Genesis 9:8-17THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

Call to Worship O God, we come into your courts with praise and thanksgiving!

We come in celebration and song.

We come in gratitude of your inheritance.

We come as those who have received blessing upon blessing.

We hear the cry of the poor in the land, and ache to offer them relief.

We come to bring them blessing upon blessing, in Jesus’ name.

O God, we come into your courts with praise and thanksgiving!

We come in celebration of You!

InvocationGracious God, your people are suffering.

Where there is woundedness, help us bring healing.

Where there is discouragement, help us bring support and

comfort.

Where there is dismay and mourning, help us bring the power of

new life and new opportunities.

Heal us, O God, for you are our help and our hope, the One we

turn to in times of trouble.

In the name of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Introduction

The lesson examines how God established an

Everlasting Covenant with Noah and all people, who

would be his descendants.

Introduction

The study's aim is to build confidence in God and His

Word as shown in His faithfulness.

The study's application is for us to live each day in

faith that God is in control and will keep His

promises.

Introduction

Noah received a direct communication from the Lord about

a day of judgment that was to be carried out by means of

a flood.

What made Noah worthy of this honor was the fact that he

"was a righteous man ... and he walked faithfully with God"

(6:9). Noah obeyed God's commands fully (6:22; 7:5).

Of course, we wonder what commands were at play.

Introduction

Last week's text focused on the aftermath of the

first sin, committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden

of Eden.

Today's Scripture brings us to the aftermath of God's

judgment by means of the great flood.

Introduction

That this Flood was universal in scope (that is, it

covered the entire earth) is attested to by the fossils

and fossil fuels found on all continents as well as on

the ocean floors.

It is also shown in the field of geology in the

sedimentary layers of rock found all over the earth.

Introduction

To create the Flood, the "fountains of the great deep

[were] broken up, and the windows of heaven were

opened" (Gen. 7:11).

Water covers about three-quarters of the earth now,

and there are vast canyons in the deepest parts of

the ocean. There are also vast quantities of water

trapped as ice in the polar ice caps.

Introduction

With a relatively small rearrangement of the deeper

sea levels and the polar ice caps, there would be

more than enough water on the earth to cover all

the highest mountains. A flood of this extent is

entirely possible from what we already know.

Genesis 9:8

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with

him,

Genesis 9:8

God saved eight people in Noah’s ark; Noah, his

wife, Noah’s three sons and their wives.

Jesus said that before He returned the days would

be like the days of Noah before the great flood

(Matthew 24:36-39).

Genesis 9:8

What were those days like?

The Lord brought the flood, because “the wickedness of

humankind was great in the earth, and every inclination of

the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually”

(Genesis 6:5).

We are closer to that day each day!

Genesis 9:9

“As for me, I am establishing my covenant

with you and your descendants after you,

Genesis 9:9

After the great flood, God gave the world a promise through

Noah. His promise was made in the form of a covenant or

official agreement regarding what God would do in the future.

The promise was unconditional or without conditions that

anyone had to fulfill except God himself.

Genesis 9:9

The unconditional covenant meant that no matter what

happened on earth in the future and no matter what people

did, God would not break or violate the promise and

covenant that He made with Noah and every living being.

The covenant was an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 9:9

Lesson: God graciously speaks to man and always for his benefit

(Gen. 9:8; Heb. 1:1-3)

Reflection: Like a good father, God has the ability to inflict pain in

discipline but tempers it with his words. Consider how often God

could have chastised you but continues to speak words of love to

you.

Genesis 9:10

and with every living creature that is with you, the

birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of

the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.

Genesis 9:10

Because God made humankind in His image, God spoke to

Noah rationally and made a covenant and promise the

people could understand. The promise included all living

beings and God named specifically the birds, domestic

animals, and wild animals.

Genesis 9:10

Of course, the fish were not destroyed in the flood

and are not included in the covenant.

Genesis 9:11

I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never

again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Genesis 9:11 God promised that never again would He flood the entire

earth and destroy all living creatures by water.

Of course, localized floods still occur, but never again would all living beings that live and breathe on the land be

destroyed by floods

Genesis 9:11 God did not say that He was stepping back from His roles as

supreme King and Judge of the universe or giving up on mankind.

