Genesis 9:1-17 God Makes a Covenant
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And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Prayer:
Deacon Ordination:
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Catechism: Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
Answer: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.
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Today we enter into Chapter 9 of the book of Genesis.
I looked back this week and discovered we started Genesis eight months ago and we are just now getting to Chapter 9.
This is also after we have sprinted forward by taking on an entire chapter the last two weeks.
I had originally planned on us traveling through the first 11 chapters and concluding on Easter Sunday.
But, as you can see that has not happened.
There is a great reason for this, though.
The first 11 chapters of Genesis sets the stage and lays the foundation for everything else that we learn about in the Bible.
If we do not have a good grasp and understanding of these first 11 chapters,
There is a great probability that we will struggle with the rest of the Bible.
Thus, I have wanted us to really focus in, and not move too quickly through these chapters in order that we can mine the richness contained within.
This week we are going to slow back down a bit and take chapter 9 in two parts.
Today we will be looking at verses 1-17 and then next week look at verses 18-29
Which means we have finally come to the rainbow.
Which also means we will ultimately be looking at the Covenant that God made with Noah.
But even though the Covenant is going to be the main event, there are other aspects that are present that we must not miss.
I’ve ordered today into three points which I hope will be helpful in following the flow of our text.
If you have something to take notes with, here are the main headings we will seek to understand with greater clarity.
First point will be The Sending of Noah.
Noah is going to be sent forth from the ark and He is going to be given a purpose, a mission, and an aim to accomplish.
Second point will be The Sanctity of Life.
We are going to see first hand the value, dignity, and worth, that God sets upon life and the grave consequences in ending this life.
Third and finally, we will see The Seal of the Covenant.
Specifically we will see the Sign that is placed in the sky that will give us comfort and hope in the providence of God.
Welcome to Chapter 9, welcome to the Rainbow.
Let us begin with verse 1.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
We begin Chapter 9 with God blessing Noah and then sending forth Noah with a purpose.
This blessing is to bestow God’s favor upon Noah and his family.
God will see to it that Noah is cared for, that Noah is provided for, that Noah is looked after.
God will extend his grace and compassion to Noah and his family.
It is with this assurance, through this blessing, that we come to the first point: The sending of Noah.
Noah and his family are being sent forth with the task to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
This should immediately bring to mind Adam and Eve in the garden.
And in a sense, Noah is a second Adam, though we more often associate Jesus as the second Adam.
But, let’s remember when Adam and Eve received the same command.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Noah and his family are given the same command.
It is as if we have a new creation account and a new Adam.
All generations would now be able to trace their lineage back to Noah.
But, there is one aspect that is missing from Noah’s command and Adam’s command.
Let’s look back at verse 1 again.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Here we see no call to subdue the earth and no call to have dominion over the animals.
Part of filling the ark was probably due to this subduing and caring for the animals.
However, we actually see something radically different.
Instead of loving the animals and ruling, we would see fear and running.
The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.
We see this even to this day,
When I walk outside in the morning, squirrels are eating the pig feed, then take off, it is because of their fear.
When a bird takes off as I get close to take a picture, it is because of their fear.
When an animal is caught in fence or trapped in a hole, it freaks out when you try to help it because of fear.
One of our family’s favorite shows was the show Alone, where people would be dropped in a desolate Alaskan or Canadian area and have to survive as long as they could.
There would always be the fear of large animals, especially bear.
So the goal would be to make a lot of noise in order to scare them off. One tactic would be to yell, Hey Bear! as loud as possible.
Bears could easily maul and kill and have done so to humans, but they are also easily spooked and scared.
This reality is due to the change that God declares in this chapter.
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
Changes continue for Noah and in verse 3 humanity would no longer be strict vegetarians but would now be carnivores.
The filet mignon enters into the the creation story.
Jokes aside, we are not told specifically if people ate meat before this moment,
It is similar to the same argument of whether it rained before the flood, we are not specifically told.
We do see a vegetarian diet in the garden, and meat added to this diet at this moment.
What we are seeing from the first three verses is that God is sending Noah out with a specific purpose.
God is sending Noah out to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Apart from this command and God blessing this command, humanity would cease to exist.
Same reason why there was a male and female of every animal.
Without this, animals would cease to exist.
However, God would send forth Noah into a more difficult world.
There were still consequences to a world that rebelled against God.
The animals would be an aspect of this consequence.
Yet, even in this new world, there would be a purpose and a reason given to Noah and his family.
