The story of Noah and the Ark is one of the most profound illustrations of God’s wisdom and inclusivity.
When Noah was tasked with building the Ark, he was also instructed to take two of every kind of animal—male and female—into the Ark. Let that sink in: every animal, not some animals, not only the "perfect" animals, and certainly not only the animals Noah might have liked or understood.
All of them. Lions, doves, hyenas, snakes, mice, and yes, even the very mosquitoes that taument me at night.
Noah didn’t ask, “But why, Lord? What about the animals I don’t like or understand?” He didn’t pause to say, “Surely we can leave out the cockroach or the vulture.” He obeyed because he understood that every creature had a role to play in the life that would come after the flood.
God’s wisdom surpassed Noah’s personal preferences, and so he made room for all life on the Ark.
And yet here we are, generations later, repeatedly failing to carry forward that wisdom. We’ve become judges, jury, and executioners of one another—deciding who is worthy of love, dignity, and respect based on superficial differences like race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or cultural beliefs.
It’s as if we’ve collectively forgotten one of the most basic truths in the Bible: that we are all made in God’s image.
Let’s be honest. Many homophobic people have appointed themselves as mini-gods, spending their days policing and condemning the LGBTQIA+ community. They’ll tell you that it’s about protecting morality, about “what God wants,” but is it really? Is it God’s work to sit on social media or in churches shouting damnation, or is it the work of personal bias and insecurity masked as righteousness?
The Bible tells us to “love thy neighbor,” not “love thy neighbor only if they look, act, or believe the way you do.” If God, in His infinite wisdom, made us all in His image, who are we to say that someone’s identity, orientation, or journey is wrong?
Why are we so quick to appoint ourselves as moral overseers when even Noah, in all his righteousness, didn’t exclude a single creature from the Ark?
The truth is that this obsession with judgment has caused more harm than good. It has alienated people from faith, divided families, and created an environment where many feel unworthy of God’s love. But here’s the thing: God’s love isn’t something that anyone has the authority to gatekeep.
It’s not a club membership that requires you to fit a certain mold. It’s infinite, boundless, and unconditional.
Let’s also take a moment to reflect on how colonialism and apartheid weaponized the Bible. White supremacists used scripture to justify racism, to dehumanize Black people, and to break apart families and societies. They twisted God’s word to promote hate, oppression, and violence—all while claiming moral superiority.
And yet, those same people who now cry “love thy neighbor” against oppression often fail to extend that same love to the LGBTQIA+ community or to people whose beliefs don’t align with theirs. Was it correct then? No. Is it correct now? Absolutely not. The Bible was never meant to be a tool of division. Its message is one of unity, love, and understanding. So why do we continue to use it to justify our biases?
Another topic close to my heart is the demonization of ancestors in certain religious circles. As someone who honors and acknowledges my lineage, I find it absurd that some people believe there is no connection between God and our ancestors. How did we reach a place where the very people who raised us, guided us, and loved us become vilified simply because they passed on?
For me, my ancestors are not some mystical, evil spirits I’m conjuring—they are my grandparents who sat me on their laps, told me stories, and taught me about life. They prayed to God, they worked hard, they were kind and loving. So how, when they die, are they suddenly “evil spirits”?
Even in the Bible, we see examples of God acknowledging those who have passed. Are we then to believe that God was endorsing evil spirits? Or is it possible that the Bible, like all things, must be read with context, understanding, and a heart that is open to the truth rather than twisted to fit personal agendas?
When Noah welcomed all animals into the Ark, it was a symbol of unity and coexistence. It was a divine message that every living thing has a role, a purpose, and a place in God’s plan. The same applies to humanity. We are all here for a reason, regardless of our race, gender, sexual identity, cultural beliefs, or ancestral connections.
God’s love does not discriminate. It doesn’t care whether you’re Black, White, gay, straight, cisgender, transgender, young, old, Christian, Muslim, or traditionalist. His love is boundless, and we, too, are called to reflect that love in our interactions with others.
The world would be a better place if we embraced the lesson of the Ark: that diversity is not a flaw but a gift. Every person, every culture, every identity adds to the richness of humanity. Just as every animal had a role to play in the post-flood world, every person has a purpose in God’s plan.
To the self-appointed judges of the world: remember the story of Noah. If even the cockroach had a place on the Ark, why would you think that anyone doesn’t have a place in God’s creation? Let us stop dividing ourselves over things that are superficial and instead focus on lifting one another up, just as God intended.
What would happen if we built our own Ark—not of wood and nails, but of compassion and understanding? An Ark where everyone is welcome, where judgment is replaced with acceptance, and where love is the guiding principle?
This is the challenge I pose to myself and to you, dear reader. We are all made in His image. We are all worthy of love, respect, and dignity. Let’s build an Ark of unity and compassion, one where everyone is welcome.
After all, the floodwaters of life come for us all, and we are better together than apart.
Now, can somebody say AMEN! Thank you and happy reading bangani.
