“Why can’t we use your special trumpet for this task?” Gabriel asked, chasing a pair of donkeys through a forest and holding a pair of rabbits. “I think it would make it a whole lot easier.”
“The trumpet does not work that way, Gabriel,” Michael said, himself holding a pair of lemurs, while chasing two warthogs through heavy brush. “It worked in the Garden because I did not care which direction they fled, provided it was away from the Garden. This is quite the opposite of that. These animals must go to a specific location. And in the Garden, we wanted every animal to move. Here we need only a small percentage. Speaking of Gardens, have you checked on the Quadruplets lately?”
“Actually, I visited them last week. They seem to be doing fine. The barricade to the Garden’s entrance is holding strong,” Gabriel said. “They did ask how much longer they would be on this assignment. I think they’re getting restless. Ish told me he has held his breath for at least ten centuries, which in his mind is close to five millennia.”
“Have they had any attempted breaches to the barricade?” Michael asked scooping up a pair of foxes in his free arm.
“Only a stray animal here or there, but the flaming sword scared them off immediately. They’ve not seen a human in several centuries. Do you think it’s time to relieve them of their duties?”
“I would say it is nearly time. But they will know when the time has fully come for them to abandon their posts.” Michael assured Gabriel. “Now, let us finish rounding up the last of these animals and assist them to their destinations.”
“Ah, yes,” Gabriel said, “the giant wooden box. If memory serves, it’s just ahead.”
The duo pressed their way through the forest scooping as many small critters as their arms would hold. Soon they reached a clearing, where thousands of animals gathered, being herded by thousands of angels, toward a massive wooden vessel perched atop a hill.
“You are correct,” Michael said, “but we prefer to call it an ark. It is quite an impressive vessel, is it not?”
“Impressive indeed,” Gabriel admitted. “But it did take that man a very long time to build. If you wanted it done more quickly, I know a guy who could do it in a fraction of the time!”
“Did you just try to make a pun with Noah’s name?” Michael asked flatly.
“Maybe.”
“Hm. Are you sure you are not one of Noah’s sons, because you are quite a ham.” Michael said with a grin.
Gabriel groaned. “Perhaps you should leave the jokes to me, and you stick with your…good grammar.”
“Proper grammar,” Michael corrected, and then instantly regretted his decision to correct his protégé. Trying to gloss over this embarrassing exchange, Michael quickly changed the subject. “Come, Gabriel. Let us—ahem—let’s deliver the last of these animals and perform a final inspection of the ark before launch time.”
“Sure thing, boss.” They set their armfuls of animals near the entrance to the ark and flew around the outside of it, looking for any weakness or faults. Then the pair flew inside the ark, unbeknownst to Noah and his wife who were busy making final preparations for the world’s first floating zoo. As Michael and Gabriel neared the end of their inspection, Gabriel noticed a small patch of wood that had not been waterproofed near the front of the ark.
“Michael, it looks like Noah missed a spot.” Gabriel said pointing to the exposed wood. “We should probably tell him.”
“Allow me.” Michael said, then facing Noah let out a quick whistle.” Noah stood from his stool where he had been milking a cow and stared intently toward the front of the ark.
“What is it, Noah?” his wife asked.
“I don’t know, but I have a hunch that I may have missed something.” Noah replied.
Noah’s wife craned her neck to see what he was looking at. “The front? Didn’t you finish that area a few years ago?”
“I thought so. I’ll be right back,” Noah said as he set down his milk pail in exchange for a tar bucket and marched to the front of the ark where Michael and Gabriel were standing. Noah scanned the area, at first not noticing anything, including the pair of angels standing right next to him.
“He doesn’t see it,” Gabriel said. “How can he not see it?”
“He is six hundred years old, Gabriel,” Michael replied. “For a human, he is pretty advanced in age.”
“Yeah, but he’s no Methuselah,” Gabriel rebutted, “and that guy could spot a wart on a bumblebee.”
“It is also a bit dark in this corner of the ark,” Michael countered. “Perhaps I will shed some light for him.” Michael placed his hand on the untreated lumber. Both angels could see the area grow brighter as if a light were shining on it, but Noah simply thought his eyes were adjusting to the dimly lit corner.
“Ah there it is!” Noah smiled as he dipped his tar brush into its bucket and slathered the inky sealant over the bare wood. “That’s better!” As Noah returned to his milking stool he smiled at his wife and said, “Found it!”
Noah’s wife started to speak but was interrupted by a rumbling in the distance. They both raced to the entrance of the ark and looked at the sky, which was beginning to grow dark with thick, rolling clouds.
“What is that?” Noah’s wife asked her husband. “Is that…it?”
“I believe it is.” Noah inspected the landscape, as the last few animals scurried into the ark. Then he looked to the sky as if listening to something in the wind. Noah’s wife heard nothing, but the pair of angels could hear the voice of the Father instructing Noah to bring his family into the ark. “BOYS! Hurry! It’s time!”
Michael and Gabriel hovered above the ark surveying the terrain for any animals who may not have made it on the ark. The only creatures they saw were six humans, three men and three women, scrambling to get on board the ark as the first drops of rain descended to the earth.
“Wow,” Gabriel gasped. “Another first in human history. Water falling from the sky.”
“It is amazing.” Michael agreed. “It would be an awe-inspiring sight to behold were it not for the impending judgment that is soon to follow. Come. It is time to seal them in.” The two descended to the earth accompanied by raindrops that were growing heavier and in greater number. As they approached the ark, they could hear a disturbance from within it.
“What do you mean you don’t know how?” one voice said.
“I wasn’t given instructions, Japheth,” Noah’s voice replied. “But I’m sure God will show us how.”
“Why didn’t he ‘show us’ how when he was giving you instructions on how to build this thing?” another voice demanded.
“What are they arguing about?” Gabriel asked his mentor.
“They are unsure how the door to the ark will be shut,” Michael answered. “When the Father gave Noah instructions, he left out how to secure the ark once the rain begins.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He wanted Noah to trust Him in everything, both in what he did know and in what he did not.”
“But Noah built an entire ark on faith that this very day would come. Wasn’t that enough?”
“The walk of faith is not a once and done journey. It is daily trusting in the Father even when you do not have every answer. Also, Noah’s sons are new to this walk of faith. They must learn how to trust in the Father as their own father does.”
“Hm. Is that why you often don’t tell me everything I need to know?” Gabriel elbowed Michael.
“Perhaps. Or perhaps it is because you ask too many questions, most of which have obvious answers.” Michael smiled back. “Now please assist me in ending their argument and strengthening the faith of Noah’s sons.”
“Happy to!”
The duo each grabbed the edge of the massive wooden door and slowly closed it.
“Look!” Noah exclaimed, interrupting his three complaining sons, motioning to the door.
“How is that happening?” Shem exclaimed.
“God is closing the door for us! Quickly! Grab the tar buckets. Once the door closes, we must seal it from the inside.” Noah and his family scurried into action as Michael and Gabriel closed the door, securing Noah and his family from the coming judgment.
Michael and Gabriel rested against the door allowing the rain to fall around them. After a brief silence Gabriel exclaimed. “Oh, I get it!”
“What do you get?” Michael asked.
“The Quadruplets. They’ll know their task is ending because the Garden is about to be destroyed in this massive flood. Should I go tell them?”
“I think they would love the news,” Michael said. “And while you are at it, could you ask a favor of them?”
“Sure. I’m sure they’ll be happy to do anything after eons of guard duty.”
“Ask them to help you relocate one of the trees in the Garden. The Father has plans for it.”
“I’m assuming by ‘one of the trees’ you mean the good one, right?”
Michael simply nodded and smiled.
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