It is because of this God-given purpose that this new humanity would flourish.
How important is purpose to one’s life?
How important is it for us to have meaning and mission for life?
Dis you know the number one reason for suicide is depression?
The number one reason given for depression is reason and meaning.
There is no point or purpose for them to continue.
There is nothing left.
Yet, hear me this morning, the believer never has this as their reality.
Now, I’m not saying a believer can never be depressed, can never lose hope, or never forget their meaning.
This happens to many of us at many different times.
But, what we must constantly remind ourself is that we have value, meaning, and worth, because of God.
We have a purpose, a reason, and a meaning because of God.
As God sends forth Noah, God also sends forth us to accomplish His purpose and His will for this world until He returns.
We as believers have an unlimited amount of reasons for living and unlimited tasks and purposes to be accomplished.
As God sends forth Noah into creation, God has sent us forward into His creation.
God sends us with a reason: to glorify God.
God sends us forth with a purpose: to make much of Jesus.
God sends us forth with a mission: to share the gospel and make disciples.
God has also blessed us in His Son Jesus Christ to bring us into His mission.
Has given us His Spirit to accomplish His mission.
He has given us new life for the purpose of His mission.
As believers, we are designed with a reason in mind, because of this reason, we are never without purpose.
Sending forth Noah is point 1 and now we move to our second point.
But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
As Noah continues to hear from God we move to the Sanctity of life.
First, we are told not to eat flesh that is still alive.
Then, this is concept is used to show the value of human life.
What is said next is really fascinating.
God says that for our, human lifeblood, should we be killed, even by a beast, God will require a reckoning.
Even the animals will be held accountable for killing man after the flood.
Not only animals though, if a fellow man kills another man, there will be a reckoning as well.
Life for life.
What is ultimately being shared here is that God is the only one who can rightfully take the life of man.
It is God who grants life and it is God who is to take away life.
If an animal takes the life of the man, there will be a reckoning.
If man takes the life of man, there will be a reckoning.
God is the judge of human life and it is God who declares the beginning from the end.
Sanctity means Holy or Sacred and our life is to be looked at as Holy and Sacred.
All human life is to be looked at as Holy and Sacred.
Your life, no matter what you are going through, because of our God and what our Scriptures declare, has an incredible message for you.
You have value, because God made you.
You have dignity, because God made you.
You have worth, because God made you.
We can go too low in our thoughts of ourselves and forget that our value is not found in what others think of us.
But, our value is found in being an image bearer of God.
Our value is based on the value that God gives us.
But, on the other hand, people can think too highly, and forget that our value, dignity, and worth, is not to make us arrogant or conceded.
Our value, dignity, and worth is meant for us to praise and glorify I our God, the maker of everyone and everything.
Thus, when we look at life, we should see the beauty and wonder of it in light of God’s creative order.
One of the biggest issues of our day as a society is whether on not the life in the womb should be Holy and Sacred.
Biblically speaking the Bible is extremely clear on this subject.
God grants conception, God gives life as a gift, God knits the baby in the womb.
But, it is very common in the last 50 years to think of the baby in the womb as not worthy of value, dignity, and worth.
Yet, God actually has the same life for life command for the baby in the womb as for the man outside of the womb.
“When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. If there is an injury, then you must give life for life,
Two men get into a fight, one accidently hits a pregnant woman, causes her to go into labor and the baby dies, his life is required of him.
The reason for this is because it is God who has the right to give and take life, not us.
It was God who had the right, and it was just and righteous judgement in which the earth was flooded.
But, today, many people, and shockingly many professing Christians end the life of their babies through abortion.
We are given all sorts of reasons for doing so.
It is just a clump of cells, it isn’t really a human life.
What is funny is that based on this line of thinking, you and I are literally a clump of cells, too.
I am just an older clump of cells then my kids, and my kids are just older clumps of cells then the baby in the womb.
Embryologist confirm this as well. Even the National Library of Medicine, scientifically declares the same, when it says:
“The biological line of existence of each individual, without exception begins precisely when fertilization of the egg is successful.”
This is no longer debatable science.
Biblically and scientifically, life begins at conception.
It is why pro-choice authors have famously stated, and I quote, “Abortion is the kind of killing we need protect”
It is scientifically proven that the phrase, my body, my choice, is incorrect as well.
The Baby has its own DNA, and often time even has its own blood type. Thus, the baby is not her body.
The baby is its own individual person and own individual human life.
Thus, our verse today, and even the sixth command, “you shall not murder,” applies to modern day abortion.
