The Eternal God is a Covenant Maker

God’s Promise is kept through the establishing of His covenant (Genesis 9:9a)

Explanation: Prior to the Flood God told Noah what He was preparing. In Genesis 6 God warned Noah of the coming judgment on the earth that would destroy all life outside of the Ark (Gen 6:17). Immediately following that declaration of impending doom, God promised something to Noah. God said, “but with thee will I establish my covenant” (Gen 6:18). The verb tense is future - I will.

In our text in Genesis 9, we see the fulfillment of God’s Promise to Noah. He declares, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you . . .” (Genesis 9:9). This is in the present tense for Noah. Noah witnessed God honoring and fulfilling His Promise.

Illustrate: Video of man remembering his childhood when his father broke a promise. The dad promised the boys that he was coming to get them and have a good time together. The dad never showed - disappointment and discouragement resulted.

Argument: Noah was undoubtedly encouraged through this revelation from God. Noah’s faith was strengthened through God’s faithfulness to His promise.

Application: Read the Word and see how many times God fulfilled His promises. He has never broke a promise. The fulfillment of past promises gives us assurance that His future promises will also be fulfilled (e.g. John 14:1-3)

God’s Power is revealed through Covenant (Genesis 9:9b - 11)

Explanation: The term “covenant” is of Latin origin (con venire), meaning a coming together. It presupposes two or more parties who come together to make a contract, agreeing on promises, stipulations, privileges, and responsibilities (Gerard Van Groningen, “Covenant,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 124.)

This first covenant that God establishes with Noah is a unilateral covenant. By definition this is a covenant in which the stronger member makes and establishes the formal agreement with the other party completely by himself . Note that God does not ask Noah or his sons for input. God simply sets up the covenant by Himself and then tells Noah what is going on. God, acting in His role as the Creator God, binds Himself to the terms of the covenant. Noah and company have no power or authority to dictate terms or even to bring anything to the table.

Illustrate: When a particular country has defeated another through force of arms, the winner is able to set the terms and the conquered party is forced to accept the terms.

Argument: God has demonstrated His complete authority over His creation. He chose to destroy the world through a global flood as judgment upon sin. After the flood, God chose to voluntary limit Himself by covenanting to never again judge the entire world flood waters.

Psalm 115:3 KJV 1900

But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Application: Make no mistake - God is All-Powerful and He is in control of His creation. We don’t understand WHY He is putting up with the current level of wickedness, but the delay is NOT because He cannot act. He will bring justice and judgment in His time.

God’s Provision is shared with creation through Covenant (Genesis 9:12-17)

Explanation: God shared with Noah and his family the content of the covenant. God told them that He was setting up an eternal agreement between Himself and all of the created order. God told Noah and the rest that they would not have to wonder if they would need to keep the Ark in working order. God told them the global flood was a “one-and-done” event. Though God was able, He bound Himself through covenant to forgo that type of judgment.

Illustrate: Some like to have a back-up plan. Underground bunkers and survival kits for the doomsday preppers. If they had been around at the time they would have preserved the Ark for a “just-in-case” type catastrophe.

Argument: We can trust God’s provision through His promises. How encouraging to be able to rest in the providence of God. He cares for us and He has provided protection and comfort along the way.

Application: God’s provision through His faithfulness in keeping covenant IS a remedy for anxiety. We do live in uncertain times and with many challenging circumstances. Our God is the constant and immutable anchor - He is the solid rock and we can rest in His providential care.

God’s Redeeming Love is displayed through the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:14-17)

Explanation: The Noahic Covenant was good, but limited. “The covenant of Noah did not establish an intimate relationship between God and each living being; nevertheless, it left open the possibility of a more intimate covenant. Human beings, in spite of their evil, are allowed for a time to live in God’s world; during those years they may seek a deeper relationship with that world’s Creator” (Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Covenant,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 532)

Argument: God had just displayed His righteous judgment on sin through the unforgettable catastrophe of the global flood. The eight (8) souls who survived the flood were recipients of God’s grace. Every time they and their children and grandchildren saw a rainbow after a storm, they probably shared the story of God’s covenant of Grace, and how God made a way for them to survive.

Because of His love, the Covenant - making God of the Universe made a New Covenant. This new covenant is first mentioned in the OT in Jeremiah 31 where God tells the people He will put His law directly into people’s hearts and that they would know Him personally. The writer of Hebrews tells how Jesus is the fulfillment of this new Covenant.

Read Hebrews 10:14-17

Conclusion: Imagine what this world could be like if all of us who are Christ-followers were telling others about the love of Jesus in the same way those 8 flood survivors told the story of their deliverance.