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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.
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