It is why that abolitionist, like myself, believe that to be biblical on this subject we must call for equal rights for the baby in the womb.
The baby in the womb should have the same legal rights and value as the baby out of the womb, that you and I also have.
Coming up in November there is a very important vote that Christians should be very aware of.
Amendment 4 will seek codify abortion in the Florida State Constitution and make abortion legal.
Not only legal but a constitutionally protected right in the state of Florida.
Not only a constitutionally protect right, but available in some cases all the way up until birth.
I believe we have a responsibility as Christians to vote against this amendment and vote No on this.
We have an opportunity to love our neighbor, including our neighbors in the womb, by passing a law to protect them.
We must be willing to stand for the Sanctity of all life, in all places, in all times, as we are commanded to love our neighbor.
Even if you decide against voting for a president, I hope you will vote against this amendment.
It is because life matters to God that he moves now to our last point.
The Seal of the Covenant.
I know many of you were anxiously anticipating this point and we have now arrived.
We now come to the Rainbow and most importantly, we have come to the Noahic Covenant.
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.
God declares that He is establishing a Covenant with Noah, Noah’s family, and get this, all of the creatures of the earth.
We first saw that Noah and family were blessed, that Noah and family were given a purpose and a mission.
Then we saw that in this purpose and mission Noah and future generations are to value life, and now,
We are going to see that Noah is going to be given a covenant, to protect the life of the world.
What is incredible about this covenant is that it is a unilateral covenant.
Meaning that this is a covenant that God will make and that God will uphold, despite what mankind does.
This will not be a temporary covenant, but an everlasting covenant, until the end of this age on earth.
Remember we heard these sobering words just last Chapter.
Genesis 8:21 (ESV)
the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.
Thus, this covenant will be one that God makes, that God will see to, that God will commit with.
This is so important, because if it would be up to fallen man, we would have another world-wide flood before the end of this chapter.
Yet, since it is up to God, since He is making the covenant with Himself, then what is said, will be what happens.
This should be a great comfort not only for Noah and His family, but for all of us here, today.
Our God is a covenant keeper.
How do we know God has kept this covenant?
Let’s see what is said next.
I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
We know that our God has kept His promise by the very fact that you and I are still here.
By the very reality that this has not happened since the days of Noah tells us that God has kept this covenant for the last few thousand years.
We can be very confident that God will continue to keep this covenant and protect life on this earth from His just judgement.
With that, we come to the bow in the clouds.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
God gives us a sign to let us know that this covenant continues and God’s mercy has been extended to an underserving people.
It is a sign to show the patience that God has for a rebellious and wicked people.
A sign that all people and all creatures and all future generations to see between God and the earth.
What is this sign?
A bow.
We call it a rainbow as it is seen often after a rain storm.
When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
We come once again to the term “remember.”
Last week we saw that this term means that God is moving towards someone or something.
God is giving us an action based on a previous commitment.
What is being declared is that God will uphold His covenant, no matter what.
Today, we can see clearly the patience and perseverance of God’s covenant and God’s patience with a movement of people in rebellion against Him.
We see clearly that if it was not for God’s promise, and faithfulness to His promise, we would not be here as a society, as a culture, even as a country.
God’s just justice and holy wrath would have consumed us by now.
For the month of June we see the rainbow plastered all over news outlets, corporate identities, and city municipalities.
Yet, it is not God’s covenant in which is being celebrated, it is not God’s promises that are being marveled,
it is not God’s kindness that is being acknowledged.
Rather it is, and I’m not trying to go for shock value but biblically speaking, a demonic rebellion aimed at shaking their fists to God.
It is why all aspects of this event are aimed spiritually and biblically: let me explain.
The multicolored bow signifies God’s covenant that He will not judge the earth with a flood for its rebellion.
Yet, since 1978, a group has taken this sign of the covenant, the very promise of God’s patience and mercy, and uses it to celebrate a perversion To God’s design.
They take love, the very attribute and character of God, and turn it into a meaningless and illogical definition of Love is love.
Taking Pride and celebrating it, instead of being fearful of its consequences.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
What is even worse than this movement’s direct and pointed rebellion against God, is the denominations and so-called churches that celebrate this sin.
In an effort to be loved by the culture, loved by a community of people, loved by themselves,
They reject God’s truth and exchange it for lies.
They take the very beauty and wonder of the Gospel and exchange it for the myth that God accepts everyone and everything.
