Newly elected to Congress former local television newsman Evan Baxter leaves his hometown of Buffalo New York and shepherds his family to suburban northern Virginia where his congressional campaign declares that he will change the world without explaining how he will do so. On his first day on the job he meets Marty Stringer Rita Daniels and top congressman Chuck Long. Soon after his arrival strange things start to happen: animals simply follow Evan without any apparent reason; he grows a beard that immediately reappears no matter how many times he shaves; eight vacant lots in Evan`s neighborhood are purchased in his name; ancient tools and wood are sent to his house; and the number ""614"" appears everywhere he goes. Evan soon learns that his house number indicates a verse in the Book of Genesis for which God instructs Evan to build a replica of Noah`s Ark in preparation for a flood. Evan`s family initially believes he is having an extraordinary mid-life crisis; later his sons suspect something greater is occurring and assist him in the construction of the ark although his wife Joan does not. Reappearing God tells Evan the flood will come at midday on September 22.Animals later follow Evan to Congress and when he explains the reason for this Long removes Evan`s name from the Congress bill that he is cosponsoring with him. Joan upon seeing a news report that features the Ark takes her sons to the house decides to leave Evan because she believes he is insane. Evan then builds the Ark alone gaining international notice. Some time after Joan leaves Evan God appears to her as a waiter at a diner wearing a name tag displaying ""Al Mighty"". In this guise he tells her God does not give things but only the opportunity by which to obtain things citing togetherness of families as one of these things. Seeing his meaning Joan returns to Evan to finish the Ark together. Meanwhile word reaches Evan that Long has commissioned a dam and has cut corners in doing so. On September 22 Evan loads hundreds of animals onto the newly finished ark in front of live news crews and nearby citizens. Minutes pass with no sign of rain provoking the spectators` scorn. A large rainstorm does come but is brief. Evan takes this as a sign of the coming flood but is proven wrong. Joan tells Evan to leave the Ark; however Evan remembers Long`s dam which he fears may burst. As he thinks on this the dam does burst flooding the streets. At this all spectators and policemen board the ark which sails down the streets of Washington D.C. on the floodwaters of the lake until it eventually lands touching the front of the Capitol. Evan then tells Long that the flood was caused by his poor design of the dam which incites the other congressmen present to turn against Long. As investigations on Long are occurring Evan and his family later go on a hiking trip during which God reappears to Evan telling him that the way to change the world is by doing one Act of Random Kindness (""ARK"") at a time.