9 1-17 Who's In Charge Here
liberty bible church 1/28/07 P.M.
By Tom Zobrist
“who’s in charge here?”
Genesis 9:1-17
introduction
Illus. of “Initial Taste of Power” When we first get that opportunity to be in control, it can sometimes go to our head.
Our world struggles today with who is in control and they don’t even realize it. You might be saying now, “what do you mean?” We have clear-cut lines of authority, at least in our country. It might be a little less clear in Iraq and other third world countries, but here, we know who’s in charge…or do we? If it’s not who we think it is, then who is it? Or better, who should it be?
OPEN to passage.
Prop. In this passage, we see who should be in charge in our world.
Open in PRAYER.
PREVIEW the passage. God has purged the world. The global flood is past, the waters have receded, man and beast have exited the ark, worship has commenced, and life begins again. A new question will soon surface about the creation. As in the original beginning with Adam and Eve, God makes it very clear who is responsible for the leadership of the planet. First…
i. man is in charge of creation vs. 1-4
Illus. of the little boy returning from camp. His parents asked him, “Didn’t you get homesick while you were at camp?” He shrugged his shoulders and answered, “Not me, but some of the kids who have dogs did.” Even though you can’t tell it by the way we save whales and abort babies, man is to be supreme in God’s creation.
a. man is to be dominant
V 1 1. Noah was able to handle all the animals on the ark, all of mankind should be able to manage the rest. The same command is given here as was given to Adam back in 1:26, 28. They are fruitful and they multiply greatly so that the earth quickly was repopulated again.
2. Man is told in Genesis 1 to have dominion over the animal world. That command or task is expanded upon here.
V 2 3. Animals are afraid of man. Unless they are sick or threatened in some way, their natural instinct keep the wild animal world away from mankind. They are there for us to enjoy and use however we see fit. They are given into our hands.
b. aminals are a good food source
V 3 1. This seems to be different than life was before. In Genesis, man was appeared to be a vegetarian. Cf. 1:29; 2:16 There was one prohibition in eating the plants. Cf. 2:17 There is one prohibition in eating the animal life.
V 4 2. Blood represented life. There were not to eat the blood. The blood was to be drained and the meat cooked. That was the only prohibition put on the eating of animals at this time. There were more prohibitions in the law, but no others in the general commands.
Trans. MAN IS IN CHARGE OF CREATION. We are even given the freedom to eat of the animal life if we want. Second…
ii. man is in charge of man vs. 5-7
Illus. of someone once said, “If you think you’re getting too much government, be thankful you’re not getting as much as you’re paying for.” We think we have too much government. The world had none in Noah’s day and the results were not anything we would want to be repeated. So, God establishes some guidelines for government.
A. Government should value human life over animal life
1. After the flood’s destruction, God did not want there to be any misunderstanding concerning His value of human life. Life is sacred and man is not to destroy man who is made in the image of God.
2. This covenant is given by God to assure stability in the natural world. People needed human law and government to guarantee stability and to keep wickedness from going unchecked as it had before. Hence, human government is formed.
V 5a 3. Man’s life is valuable and even the animal world is held accountable for it. Illus. of when a pit bull attacks a child, they are immediately put down. This is a God-ordained accounting for man’s blood. Cf. Ex. 21:35-36
V 5b 4. Man is responsible if he sheds another man’s blood. This means if someone is killed. The lifeblood is gone. God is saying that He requires man’s blood if a man is killed. How does He require it? How does He collect, if you will?
V 6 5. This is the institution of capital punishment. God has ordained human government to enforce this law because man was made in the image of God. When man fails to do this, he has no regard for God. This should not be done flippantly, but it should be done expeditiously. Cf. Deut. 17:6 Illus. of those that generally oppose the death penalty are usually pro choice. And conversely those that are pro life are generally death penalty proponents. That may not be true in every case, but it is in many.
6. This capital punishment is not part of the Mosaic Law, so still applies for today. Fortunately, we know longer live under Mosaic Law and so rebels, idol worshipers, those that dabble in the occult, adulterers, etc. get to
live. God’s grace has been extended. But, murderers still must die.
