Genesis 8:1-22

Last week we saw the world drowned in a global flood, destroying all life on the earth, except for Noah. He and his family were spared from the disaster in the ark, along with a pair of every kind of animal on the earth.

Gen. 8:1-5

We learned of the flood account last week, and I mentioned other flood traditions, 2 of which were Babylonian epics. Here’s a picture of one of them:

ATRAHASIS EPIC

We saw last week that Noah was 600 years old when the flood waters came upon the earth. In fact, we saw in 7:11 that it was the 17th day of the 2nd month that the flood occurred, and it says that the rain fell for 40 days. Finally, we saw in 7:24 that the flood prevailed (lasted) 150 days before beginning to recede.

God remembered Noah and the promise that He made to Noah. This communicates 2 things to us:

God is faithful to keep His promises (1 Pet. 3:20), and

God cares about us (Psa. 36:5-6).

God showed mercy in His judgment and destruction of mankind.

He will not allow His creation to continue in rebellion and disobedience without consequence.

Also remember that salvation was offered by Christ to those “in prison” during the time of Noah.

It was a wind that made the water begin to subside. Same Hebrew word for “breath” and “spirit.”

We talked about the “fountains of the deep” last week, how the plate tectonics most likely shifted and caused dramatic land-form changes. The increase of water above ground ceased, and after 150 days of flooding, the ark came to rest within the mountains of Ararat.

MAP OF ARARAT

This is a contested site, many believe the naming of the Ararat mountains was much later than the time of Noah or even Moses. Nonetheless, this is thought to be at minimum the general area of the landing site.

Gen. 8:6-14

TIMELINE CHART

40 days after the tops of the mountains became visible, rough estimate.

The raven is thought to have flown back and forth from the ark.

The dove came back to Noah with an olive branch, but the final time it instead stayed away and presumably built a nest.

An entire solar year passed, depending on math.

Gen. 8:15-22

God informed Noah when it was time to disembark.

Noah was extremely patient, to stay aboard and wait for God to give instruction.

God now begins again with His creation, reminiscent of Gen. 1.

He once again desires for His creation to be fruitful and multiply on the earth.

The animals left the shelter of the ark and began to multiply.

Noah kept behind clean animals in which to offer sacrifice.

He built and altar and offered burnt offerings. Still not eating meat at this point, but the need for clean animals is obvious.

There is no Law, but sacrifices have been made since Abel.

This is the beginning of the Noahic Covenant, which will be seen next week.

The curse continues in mankind (Ecc. 7:20), but God will no longer curse the earth because of man’s sin. Recall the words of Noah’s father Lamech: Gen 5.29.

Creation groans because of the Fall: Rom. 8:18-22.

We are to continually offer spiritual sacrifices to God.

A different kind of sacrifice: Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:5.

Christ gave Himself up for us, to be a soothing aroma to God: Isa. 53:6; Eph. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 2: 14-16.

God’s promise is that while the earth remains, the cycle of creation will continue on.

APPLICATION

God judges rebellion and sin. We need to take this seriously.

God is also merciful, and makes a way for us to have salvation. We need to remember His mercy and give thanks.