In the Beginning - God's Covenant with all Creation - Genesis 9:1-17

In the Beginning

God's Covenant with all Creation

Genesis 9:1-17

[Intro:]

Last time we studied how God caused the rain and springs to cease from pouring forth water to flood the earth. God protected all life within the ark during the year and ten days they were on the ark. As soon as Noah exited the ark he built an altar and worshiped the Lord through sacrifice. This is evidence of the righteousness of Noah. He desired to exalt God for His divine protection and provision.

This time we are going to learn some very important details that God communicated after the flood. The things that God said attack the foundations of the following views and practices:

• evolution – abortion, euthanasia, racism, slavery, ethnic cleansing

• premeditated murder

• feminism

• male chauvinism

• modern interpretations of history

Moses writes to describe for the nation of Israel what God promised and instructed after the flood-judgment. This gives necessary instruction for how man is to live after the flood.

[Message:]

#1 – Man's authority, food, and precious nature (1-7)

God instructs Noah and his sons to repopulate the earth (1). This command is described as a blessing from God. Man is instructed to fill the earth. Man is informed that animal life will be under his authority. In this instance God says that animal life will fear man (2). In God's earlier description of the created order there was no mention of fear, only of man's authority (cf. 1:26-28). Sin has made things different. This includes what man and animal life will eat (3). Before sin entered the human race, man and animals did not eat meat (cf. 1:29-30).

Man is instructed not to eat meat while its blood is still in it (4). Scripture describes blood synonymously with life (Lev. 17:10-14). This informs us of the significance of Scripture discussing Christ's blood so often. It refers to His life being given in death for sin. Pagans would drink/eat blood with the hopes that they would gain strength and life from it. This is untrue and satanic in origin.

God introduces the precious nature of man's life in the following verses (5-7). God declares that every animal which kills a human must die (5a). The principle is reiterated under the Mosaic Law (cf. Ex. 21:28-32). Not only that, but every man who kills another man must die (5b). The person who kills another man must be put to death by another man (in this case, a relative – kinsman redeemer). Under the Mosaic Law, individuals who were guilty of premeditated murder were to be executed without question (cf. Ex. 21:12-14; Num. 35:16-32; Rom. 13:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). God is establishing the principle that man's life is precious and murder shows contempt toward the victim and ultimately toward God (6). God is the life-giver and murder is taking something that only the Creator has the right to decide. Life is not precious because it is fragile or unique. It is not precious because man is an intelligent being or has strength. Human life is precious because man is made in God's image.

Noah and his sons are called to repopulate the earth (7). Then God gives them a positive affirmation not to take the life of another man.

#2 – God's covenant with all creation (8-17)

God declares that He is establishing a covenant with all men, animals, and the earth (8-11). Noah, his sons, and all of his descendants are included in this covenant (9). God also includes all animal life in this covenant (10). The covenant states that God will never again destroy all flesh with a flood (11). This is a gracious promise from a merciful God. Scripture tells us that one day God will judge the earth with fire (2 Pet. 3:1-7, 10-13).

God states that the sign of His covenant with all creation would be a rainbow (12-15). When a covenant was established there was always a visible seal and reminder of the agreement. In this case it was a rainbow; for Abraham it was circumcision; and for Israel under the Law it was the sabbath. Many people theorize that water baptism is the sign of the covenant between God and the Christian. This is the reason for why Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Methodists baptized babies. This is an un-biblical practice. More likely, the sign of the covenant between God and the Christian is Spirit-baptism; that is, the sign of one being a true believer is that he possesses the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf. Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 2:29; 8:9-11). The rainbow will be a continual reminder to God not to destroy all flesh again with a flood. God describes this covenant as everlasting (16-17). God will keep His word.

[Conclusion:]

#1 – Man's authority, food, and precious nature (1-7)

#2 – God's covenant with all creation (8-17)

God judged sinful man with the flood, wiping out all but eight people. Noah's survival was based on his righteousness through faith in God's promises. God would use Noah, through his son Shem, to bring about the birth of the Messiah – Jesus (Lk. 3:36; cf. v. 23). God's redemptive plan was not halted by: Cain's murder of Abel (birth of Seth), nor by the corruption of mankind (Noah), nor by the sons of God impregnating human women (the flood), nor by the Nephilim, fallen ones (the flood). God wiped out wicked man through the flood. God chose to continue His redemptive plan through Noah's son Shem.

