Rowdy Encounters Noah’s Ark

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I took, as part of our Kamp Keck activities, three of our grandchildren, Rowdy, Calvin and Hadley to The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Ark Encounter features a replica of Noah’s Ark based on the description of the ark Noah was to build in Genesis 6.14-16. In addition to the full-scale Ark, the park includes Ararat Ridge Zoo, Zip Lines, Gift Shop, Market and Restaurant. Ark Encounter is 45 minutes from Cincinnati, 95 minutes from Louisville and 50 minutes from Lexington, Kentucky.

 There are many “Ark Want-to-Bees,” but this is the real deal, which exists along with two other full-scale arks in the world that I know about. One is in water and has sailed several rivers, and is currently moored near Dordrecht, Netherlands. It is referred to a Johan’s Ark and like the Ark Encounter, it is an interactive and educational museum. The second is in Hong Kong and includes hotel rooms, along with its museum. 

A few reduced scale replicas exist, but the one I find most interesting was built by Greenpeace to warn us about the “impending climate disaster.” It is located in Igdir, eastern Turkey, not far from Mount Ararat.

 So, in a sense, the “deluge” or catastrophic flood of the Bible is larger than faith. Yet, many doubt. On the other hand, the Bible and many other sources say it did. Accounts have been told and recorded from many cultures and from around the world. There are African, Asian, South American, European as well as from the Middle East. Most pre-date the Biblical story and faith of Abraham. Most place the event the earliest of early events in the world. So this is the context. We don’t know a great deal about the people and culture of the time, except that the Bible as well as some of the myths dealing with the flood say the people on earth were evil (Genesis 6.1-7).

 Back to the “real deal.” I write this because the size and investment in these 3 structures is no small feat and the interactive materials provided are extensive. You may want to re-read Genesis 6-8 to understand the context behind the ark. Scripture says:

·         The ark is to be 450 feet long (300 cubits) and 75 feet wide (50 cubits) and 45 feet high (30 cubits).

·         It is to have 3 decks and a door in the side. It is to have a roof. It is to have rooms.

·         The ark is to be made of gopher wood covered inside and out with pitch.

·         Noah was instructed to bring 2 of every living sort, male and female onboard.

·         Only 8 people were allowed to go-onboard: Noah and his wife and his 3 sons and their wives.

·         God warned them that the earth was being judged and would be destroyed.

In other words, these three arks are huge. So, when we entered the Ark in Kentucky, Rowdy, who is only 7 years old went straight to the theological questions. Why did Noah need this boat? Is this Noah’s boat? Why did God want to send a flood? The kid is serious minded! But, he has always been that way.

On deck one there were a variety of cage types, pots and animal exhibits. Rowdy and Calvin loved the dinosaur-like creatures. The exhibits were thought-provoking. The creatures on display were familiar, yet not so-familiar. Deck one contained worms, reptiles, amphibians and flying creatures, along with water storage vessels. Of course, Rowdy wanted to know about each and every animal. At the Ark Encounter, animals were set apart by “kind.” Depending on your translation, “sort” is also used (Genesis 6.19-20). The analytical exercises these folks went through reminded me of the classification of animals in biology. The experts behind Ark Encounter came up with nearly 1400 different “kinds.” Rowy didn’t ask about this and I was glad.

Deck two held more reptiles, clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7.8-1 and Leviticus 11) along with food storage and living quarters, but the major focus was on the “Pre-Flood World.” Mid-deck there is a theater that loops an “Interview with Noah.” Deck 2 also has dioramas showing the “Working Quarters” of Noah’s family.

 

 On this deck Rowdy asked, “What are they doing? Did God Make Satan? Why is Satan evil? Does Satan look like a snake? Why is the snake on that seat? Why are they being so mean to him?” I should pause here to explain that Rowdy, living the first 5 years of his life in China, had been exposed to snakes, either physically in his environment or as a threaten menace. We don’t know which, but he is extremely fearful of snakes. When we are at a zoo he will not go near a herpetology house. So the Biblical concept of Satan as a serpent was resonating with him. Be advised, if you have a child with you, prepare to answer a lot of questions.

 Like Rowdy, I had my own questions. How could Noah have done this? What were his resources and timeframe to build it? Was it possible to build a viable, seaworthy structure of that size in antiquity? Was there space enough for all the species of animals that lived? How did he provide for them while it rained and while they waited over a year to leave the ark? 

 This deck also provided great illustrations alongside dioramas. The most thought provoking dioramas were a library, carpenter and blacksmith shops. Now imagine that Noah worked through systems dealing with ark air ventilation, water and solid waste management.

 These stimulating questions are the foundation to the Ark Encounter. Answers provided will stretch your mind and faith. Did Noah and his family have that kind of technology? What did people before the flood know? Did they read and write? If the Tower of Babel came generations after Noah and his sons, is that evidence that people were more advanced than we might think? Maybe we moderns need to think more “outside the box.” How did the Egyptians build the pyramids? How did Gobekli Tepe come about? What about the ruins at Macho Picchu and Sacsayhuaman? How was Stonehenge constructed? We don’t know what technologies these ancient civilizations may have had.

  Deck three imagines the “Living Quarters” of Noah’s family (Shem, Ham, Japheth and their wives). There were looms for weaving cloth and areas for growing vegetables. There is another theater, this one showing “As in The Days of Noah.” The second half of deck three is more apologist than the earlier decks presenting an argument for “Why the Bible is True.”

Midway through this deck, Hadley, Rowdy and Calvin had pretty much run out of steam. Rowdy’s stream of questions wasn’t what it was. They were ready for the gift shop and an icy drink and something to eat. My granddaughter, Hadley and our junior counselor, has never seen a gift shop she didn’t like. So, deck 3 was pretty much a quick walk through. What we missed were exhibits pertaining to the concepts of general geology, the Tower of Babel, and the Ice Age.

 

  I think we will return some day, maybe without grandchildren, but primed with what we have encountered to finish the Ark Encounter. It will take our own day to completely digest this experience.

Scripture:

Genesis 6.14-16 – The Story of Noah, His wife and three sons and their wives

Ezekiel 14.12 – The righteousness of Noah, Daniel and Job saved their lives.

Matthew 24.36-42 – As with Noah, things change. God’s promises (His Son’s return) are true.

Hebrews 11.7-8 – Noah by faith constructed an ark for the saving of his household.