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 7:1-24

In the Beginning

Genesis 7:1-24

[Intro:]

In our previous message we looked at how God spoke with Noah about how He was going to judge man for his sinful rebellion against God. Noah was found by God to be righteous and therefore would escape the coming judgment. Noah's household was also spared because of God's acceptance of Noah. Noah was to build an ark which was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. He is instructed by God that 2 of every animal on earth would come to him and enter the ark to be saved. Noah was to build the ark and gather food for the animals and humans to eat.

Tonight we jump back into our Genesis study with the actual event of the flood coming on the earth. There is grace and mercy to be found in this account and also holiness and justice.

1-5

This chapter begins by God instructing Noah in what he is to do now that the ark has been completed (1). Noah and his household, which includes his wife, three sons and three daughters-in-law. The reason why they are entering the ark is that God sees Noah in this way, "Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time." (Ge 7:1). Noah and his family are being saved from the judgment of the flood because God has viewed Noah as righteous. Noah is the only human on earth at this time that was viewed by God as righteous.

God instructs Noah to take 7 pairs of every clean animal onto the ark (2). God's earlier instruction had been to take 1 pair of every animal onto the ark with him, clean and unclean (cf. 6:19-20). There is a purpose for God including 6 extra pairs of clean animals. First, extra clean animals will be needed for making sacrifice to God (cf. 8:20). Second, extra clean animals will be needed for food (cf. 9:3). After the flood is over God allows humans to eat clean animals for food. God also instructs Noah to bring 7 pairs of the clean birds, which would also be used for food and sacrifice (3). Even at this early time in human history God is distinguishing between clean and unclean (cf. Lev. 11:1-23). So before the Law was given God indicated to Noah (through how many pairs of each animal came) which animals were clean and unclean.

The Lord communicates to Noah that 7 days from that moment He will bring rain on the earth for 40 days and nights (4). He even communicates the reason for which He is bringing the rain. God is bringing this rain to kill all living things. Remember, this is judgment for sinful rebellion against God. During this period mankind is guided by their conscience. They are failing miserably. We are left with Moses' statement that Noah obeyed God (5).

6-12

In verse 6 we are given a frame of reference for the time of the flood (6). The text tells us that Noah was 600 years old when the flood hit. Remember Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (cf. 5:32). Noah and his family enter the ark because God had warned that 7 days from that time the flood was coming (7; cf. 7:4). All of the animals came to Noah to enter the ark (8-9). There were 7 pairs of the clean animals and there was 1 pair of the unclean animals (cf. 7:2). They came just as God said they would and they entered the ark (cf. 6:20).

After the 7 days were complete (cf. 7:4) the flood came upon the earth (10). Verse 11 gives us a bookend by which to date the length of the flood and its consequences (11). On the 17^th day of the 2^nd month in the year that Noah was 600 the fountains of the great deep burst open and the floodgates of the sky were opened. So this is our timing by which we are able to determine the length of the flood and its consequences. The text mentions that the fountains of the great deep burst open. James Freeman in his book on Manners and Customs in the Bible said,

“So everything in the verse indicates that there were two great sources of the flood waters: a massive downpour from above the earth, and gigantic geysers shooting up from within the earth. Rather than it being only a simple rain pouring down from above, the Flood was also a violent upheaval of the earth that undoubtedly caused extensive changes in the geographical structure of the earth.”¹

Answers in Genesis teaches that there was a great volcanic upheaval that caused this water from underground springs to shoot out of the ocean floor. This is very possible. The rain was falling heavily from the sky and the water was rising from below. The rain fell for 40 days and nights just as God said it would (cf. 7:4).

“The ark had a ratio (length x width x height) of 30 x 5 x 3. According to modern shipbuilders, this ratio represents an advanced knowledge of shipbuilding since it is the optimum design for stability in rough seas. The ark, as designed by God, was virtually impossible to capsize—to do so, it would have to be tilted over 90 degrees.”²

13-16

Verses 13-24 give us a more detailed description of the events preceding the flood judgment. The text tells us that Noah, his family, and animals entered the ark on the same day (13-14). Verse 14 mentions 4 of the 5 categories of animal life mentioned in the creation account (cf. 1:21-25). The only category of animal life not mentioned was the sea creatures, who could remain alive outside of the ark.

“With the shorter cubit the ark would have an internal volume of 1,518,750 cubic feet, or the equivalent of 569 standard railroad boxcars. If the average sized animal was the size of a sheep it means the ark could hold over 125,000 sheep. (Assuming the shape of the ark to be rectangular there would have been over 100,000 sq. ft of floor space!).”³

The animals entered the ark in pairs (15). Again, it is worth mentioning that the animals came to Noah. He didn't have to gather them. Each pair consisted of one male and one female (16). The animals entered just as God had commanded Noah. There is an interesting contrast made in this verse. God is described as commanding Noah, but the Lord is described as shutting the door. The contrast is made to highlight His role of redeemer as Lord.

17-24

The flood came and it lasted 40 days (17). The effects of the flood lasted longer than 40 days, but the flow of water ended after 40 days. The water increased to the point that it lifted the ark causing it to float. The water covered the earth (18). This was not a local flood effecting only the Middle East. It was global. The water continued to increase till covered all of the high mountains worldwide (19).

