Genesis 7:1 to 9:17 God is faithful to protect his people and always keeps his promises. Understand that God safely protected Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark. Recognize the rainbow as God's bright covenant promise of love and mercy. Trust that God always keeps every promise he makes. Pairs of animals marched into the ark, and God shut the door. Rain fell for forty days, but God remembered Noah and made the floodwaters recede. Two by Two into the Ark Animals marched into the ark two by two: tall giraffes, heavy elephants, fluttering birds, and little mice! Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives went inside. Then the Lord God himself shut the door tight. Rain poured from the clouds, but inside the ark, everyone was safe and warm in God's care. The Dove and the Olive Branch After forty days, the rain stopped, and God sent a warm wind to dry the waters. The ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Noah sent out a gentle dove. The dove returned with a fresh green olive branch in its beak! Noah knew the waters had gone down. The Rainbow of Promise Noah, his family, and all the animals walked out onto dry land. Noah built an altar and praised God. Then God painted a breathtaking, colorful rainbow across the sky and said: "This is the sign of my covenant. Never again will a flood cover the whole earth. Whenever you see the rainbow, remember my promise!" I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant. Genesis 9:13 Who closed the door of the ark to keep Noah and the animals safe? The Lord God himself Noah with a key A friendly bear The wind The Lord God himself Genesis 7:16 tells us that after they went in, the Lord shut him in. What did the dove bring back to Noah in its beak? A fresh green olive leaf A golden coin A little stone A grape A fresh green olive leaf The dove returned with an olive leaf, showing that dry land and plants were returning. What colorful sign did God place in the sky as his promise? A bright rainbow A shooting star A red flag A silver cloud A bright rainbow God placed the rainbow in the clouds as a sign of his everlasting promise. Draw a colorful rainbow on paper this week and write "God Keeps His Promises" underneath. Hang it by your bed to remember God's faithfulness. Faithful God, thank you for keeping Noah and the animals safe in the ark. Thank you for the beautiful rainbow that reminds us you always keep your promises. I can trust you every single day. In Jesus' name, Amen. How do you feel when you see a rainbow in the sky after it rains? What is a promise that someone made to you that made you happy? Children discover that God protected Noah through the flood and gave the rainbow as an enduring promise of mercy and faithfulness. Show a prism or a picture of a brilliant rainbow. Ask: What does God want us to remember whenever we see a rainbow? That God always keeps his promises! How did all those animals fit inside the ark? The ark was enormous, longer than a city block and three decks high, with plenty of room for food and all the animals God brought. 5 min Hook & Prayer, 10 min Story, 8 min Memory Verse Tile Practice, 7 min Quiz & Blessing