He only eliminated a universal flood as a form of judgment and

punishment for human sin and rebellion.

Genesis 9:11 The Noahic Covenant was initiated and dictated by God. The sovereignty of God is clearly seen in this covenant. While some

ancient covenants were the result of negotiation, this one was not.

God initiated the covenant as an outward expression of His purpose revealed in Genesis 3:20-22.

God dictated the terms of the covenant to Noah, and there was no discussion.

Genesis 9:11Lesson: God's concern and grace extend to all of His creation

(Gen. 9:9-10)

Reflection: We often forget that God knows when the sparrow falls and feeds His creatures every day. Consider how great is His love for you and His attention to every detail of your life.

Genesis 9:12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I

make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:

Genesis 9:12The sign of God’s covenant (that God made for and with every living creature forever) showed God would never

use water again to cover all of the land on the earth as a form of judgment. That sign was the rainbow.

The sign was similar to a signature on an official document with terms that specified the obligations of

the person who signed the document.

Genesis 9:12The sign of God’s covenant should remind every person that God

will judge people for their wickedness; therefore, sinners should

repent and turn from wickedness if they are not living as Noah

lived before the great flood.

Peter wrote that a final future judgment of God would come, and

it would come with fire instead of water (2 Peter 3:1-7).

Genesis 9:13

I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a

sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13

God’s bow might be thought of as a warrior’s bow that

God put in the sky to never use again. Or, the sky might

be thought of as a giant document or contract that God

has signed with a rainbow, which can be seen by people

around the world.

Genesis 9:13The rainbow may first have appeared here.

Genesis 2:5-6 implies that initially watering took place in a

different way from rain (mist from the ground).

It is just possible that the bow was a weapon that God put down

(will not destroy mankind in judgment). In ancient times hanging

up the bow was a symbol for peace.

Genesis 9:13

God did not mean that He would not use other ways than

water to judge people, discipline people, or punish people

who persisted in doing evil.

God would fight for and defend His people in the future, as

the history of the Hebrew people demonstrates.

Genesis 9:13

Perhaps the bow could be seen as a beautiful

monument or sculpture that would remind people of

a past event and the promise of God for the future.

What do we think of when we see the rainbow?

Genesis 9:14

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is

seen in the clouds,

Genesis 9:14

God gave special meaning to the rainbow that could

appear and be seen anywhere on earth where

clouds could be seen and rain or snow could fall in

the light of the sun.

Genesis 9:15

I will remember my covenant that is between me

and you and every living creature of all flesh; and

the waters shall never again become a flood to

destroy all flesh.

Genesis 9:15

Of course, God did not need to see the rainbow to remind

Him of a covenant or promise that He had made.

Rather, God promised and gave the rainbow so whenever

it rained or snowed people could remind themselves that

God had made a promise that He could and would never

forget to keep.

Genesis 9:15Every covenant has its accompanying sign.

The sign of the Abrahamic Covenant is circumcision (Genesis 17:15-27); that of the Mosaic Covenant is the

observance of the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17). The “sign” of the rainbow is appropriate.

Also, the rainbow appears at the end of a storm. So this sign assures man that the storm of God’s wrath

(in a flood or life) has an end.

Genesis 9:15

Lesson: God can never forget His promises (vss. 14-

15)

Reflection: We make promises every day that we fail

to keep or even remember. Consider that God

renews His promises to us every day and will not

allow anything to prevent His keeping them.

Genesis 9:16

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.”

Genesis 9:16

Essentially, God said the same things at least two or

three times to emphasize that He would keep His

covenant with Noah and all living creatures.

God only needs to make a promise or covenant once

to mean what He says, but sometimes (if not often),

people need to hear some things repeated several

times in order to believe and remember.

Genesis 9:16

Noah and his family had experienced and witnessed the

destruction by flood of every living person but

themselves, and every living land animal and bird

except those on the ark.

They needed to hear God’s reassuring words of promise

repeated more than once in order to overcome their

traumatic experience and feel reassured when it rained

again in the future.