Harold J. Chadwick the editor of the work entitled Manners and Customs of the Bible wrote the following, “Some years ago during a trip to the Smoky Mountains, my family and I visited the Sequoia Caverns in northern Georgia, just across the border from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Inside the caverns, the guide pointed out fish bones of all sizes that were pressed into the ceiling of a passageway between two caverns. He said the same kind of fossils could be seen in the ceiling of the main cavern, which was about 50 feet high. Among the fish fossils in the passageway was the imprint of the bottom of a human foot. The guide, a strong Christian who used the tour to proclaim Christ, said that nothing could have pressed the fish and the human foot into the ceiling except the pressure of a tremendous flood of unprecedented depth. That flood, he said, could only have been Noah’s Flood.”⁴

After the water had covered the highest mountains it increased another 15 cubits (or 22.5 feet). The ark itself was 30 cubits high (or 45 feet; cf. 6:15). This made the water deep enough so that the ark wouldn't run aground.

The text leaves us with some important comments on the flood judgment (21-24). Every land animal, bird, and human being was killed by the flood (21-22). The only survivors were found on the ark (23). There was a movie recently created that portrayed flood survivors who weren't on the ark. This is fiction. Only 8 people survived the flood and they were inside the ark (Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5). The water level stayed the same for 150 days (24). This means that the entire earth, including the highest mountains, were covered for this 150 period. After the 150 days the water level began to decrease (cf. 8:3).

[Conclusion:]

In the account of the flood judgment we are given understanding about how God dealt with the mankind in ancient times. They continually rebelled against Him and He eventually judged them for their sin. God being gracious and merciful provided a means a escape for Noah who was the only righteous man on earth during that time.

There is a time of judgment coming on the earth again. God is going to deal with man's sinful rebellion against Him at a future time (2 Pet. 3:1-10). As believers we need to be warning the lost of the coming judgment and how to avoid it. The gospel is man's ark in our time.

1Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 11

2Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 9

3Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 10

4Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 12

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

Genesis 6:5-10

In the Beginning

Genesis 6:5-10

Intro:

A couple of weeks ago we studied 6:1-4. I shared with you the three main interpretations of the passage and what I believe is most likely the accurate interpretation. The sons of God were angels who in a Satanic plot to pollute the human race impregnated human women. This was Satan's plan to foil God's redemptive plan. These disobedient angels were punished by being imprisoned in Tartarus until the Great White Throne Judgment. The Nephilim (“fallen ones”) were giants who were killed by the flood. The offspring of the demonic and human relationships were also killed by the flood. The flood undoes Satan's plot. God's plan will always be accomplished.

This week we are going to learn some more about the time leading up to the flood. We are going to learn a lot about God's character from these chapters. The human race is in rebellion against God and He will only allow it for so long. Eventually God must judge sin. He will not allow rebellion to last forever.

Message:

This section begins with God's observation of mankind (5). There have been a lot of people born since Adam sinned and every one of them was born with a sinful nature (cf. 5:3). As time progressed the sin of mankind continued to increase (cf. Rom. 1:18-25). The text informs us that man has a depraved nature (cf. Rom. 3:10-18). After Adam sinned, man's nature was bent toward evil (cf. Rom. 5:12-14, 18-21). This is one of the clearest descriptions of man's sinful nature. When man was created he was sinless (cf. Gen. 1:31; 2:25). All of that has changed. Now everything that man does is tainted with sin (cf. Rom. 8:5-8).

We learn from verse six how God truly feels about man's sin (6). God actually regretted that He created man. This is a very telling statement. Man's sin causes God grief. This is an indication of the person-hood of God, that He has emotion. God is not an impersonal force. He has emotion, intellect, and will. God because He is holy and just must judge sin (7). He decides that because mankind is so wicked that He will end their lives, therefore ending their sin. God also declares that He will kill animals, creeping things, and birds. Animals are morally innocent but fall under the curse placed on creation because of man's sin. They too will die in the flood judgment because of man's sin. God is gracious and merciful but as mentioned before He is also holy and just (cf. Ex. 34:5-7). He is all of these at the same time. God must punish sin (2 Pet. 2:4-9). God's period of grace was coming to an end.

The last verses of this section reveal hope for mankind (8-10). God has promised that one of the woman's descendants would crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). This descendant would undue the consequences of sin. As we learn of God's anger over sin and His coming judgment of wicked man, we are introduced to a dilemma. Where would the descendant come from, if all men are wicked and therefore killed? We receive the answer in verse eight. Out of all the people on earth, Noah is the only one mentioned as being pleasing to God (8). Noah was not sinless, but he did walk with God (9). Noah sought to live his life in dependence upon God. The word “blameless” means “complete, having integrity.” Noah was a man who was consistent in walking with God; he was undivided (cf. Heb. 11:4-7).

Righteous Noah had three sons, who were named Shem, Ham, and Japheth (10). We will learn much more about these three sons very soon. Shem is the oldest, then Japheth, and then Ham being the youngest (cf. Gen. 9:23-27). Noah is the seed who will be used to continue the line from Adam until Christ (cf. Lk. 3:23-38).

Conclusion:

Satan controlled Cain and instigated him to murder Abel (Gen. 4:8). Satan thought that he had thwarted God's redemptive plan, but God produced Seth (4:25-26). Seth becomes the one through whom the Messiah would eventually be born. Satan's demons attempted to pollute the human race to thwart God's redemptive plan (6:1-4). God responds by killing the entire human race except righteous Noah and his family (6:17-22; cf. 1 Pet. 3:18-20). Noah becomes the one through whom the Messiah would eventually be born (Lk. 3:23, 36-38).

God will only put up with sin for so long. Eventually His patience runs out. He is holy and just, therefore He must punish sin. The time in which we live is like the period before the flood. God is giving people an opportunity to repent or be judged (2 Pet. 3:3-10; Matt. 24:36-41). Christ took the punishment for our sins on the cross so that we could be forgiven and saved (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; Col. 1:19-20; 2:13-14).