Why Would a Loving God Send a Flood? — The Noah’s Ark Bible Story for Kids (Genesis 6–9)

When children hear about Noah’s Ark and the flood, what comes to mind is animals, a flood, the rainbow, and a big boat — but one question often lingers:
“If God loves everyone, why did He send a flood?”

That’s a deep question — and it opens the door for one of the most powerful lessons in the Bible: God’s justice, mercy, and His plan to save those who trust Him.

Quick Answer for Parents and Teachers

God sent the flood because people had filled the world with violence and evil. But even in judgment, He showed mercy by saving Noah and his family. The story of the flood reminds children that God is both loving and just — and that obedience brings protection.

How to Explain This to a Child

When kids ask “Why did God flood the world?” you can gently say:

“God saw people hurting each other and doing wrong things all the time. His heart was sad. So He decided to start fresh — but He saved Noah because Noah still loved and obeyed Him. God promised never to do it again, and He gave us a rainbow as a sign.”

Then you can add:
“Even when God has to correct people, His love never stops. The rainbow is His way of saying, ‘I keep My promises.’”

The Story of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6–9)

A Sinful World and a Righteous Man

Many years after Adam and Eve were created, human beings began multiplying on the face of the earth. Around this time, many bad things began happening on the earth that were sinful before God. Some angels rebelled against God and had children with human beings. The children of angels and human beings were the Nephilim. The Nephilim were giants and were very strong. Evil greatly increased among human beings, and on that earth, even human thoughts were continually evil. Gen 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. (WEB)

God’s heart was so sad because he was heartbroken by what people were doing. He decided to wipe out human beings and all creatures from the earth. God was even sorry that he had made man. But one man stood out — Noah. He loved God and obeyed Him even when others didn’t. Gen 6:9 This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. (WEB)

God’s Warning

Gen6:17 I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. (WEB)

God told Noah to build an ark in which he would be safe from the coming flood. God told Noah how to build the ark, which wood to use, and the measurements. These are the people that God told Noah would go into the ark: Noah himself, his sons and their wives, two of every kind of living thing. While everyone else was living their lives however they wanted, Noah obeyed God and built the ark. When the time for the flood came, God brought the animals and birds to the ark. Noah and his family went into the ark with the animals and birds, and they sealed the door.

The Great Flood

It began to rain, and the rain lasted for forty days and forty nights. The water covered the whole earth, and the water levels were so high. Everything that had breath died. The tallest mountains and trees were all covered by water. So there was nothing to see on the earth except water. The ark floated on the water, so everyone inside it was safe.

A New Beginning

Gen 8:16 “Go out of the ship, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. (WEB)

The flood was on the earth for one hundred and fifty days. When the water began to dry up, the ark rested on Mount Ararat. When dry land appeared, Noah opened the door of the ark, and then they all came out. He built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. When God smelled the sweet aroma from the sacrifice that Noah offered, He said that he would never again send a flood to destroy the earth and everything in even if people sin. God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of that promise.

Gen 9:16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (WEB)

Lessons from the Story of Noah’s Ark (H2 – use Kadence Info Box with soft gold accent & image)

Discussion Questions for Children

Activities and Resources

• Printable: Noah’s Ark Coloring Pages — pairs of animals, rainbow, and ark.
• Craft Idea: Build a paper ark and fill it with animal cutouts.
• Recommended Book: The Beginner’s Bible: Noah’s Ark (affiliate link option).
• Video Resource: Animated Noah’s Ark Bible Story for Kids (YouTube).
• Memory Verse:
  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” – Genesis 6:8

FAQ — Noah’s Flood Questions Kids Often Ask

Why did God choose Noah?

Because Noah lived righteously and obeyed God even when others did not. God always honors those who walk with Him.

Did all animals fit in the ark?

Yes — It was a miracle of God.

What does the rainbow mean?

The rainbow is a symbol of God’s promise of forgiveness and love.

Closing Thought

The story of Noah’s Flood isn’t just about water or destruction — it’s about a God who loves deeply, corrects justly, and always redeems. When your child sees a rainbow, remind them that God’s promises endure forever.