7. This is why war is ordained by God. God uses nations to judge nations. All the verses used to say that war or the military is unscriptural are used out of context. Cf. Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:18, 21
b. Government should value the family
V 7 1. Once again, the command to be fruitful and multiply is given. Although metropolitan areas overpopulated in the some areas, there is still much of the planet that can be inhabited. God has no where retracted that command.
2. Many oppressive nations are placing less and less value on the family. For years, China has limited the family to one child. There is pressure here to do the same. We want to make sure that we aren’t listening to Godless leaders who are trying to get us to devalue this command to the family in Genesis 9.
Trans. MAN IS IN CHARGE OF CREATION. We are even given the freedom to eat of the animal life if we want. Second, MAN IS IN CHARGE OF MAN. Human government was ordained to make sure the value of human life was maintained and protected. Third…
iii. god is in charge of everything vs. 8-17
Illus. of “Egocentric Steering” Mankind might think the world and how it will end is all up to us. However, God is still sovereign and has ultimate control.
A. God established a cosmic and universal covenant
V 8-10 1. This covenant is made with every man ever to walk on the earth and every creature ever to inhabit the earth. In verse 10, 15, and 16 the fact that it is given to every living creature is repeated. The judgment of the flood was not done frivolously by a capricious God, but it was done thoughtfully by a sovereign God, who has a plan and complete control.
V 11 2. God makes a solemn promise. That promise has a guarantee, given as a sign in the sky.
V 12- 3. God set a rainbow in the clouds so that when a storm ends, we are given a reminder that He still remembers
17 that He will not again judge the entire world with a flood. Rain had never been on the earth before. When the first rains came after the flood, it may have caused a little panic in the human and animal world. But, God’s covenant assured them that this was not doom and destruction coming again.
b. the symbolism of the rainbow
1. The word for rainbow in Hebrew is the same word that is used for “battle bow.” God frequently referred to judgment storms using terms for bows and arrows. When storms come and go and the clouds begin to clear on the back side, we see God’s bow in the clouds. What does this mean?
2. God’s bow is hung up, it is put away. The battle is over. The storm is past. The rainbow speaks of peace; God desires peace with mankind. As far as floods go, never again will judgment come in this way.
3. Judgment will come again. Cf. Zech. 14:1-3; Rev. 19:15 But, Gen. 9:1-17 anticipates when ultimate peace will be here in the Millennial Kingdom. Until then, life goes on under human government, ordained by God.
conclusion
MAN IS IN CHARGE OF CREATION. We are given the freedom to eat of the animal life if we want. Second, MAN IS IN CHARGE OF MAN. Human government was ordained to make sure the value of human life was maintained and protected. Third, GOD IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. The world will not end until He says, and it will happen as He says. He is sovereign and in control of even ungodly governments. What does this mean for us today?
1. God has ultimate authority in our lives. We obey Him first. GOSPEL
2. Government has authority. We have spoken of this recently in the morning messages.
3. Animals should not be mistreated, but they should not be valued over human life.
4. Every child has the right at a chance to live. Christians should not support pro choice positions.
5. Christians should support the military. To not is to misunderstand and misapply the Scriptures. It is ordained by God to judge sin. They are only disobeyed if they ask us to sin. Illus. of the holocaust. No believer could have been part of that.
6. Support candidates that follow God’s principles for human government.
7. Pray for all leaders.
Illus. of the inmates running the asylum. That’s never good.
God has given mankind guidelines by which we can maintain order. He’s in charge here, so let’s do all we can to follow His standards. Cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2
pray
liberty bible church 1/28/07 P.M.
By Tom Zobrist
“who’s in charge here?”
Genesis 9:1-17
introduction
Our world struggles today with who is in control and they don’t even realize it. In this passage, we see who should be in charge in our world.
i. man is in charge of vs. 1-4
a. man is to be ___________________________________
Cf. Gen. 1:26, 28
b. aminals are a good ______________________ _____________________________
Cf. Gen. 1:29; 2:16-17
ii. man is in charge of vs. 5-7
A. Government should value ______________ ___________ over ______________ ____________
Cf. Ex. 21:35-36; Deut. 17:6; Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:18, 21
b. Government should value the _______________________________
iii. is in charge of vs. 8-17
A. God established a ___________________________ and ________________________ covenant
b. the symbolism of the rainbow
Cf. Zech. 14:1-3; Rev. 19:15
conclusion
What does this mean for us today?
1.
2.
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7.
Cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2