Jennifer Brady, age 12, of Davenport, Iowa, for her question:

HOW OLD WAS NOAH?

A favorite Biblical character of the Old Testament is Noah, an honest man who found favor in the eyes of God. According to the Bible, Noah lived to be 950 years old.

According to the book of Genesis, mankind became so wicked that God decided to send a flood to cover the world, destroying mankind.

The Bible story says that God told Noah to build an ark. Then he, his wife, his three sons and their wives were to collect two of every species of beast, bird and insect.

Then the great flood came. For 40 days and 40 nights it rained. The earth was covered with water for 150 days but the ark floated safely.

The ark came to rest safely on Mount Ararat.

God is said to have made a deal with Noah. He said that he would never again destroy man but instead He would set His bow, or rainbow, in the clouds as a symbol of mercy.