Man's life is precious because he is made in the image of God. When sinful man denies this truth it leads to such wickedness as: abortion, euthanasia, and premeditated murder. Evolutionary thought leads to racism, slavery, and ethnic cleansing. According to Scripture there is only one race – human (Gen. 9:18-19). Remember this truth, human life is precious because he is made in the image of God.

Genesis 6:11-22

In
the Beginning

Genesis
6:11-22

Intro:

Last
week we studied 6:5-10. We learned of God's anger over the
wickedness of mankin. This resulted in God giving mankind a grace
period of 120 years to repent (6:3). The text tells us that God
regretted creating mankind because of his sinfulness. After the 120
years God promises that He will wipe out man and animals. This
brings to mind God's promise of a Redeemer (3:15). Noah is announced
as being pleasing to God and walking with Him. Noah will be used to
preserve the family line and one of his descendants will be the
Redeemer (Lk. 3:23. 36-38).

This week we
will be introduced to God revealing to Noah His displeasure with the
wickedness of mankind. God has observed how man is living and He
cannot stand their sin any longer. God reveals that He is going to
bring a worldwide flood, which will wipe out mankind and animals.
God is going to judge sin and the only way to avoid that judgment is
to choose God's means of rescue.

Message:

God
examines the earth and describes it as corrupt (11). He also
describes it as being full of violence. The reason for this is the
presence of a sinful nature in mankind. It is interesting to note
that God is described as “looking on the earth” as though He were
an eyewitness to the corruption of humanity. The Hebrew word
translated corrupt
means “to be ruined or rotten.” All of mankind had become
morally rotten (12).

God
addresses Noah, who had been described as “walking with God” and
tells him what He plans to do (13). God has determined to wipe out
mankind because of his wickedness. The earth is described as being
filled with
violence
as a result of man's sin (cf. v. 11). God says that He is going to
wipe out man using the earth. God can only endure unrepentant sin
for so long.

God instructs
Noah to build an ark made of gopher wood (14). This Hebrew word is
only used in one other account to describe what Moses' mother placed
him in to preserve his life (cf. Ex. 2:3, 5). We are unsure of what
type of wood this refers to. Some say it was pine, and others say
cypress. The ark was to contain rooms and the ark was to be covered
with pitch inside and out. The pitch was to ensure that the ark
would be watertight. The ark was to be 450' long, 75' wide, and 45'
hight (15). A cubit equals approximately 18”.

Noah
is to make a window (the word could be translated roof)
for the ark (16). He was to finish the ark to within 18 inches of
the top. This is fine because the water wouldn't get that high. He
was also to make a door in the side of the ark which would allow
people and animals to enter. There were to be three decks on the
ark.

God
emphasizes that He is the one who is brining the flood to judge man's
sin (17). He will destroy everything that has the breath of life in
it (cf. 2:7, 19). Everything on earth will perish, including man and
animals. But God has chosen to establish a covenant with Noah (18).
Noah wouldn't learn the full extent of this covenant until after he
exited the ark (cf. 9:8-17). As a result of God entering into this
covenant with Noah, Noah will enter the ark and be rescued from
judgment. Along with Noah will be his wife, his sons, and the wives
of his sons. They are spared because they are related to Noah. This
is much like Lot being spared because he was related to Abraham (cf.
19:1-29).

Noah
is also to bring two of every animal onto the ark with him (19).
They would be preserved in this way from the flood judgment. Since
there would be one male and one female this would ensure the
re-population on the animals on earth. This included birds, land
animals, and creeping animals (20). The animals will come to Noah.
Noah never had to go find the animals. This is contrary to what Bill
Maher said earlier this year in an interview to promote his
documentary Religulous.
He said, “Come on, can we really trust a book that says some 800
year old man went around and found two of every animal on earth to
get them on the ark. Can you really be intelligent and believe that
Noah did that?” First of all, Noah was only about 600 years old
when the flood began. Second of all, the animals came to Noah.

God
instructs Noah to take some of all edible food onto the ark (21).
Remember, that at this time man and animals were still not meat
eaters (cf. 9:1-4). The food that Noah took onto the ark would be
for the people (8 including Noah) and the animals. Noah did
everything that God asked him to do (22). This is a comment on the
kind of man that Noah was (cf. 6:8-9; 7:1).

Conclusion:

Here
are some interesting things to note from the passage:

#1 – God
notices how mankind lives

#2 – God
will eventually judge sin

#3 – God is
holy and righteous

#4 – God is
gracious and merciful

#5 – God
rewards obedience