Genesis 9:16

Lesson: God's promises are gracious, clear, and

trustworthy (Gen. 9:11; Num. 23:19)

Reflection: We are often more concerned with God’s

commands than His promises. Take the time today

to rediscover some of His promises for you.

Genesis 9:17

God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant

that I have established between me and all flesh

that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:17

We do not know the date of the great flood, but we

do know that God has kept His covenant or solemn

promise to all flesh that is on the earth.

We do know that events today and the actions of

people today are similar to the days of Noah and

similar to the days that Jesus described.

Genesis 9:17

We do know that among the true followers of Jesus

Christ people live godly in Christ Jesus. We also see

some who appear to live with only evil thoughts

continually, just as in the days of Noah.

We do know that Jesus has promised to come again,

and He will justly judge and restore the earth

through fire.

Conclusion

With the disastrous flooding and devastating fires out

west, some have questions about God’s care for this

world.

They ask, ‘If God is in charge of the world, can't he keep

a flood or a tornado from devastating whole towns and

communities and disrupting the lives of millions of

people? What good can possibly come by his letting

such disasters occur?"

Conclusion

Living in a fallen world—a world still under the curse

of sin—can present followers of the Lord Jesus Christ

with some very challenging questions.

We know that ultimately God will bring about "a new

heaven and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13). But at

times we may wonder why he doesn't step in and fix

some of what's wrong with the earth we live in now.

Conclusion

An important part of our witness occurs in the midst of

the tragedies that are an inescapable part of life in a

fallen world. We are able in such circumstances to

show the difference our faith in Christ makes. This is

not because we are exempt from tragedies. Rather, it

is because Christian faith gives us a unique

perspective on the tragedies of this present world.

Conclusion

The cross of Christ becomes our sign by which we

view life (especially the difficult side) in a fallen

world. Just as God used the tragedy of the cross to

accomplish his purpose of providing salvation from

sin, so he can use the disasters of this life for a

higher, eternal purpose (Romans 8:28).

Conclusion

Just as God destroyed the world through the flood, and

the only ones saved were those in the ark, so He has

said that He will yet destroy the world through fire and

only those who are in Christ will be saved (2 Pet. 3:4-7,

10).

Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood, through

which He promised to deliver all who trust in Him. That

is our sign.

Conclusion

That promise is unilateral. It stems completely from God.

He initiated it, He laid down the stipulations of it. It’s not

up for debate if you don’t like it. It stems from God’s grace

toward those who deserve His wrath. God owes us nothing.

Many people miss God’s offer of salvation because they

insist on coming to God on their own merit. But we can’t

come to God until we realize that He has done it all. We

can’t bargain with God based on our good works.

Conclusion

That promise is eternal. The author to the Hebrews

argues that Christ’s blood obtained “eternal

redemption” (Heb. 5:9; 9:12). We don’t have to fear

that God will change the terms of the covenant at

some point in the future. There is nothing to be

added to what He did there. It is accomplished and

established forever.

Conclusion

That promise is universal. That is, it is available to

all who will believe in Jesus Christ. It excludes no

man; Christ purchased for God with His blood those

from every tribe and tongue and people and nation

(Rev. 5:9). Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me

shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I

will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

Conclusion

That promise is conditioned on faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s covenant with Noah applies to everyone,

apart from their faith. It even applies to all the

animals.

But God’s new covenant in Christ applies only to

those who put their trust in Him as Savior.

Conclusion

Jesus said, “For this is the will of My Father, that

everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him,

may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on

the last day” (John 6:40). John writes, “... whoever

believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal

life” (John 3:16).

Faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition of the new

covenant.

Benediction

We seek to serve you, O God, by serving others: the

poor, the needy, the least, and the lost.

Help us always to hear your words that we may

become more faithful stewards of the gifts you give

us each day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

BlessingBy our words and deeds, we show God that we are faithful with

the gifts we have received.

Whether over a little or a lot, we seek to be faithful stewards of

God’s gifts.

Take the gifts of God into the world, remembering the poor, the

least, and the lost.

We will take God’s gifts to a hurting world, spreading a healing

balm in all that we do.

Guide us Lord. Amen.