01(Gen 08) Covenant with Noah
Document2 Bob Wiegel
When you aim to build a road, you don’t cut a tree or buy a right-of-way until you know what destination the road is to reach.
One of the basic truths of Christianity is that history is God’s highway to an appointed future. He is the highway commission, engineer, and foreman. History not a random path cut through country without a compass. History is going somewhere. God appointed the goal before the foundation of the world and His providence creates events that serve that goal.
Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
In a real sense, God runs history from the future. He stands, as it were, at the destination and guides the road crew.
If you want an explanation for some historical event, don’t just look to the past, look to the future. Tomorrow will always be part of today’s explanation.
When we meditate on the acts of God in the OT we should ask, “How does this turn in the OT highway lead to decisive NT events, especially in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David?” God made a covenant with each, and covenants always contain promises.
2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Covenant with Noah – preacher said, “Noah and the ark is NOT a children’s story!” one of the most terrifying and tragic stories of the Bible.
I. Persistence of man’s wickedness. (Gen 6:5).
A. (v.11). the first point of the flood is that we are all sinners and deserve judgement.
B. What did the flood accomplish? Did it remove evil? Many today think they can improve life if only the external allurements are removed (Amish, etc.).
C. If you think the flood was to remove evil, then it was a FAILURE. Sin is not the result of external influences only, not just because of being around bad people, it is a natural condition of the heart.
1. (Gen 8:21) God’s assessment of our moral condition is not improved by the flood
2. (Gen 9:20) And his own sin lead to the sins of his son. Just as the first man of creation lead the way into sin for all posterity, so the first man after the flood.
3. (Gen 6:8) Noah was not without sin, but he found favor with God because “he walked with God (9)”. He agreed with God about the evil of his own sin, turned from it and trusted God for grace.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
II. Patience of God comes to an end (Gen 6:7,13,17).
A. it is as simple as a children’s story. Plain and simple.
B. Jesus taught the same lesson: God hates sin and punishes unrepentent sinners.
Matt 18:8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
III. Purpose of God continues (Gen 9:1,7)
A. Same commission given to Adam in Gen 1:28.
B. God makes a covenant with Noah, assuring that such judgment would not again happen. (Gen 8:22, 9:11).
C. God hates sin, yet God does not surrender his purpose in creation, to fill the earth with men/women who reflect his glory in their faith and obedience.
D. Implies that sin is just as much a problem after the flood as before. The judgment of flood did not eradicate sin; the covenant of grace did not guarantee righteousness.
E. Therefore, if God’s purpose is to fill the earth with his glory, then one of two things:
1. Either he was a failure,
2. Or God is preparing for something greater in the future.
F. God is not a failure! And therefore the NT writers see:
1. The flood as a foreshadowing of the final judgment with fire (2 Peter 3:5-7).
2. The ark as a foreshadowing of salvation (1 Peter 3:20-21).
3. The days of Noah as typical of the last days (Matt 24:37ff).
G. The story of Noah and flood incomplete by itself. It cries out for an epilogue. And there is a clue to the epilogue found in Genesis 8:20.
1. God’s covenant response to pure sacrifice.
2. Foreshadowing that God, who must find a remedy for sin, will find it in another greater sacrifice, namely, the sacrifice of his Son.
Hebrews 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
H. God still hates sin. We are still sinful. But God will never surrender his purpose to fill the earth with his glory. The final remedy is Jesus Christ. When you come to him you will discover the purpose for which you were made.
Isaiah 54:8-9 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. 9 "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.