Reading: Genesis 6: 17, 18; 8: 1; 9: 1 – 17
1 God promises his covenant with Noah (6: 17, 18)
“but I will confirm my covenant with you”
Notice the contrast. There will be massive destruction, BUT God makes a special arrangement with
Noah, with his family, and with representatives of all animals. We should note this pattern, as it is
repeated later in covenant history. The fact that God preserves the whole does not mean that every
part will survive. For instance, God leads Abraham’s children out of Egypt. He saves them to bring them
to the Promised Land. Indeed, Abraham’s offspring does get to take that land and enjoy its blessings,
yet almost an entire generation of them perishes in the wilderness. Later, the children of Israel and
Judah are scattered among other nations. God, in faithfulness to his promises, finally leads his people
back to Jerusalem, but it’s only a small group (the righteous remnant) that returns.
“but I will confirm my covenant with you”
The structure “I will confirm” can be a reference to an earlier promise, and/or it can refer to a future
confirmation. As a fulfilment of an earlier promise, it must refer to Genesis 1: 28. Here, God gave a
blessing / mandate to be fruitful and fill the earth. Here, God confirms this to Noah. Noah is the “new
Adam”, who is to fulfil the mandate in the “new creation”. As a future reference, it contains a promise
of rescue: God will save Noah (and those with him) through the destructive deluge. God sets them aside
to repopulate his new creation. It will be a new beginning, confirmed and sealed after the floodwaters
have receded.
“but I will confirm my covenant with you”
A covenant is a special relationship, arrangement, agreement, or pact between two parties. Some have
compared it to a marriage, where mutual promises are made. Yet, the text shows us that we don’t have
two equal parties coming to a mutual agreement. It is God’s covenant that He decides to make with
Noah. It is God’s idea, and Noah is God’s choice. God takes this initiative, because He has promised to
preserve and rebuild His Kingdom. To accomplish that, he makes a new beginning with a righteous man.
Noah is not perfect, but he walked with God as he avoided the sexual immorality and violence of his
surroundings.
2 God remembers his covenant with Noah (and with all others in the ark). Genesis 8: 1
“But God remembered Noah...”
When the Bible tells us that “God remembered”, this does not mean the end of a period of forgetfulness.
Rather, it refers to God’s faithfulness to the (covenant) promises He made. You could read, “But God
had not forgotten Noah (and all those with him in the ark); He decided that the time had come to fulfil
his promises!” Even though there had not yet been the formal establishment or ceremony of the
covenant, God had given his promise, so He will keep it. God is entirely faithful and reliable; this is one
of the most basic truths that has encouraged the Church throughout all times and places.
“But God remembered Noah...”
As we have seen in the previous lesson, this passage is the turning point that reverses the story line from
destruction to recovery. It is the literary pivot point, the centre of the symmetry. When we read that
“God remembered”, we know that the worst is over. The judgment has passed, and God is ready, in his
long-suffering love, to make a new beginning.
“But God remembered Noah and all the animals (wild and domestic) that were with him in the ark” God so loved the world that He did not want it to perish under curse or wrath. His purpose was to save the world. So, he saved Noah and his family, eight people in total to make a new beginning on a new earth. Yet, we must note that God loves his creation, which includes its creatures. On Chinese church buildings it reads that “God loves the world’s people”, yet this does not fully grasp the meaning. God created also the plants and animals for his pleasure, and his new creation will again have a wonderful flora and fauna. In fact, the whole creation is groaning (Romans 8: 22) in anticipation for God’s deliverance. God will renew his creation! God will not just save some souls from this planet, He will renew the planet itself so that his glory will fill the earth! Just as the post-flood earth is similar to, yet different from the “old creation”, so the new earth (after the final judgment) will be similar, yet very different.
3 A New Beginning Genesis 9: 1 – 7
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”
If it was not clear until now that God is making new beginning, a new start, it is very clear in theses
verses. God reissues the blessing / mandate to the new humanity. Noah is the new Adam, who
represents humanity.