That God doesn’t mean what He says in His Word, that if it is in direct violation of His commandments and statutes, God will change, not them.
It a rebellion against God and His commands that led to the flood in the first place.
Oh, why would a people be so arrogant and prideful to think that God’s patience and kindness is meant for their rebellion instead of their restoration.
Yet, even so, God’s patience and kindness is extended through the glorious Gospel.
That this Holy and Righteous God, has taken into account the sinful rebellion of humanity, and even so, extends His Son, Jesus, to be a ransom for them.
To pay the debt that is owed, to rescue from sin, and redeem their life for one of true joy and true meaning.
This Gospel is good news for me, good news for them, and good news for anyone who is in rebellion against God.
Repentances is a gift that brings forth freedom.
Now, let me take a moment to address Christians who have spent more time and energy condemning and degrading, than praying and evangelizing.
More time pointing out the sin of others and yet doing nothing about the sin within.
Oh, how Christians are often no better on the topic of sexual sins.
Sexual sin is sexual sin no matter what form it takes.
If you are addicted to pornography then you have no right to condemn others if you do not condemn yourself and repent.
If you are having premarital sex, or entertaining adulterous affairs, and yet you condemn those who are marching in parades then you are a hypocrite.
Do not forget that we too were once children of wrath like the rest of mankind until we received the amazing grace that we so undeserved.
Let us examine ourselves and remember that our sin needed the same guilt offering of Jesus Christ that any other sinner needs.
Once we have been reminded of our own great need, then, and only then,
Let us go forth and proclaim the same good news that rescued us, can also rescue them.
Maybe then , we can display what true love actually is, and love our fellow image bearers by sharing the Gospel.
“So the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
This is the Noahic Covenant, a covenant that God still keeps with all flesh on the earth to this day.
A covenant that promises to not destroy the world before the appointed time of judgement.
It is sealed in the sky as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness to an undeserving people.
Similar to the Noahic Covenant, we have a new Covenant today.
A covenant that reminds us of God’s faithfulness and goodness to an undeserving people.
A unilateral covenant made by God apart from mankin, but for mankind.
This covenant was not sealed with a bow, but sealed with blood.
The sign of Noah and the sign of the bow would preserve the people, but it would not save the people.
It would remind us that there would no longer be a worldwide punishment for sin before the appointed time, but it did not defeat sin.
A new sign would be required in order to save people.
A new seal would be needed in order to save people.
Every time we see a bow in the sky it should remind us of God’s promises and point us to God’s salvation.
The flood showcased the great judgment upon sin and rebellion against God.
Blood, however, shows us the great judgement.
Sin and rebellion against God requires justice.
But instead of justice against us, Jesus took the sins of His children, and had justice flood Him instead.
As justice came pouring down upon the Son of God, and Jesus drank this bitter cup to the fullest and completely.
He declares “It is finished.” and dies the death which brought peace between man and God.
I believe one of the greatest deficiency we have today is that we do not realize how awful sin is.
Sure, we believe it is not a good thing, that it is best to avoid, that it would be wise to stay away from.
But, I believe we often have a low view of our how sin is viewed by God.
The greater we understand the Holiness of God, the greater we grasp the righteousness of God,
The greater we understand the love of God.
Then, the greater we will understand how horrendous our rebellion against God’s commands are.
The fuller and clearer we understand our God, the more dreadful the sins we commit are realized.
When we picture Jesus on the cross, we often prefer to look at the cross as an act of love, which it absolutely is.
But the cross should also let us know how awful our sins truly are.
That it would take the Son of God, his death and blood poured out, in order to atone for the great tragedy that we have caused ourselves.
The cross should help us see the greatness of our God, but the utter wickedness of sin.
One of the graces that God gives us is the recognition of our sin so that we can repent and turn from our sins and trust in Christ.
To trust in Christ means that we recognize that we have rebelled against God’s law and statues and have failed to obey His commands.
To trust in Christ means that we understand that we, in and of ourselves, are not able to atone for our sins.
To trust in Christ means that we understand that apart from Christ, we will not have forgiveness for our sins.
To trust in Christ means that our Salvation is because of Christ and Christ alone.
As we remember the bow and the covenant extended to humanity to not destroy the earth again by flood,
I hope it reminds us of the seriousness of sin, and the just judgement that is due.
But, may it also point us to the New Covenant. The one in which is extended to us now.
The one that now points us to our Savior, Jesus.
May the rainbow not remind us of culture but may it forevermore remind us of Christ.
Amen? Let us pray.