuse me, but you’re on my tail, the voice said.

What? Mr. Kangaroo asked confused.

Look down here, you’re on my tail, the voice said.

He looked down and saw that he was standing on the tail of a mongoose. Oh, I’m so sorry! Mr. Kangaroo apologized as he stepped off his tail. God was just speaking to me, and I thought you were Him.

God was just speaking to you? the mongoose asked with sarcasm. Oh no, not another god-freak who hears from God. What did He say? Is He the One Who told you to step on my tail?

He said I need to go to the Ark because He is going to destroy all living flesh by flooding the earth, answered Mr. Kangaroo.

God told you He is going to destroy all flesh? the mongoose replied. It sounds more like you’ve been talking to the devil.

No, really, Mr. Kangaroo insisted. God just told me that He sees all the evil and He knows that nobody seeks after Him and He is going to destroy all living flesh. Why don’t you come with me to the Ark?

Whoa, slow down there, Mr. Tail Stomper, the mongoose replied. God just told you…like…just now?

Yes, answered Mr. Kangaroo. A bright light shone on me, and God spoke to me through the light and—

A bright light? asked the mongoose. It’s midday. How can you see a bright light with the sun shining so bright?

It was brighter than the sun, Mr. Kangaroo answered. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. It just happened a few minutes ago.

I’ve been here the whole time, I didn’t see a bright light, the mongoose answered.

I don’t know why you didn’t see it, he replied. Did you hear God speaking to me?

No, the mongoose answered. But even if I did hear a voice, it definitely wouldn’t be God’s voice.

Do you believe in God? asked Mr. Kangaroo.

No, no, not me, the mongoose replied. I don’t believe in God. I’ve already tried that god thing. I prayed and did all that religious stuff, but everything just stayed the same. Actually everything is getting worse. I realized that God was just something that I imagined.

You did not imagine God, Mr. Kangaroo insisted. He is real.

If God is real, then why is He so hidden? the mongoose asked.

God is not hidden, Mr. Kangaroo replied. "His attributes are revealed in all His creation.¹ Just look at all the different kinds of animals, plants, stars, and so on."

If God created everything, then where is He? the mongoose replied.

God is hidden to those who have been blinded by their unbelief,² Mr. Kangaroo answered. God also hides Himself from those who don’t repent of their sin but continue in their sin as if God is okay with it.³

God is hidden because He isn’t real, and blaming it on my sin is just a way to make an excuse for God, the mongoose replied. I tried to believe, but my life just got worse and worse. God is not real.

It sounds like things didn’t go your way so you gave up on God, Mr. Kangaroo answered. Maybe things didn’t go your way because you wanted God to conform to your will rather than you conforming to His will. God is not hidden to those who trust Him.

Go my way? the mongoose replied. I lost a relative to sickness, and my brother was eaten. I have been through all kinds of abuse. I didn’t ask for things to go my way. I just wanted to know why God wasn’t there for me when I needed Him. I’ve tried the god thing. Been there, done that. God is not real. I asked God to speak to me many times, but He never did. It was just a bunch of false hope.

No, no, it’s not false hope! Mr. Kangaroo insisted. I’m sorry about your brother and your relative. I too have lost loved ones to evil and sickness. But God is real, and I’m telling you that He just told me that He sees all the evil and violence and His judgment is coming. Please come with me to the Ark!

What’s an Ark? the mongoose asked.

He didn’t tell me, answered Mr. Kangaroo. He told me that I will know it when I see it.

God told you to go to an Ark because He’s going to judge the world and He didn’t tell you what an Ark is? the mongoose asked while holding his laughter. Where is this Ark?

He didn’t tell me where it is, Mr. Kangaroo answered as he realized how silly this all must sound. He told me that He would lead me to it and I must enter it before the flood comes.

The mongoose did everything he could to control himself from bursting out with laughter. After suppressing his laughter, he asked, So God is going to guide you to something you’ve never seen and you don’t know where it is because He is going to judge the world of evil by flooding the earth?

Yes! Yes! Mr. Kangaroo shouted with excitement.

The mongoose couldn’t take it anymore, and he laughed out loud, Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. This is too funny. Can you hear yourself? Is this really how God spoke to you? This is so absurd that I’m glad He didn’t speak to me. The only thing God has led you to is my tail.

I know it sounds silly, but— Mr. Kangaroo replied but was interrupted.

I think someone must’ve hit you in the head with a rock or something, the mongoose said with sarcasm.

I know it sounds silly, but it’s true, Mr. Kangaroo said as he remembered being hit in the head with a rock by that bully kangaroo.

God is not real, which is why this judgment talk is nonsense, the mongoose replied. You’re better off staying in the real world rather than getting caught up in a false hope of a nonexistent God who wants to flood the world.

Please come with me, Mr. Kangaroo pleaded again.

No, no, definitely not, I have already tried God, the mongoose replied. And I certainly don’t want to follow a god who wants to kill everyone.

Mr. Kangaroo began to turn and go his way when the mongoose said one last thing, Wait, come to think of it, there is a couple of mongooses in our gang that have been talking about God, and they were babbling something about a flood too. Maybe they will go with you to your Ark. Why don’t you tell them how God talked to you?

I would love to, where are they? asked Mr. Kangaroo.

The mongoose turned and pointed to a pair of mongooses that were kneeling down. They’re over there. In fact, you can see them praying together right now. They’re always praying. It hasn’t helped them a bit.

Thank you. I’ll go talk to them right now, Mr. Kangaroo said as he began hopping over to them.

As Mr. Kangaroo was hopping toward them, he was thrilled to finally get to speak to someone else who believes in God. He hadn’t met anybody who believed in God in a very long time. He was eager to know if they heard from God too. Did God speak to any other animals about the coming flood? Did God tell anyone else to go to the Ark? As Mr. Kangaroo approached the two mongooses, he was able to hear them praying…

God, we don’t know where to go from here. Everybody is against us. Please help us. Amen.

When the mongooses opened their eyes, they were startled to see Mr. Kangaroo standing right next to them.

What do you want? the irritated Mr. Mongoose asked. Why are you bothering us? Can’t you at least leave us alone while we pray?

I’m sorry for interrupting your prayer, but I was told by another mongoose that you believe in God, Mr. Kangaroo replied. I overheard your prayer, did God speak to you about His coming judgment and the Ark?

Yes, He did. Why are you asking? Mr. Mongoose asked as he was expecting more ridicule for his faith in God.

God spoke to me too, Mr. Kangaroo answered happily. He told me to go to the Ark and enter it when I get there and—

That’s what He said to us! Mr. Mongoose replied with excitement.

Praise the Lord! Mr. Kangaroo exclaimed. I was sure that I was the only one left who believes in God. What a blessing it is to meet the both of you.

We thought we were the only believers left too, Mrs. Mongoose said. We get hassled about our belief in God by almost everybody. Now that God spoke to us, it’s even worse.

Tell me about it, Mr. Kangaroo replied. I was kicked out of my mob of kangaroos, and I just got bullied by a kangaroo before God spoke to me. Then that mongoose over there laughed at me when I told him how God spoke to me. He said he used to believe in God but he doesn’t anymore.

That mongoose stopped believing in God when life didn’t go his way, Mrs. Mongoose said. He went through some very difficult trials and gave up on God.

That’s what I thought, Mr.