We know that Noah and his offspring, too, were unable to fill the earth with the glory of God. Soon, the
new humanity would rise up in rebellion, and God will scatter them across the planet. Then, he expands
on his covenant by making a new beginning, with Abraham. And Abraham’s offspring will finally bring
about the final fulfilment of this mandate. Abraham’s Son will be a blessing for all nations of the earth,
and His Spirit will empower the true children of Abraham to scatter the Good News of God’s Kingdom all
across the planet!
God said to Noah and his sons, “Look! I now confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you, including the birds, the domestic animals, and every living creature of the earth with you, all those that came out of the ark with you – every living creature of the earth.
Note again the inclusion of all animals into this covenant. Throughout our readings we find more details concerning the participants in God’s covenant promise. The promise of restoration is for all creatures! Even though humans are a special creation, yet we also have many things in common with the animals. The passage describes some of this relationship between “man and beast”.
Man and Beast: A Changed Relationship
After creation, Adam and Eve were told to subdue the earth, but here this mandate has been removed.
Perhaps it is because of the Fall and the fact that humans now are an imperfect image of God that this
mandate was removed. Fallen man would abuse the mandate now in a disrespectful, harmful, and
destructive way.
Yet, it also appears that God Himself is putting the animals under human dominion. They are now to
serve humankind as food. In mutual protection (of humans and of the animals) God puts the fear for
humans in the animals. Almost all animals which could easily take humans as prey, naturally avoid
humans. Most cases of animals attacking humans are the result of perceived threat or mistaken identity.
Humans are allowed to eat all kinds of animals (although in the Old Testament there were restrictions),
but they must nevertheless respect animal life. They must drain the blood. Blood was a symbol for the
life force, and it had special significance in offering ceremonies. Through many generations animal
blood was shed as symbolic substitute for human blood, in recognition that (in face of a Holy God) no
one deserves to live.
Later, Jesus’ sacrifice was to put an end to this constant flow of animal blood. He was the true Lamb of
God, whose sacrifice once for all satisfied God’s wrath on our rebellion.
A New Beginning; a new Approach
Never again will I destroy the earth and all living things in it. Apparently, God will use a new and
different approach to preserve and renew his Kingdom. Rather than erasing evil, he will begin a
counteroffensive by establishing a beachhead from which He will retake all power and dominion.
The covenant with all creation sets the stage for a great renovation project. From one man he will build
one nation to bring forth the One who will crush the serpent’s (or dragon’s) head. If you know the Bible,
you know the line: from Abraham to Israel to David to Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham and the Son of
David.
Sneak Preview: The Bible reveals God as One Being in three Persons.
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* The first covenant (with all creatures) focuses on God the Father and his caring and protecting love for creation. Everybody receives these blessings; therefore everybody ought to live in thankfulness to God! How have you shown your thankfulness for God’s fatherly care?
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* The second covenant (with Abraham’s offspring; Genesis 15-17) focuses on God the Son and his blessings, first for the Jews, and since Pentecost for all nations and people groups on earth. Everyone who has heard the Good News about Jesus’ sacrifice of reconciliation must accept this wonderful outpouring of God’s love and follow Jesus in a life of thankfulness. How have you replied to this amazing Gift?
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* The new covenant that Jesus opens up with all his disciples (Luke 22:20; Hebr. 8, 9) brings God even closer. God’s Spirit comes to live in everyone who humbles himself before God, and sincerely promises to follow Jesus all the days of their lives. As believers, we are called to walk with God’s Spirit so that we grow in godliness and as witnesses to the world that does not know Him.
In a sense these covenants are not separate agreements, but ONE relationship, developed and enriched over time to redeem and restore the creation as the Kingdom of God.
Food for Thought
1. The Great Flood is a picture, a model for God’s judgment on human wickedness. Compare the Flood story to some other judgments or judgments to come.
Read: Gen. 18, 19; Ex. 12: 12; Luke 11: 31, 32; Rev. 14: 7
2. Several passages use the Flood account indeed to warn people about pending judgments. How will they be similar?
Read: Luke 17: 27; 2 Peter 2: 5. (What about Luke 6: 48 and 1 Peter 4: 4?)
3. Compare the stories of creation and recreation, by studying the parallels (all in Genesis):
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