God’s covenant with Abraham

The occasion of the covenant

The flood as divine judgment

Genesis 6:17 ESV

17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

See also Ge 6:5–7; Ge 6:11–13; 2 Pe 2:5

Genesis 6:5–7 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

God’s promise of salvation to Noah and his family

Genesis 6:18 ESV

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

See also Ge 7:23; Ge 8:1; Ge 8:15–17; Heb 11:7; 1 Pe 3:20

Hebrews 11:7 ESV

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20 ESV

20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

God’s promise never again to destroy the earth with a flood

Genesis 9:11 ESV

11 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.”

See also Ge 8:21; Is 54:9

The sign of the covenant

Genesis 9:13 ESV

13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

See also Ge 9:14–17

A universal covenant

God’s relationship with every living creature

Genesis 9:8–10 ESV

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 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.

See also Ge 7:1–3; Eze 34:25; Ho 2:18; Zec 11:10

God’s relationship with the natural order

Ge 8:22; Je 33:25–26 God’s relationship with the created order is here expressed as a covenant. It is probable that this is a reference to the Noahic covenant through which the implicit relationship between Creator and creation was confirmed.

Genesis 8:22 ESV

22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Jeremiah 33:25–26 ESV

25 Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, 26 then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”

See also Ge 1:14; Ge 1:31–2:1; Ps 74:16–17; Je 5:24; Je 33:20–21

An everlasting covenant

Genesis 9:16 ESV

16 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.”

See also Ge 9:12

Is 24:5 The reference here is to the Noahic covenant. Though this covenant was unconditional, the prohibition of bloodshed--often described as bringing pollution to the land--was associated with it. There may be, also, a wider reference to the effects of mankind’s disregard for the norms laid down at creation.

See also Ge 9:6; Nu 35:33; Is 24:5; 26:21

Genesis 9:6 ESV

6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Isaiah 24:5 ESV

5 The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 26:21 ESV

21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.