Genesis 8:20-9:17

As you begin to understand that God is writing his story in you, one thing you will learn is that God always keeps his promises. Whatever he says, he will do. Sometimes God’s promises are given in the form of a covenant—an agreement between God and man.

The first covenant in Scripture is the Covenant of Eden (Edenic Covenant). The basis of this covenant is God’s instruction to Adam prohibiting him from eating the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:16-17). This guideline is not specifically called a covenant in Genesis but through the prophet Hosea, God refers to it as a covenant that Adam broke (Hosea 6:7). This covenant is also referred to as the Covenant of Works because it was established before sin entered the world, in a time of innocence.  Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduced sin to humanity.

The second covenant, given in Genesis 3:16-19, was made with Adam after the first couple sinned (Adamic Covenant). It describes the hostility that will be between Satan and humanity, pain in childbirth, struggles in marriage, soil cursed, and death—the penalty of sin. And right before this covenant, God introduces Jesus as the One he will send through the woman to crush Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Today we read about the third covenant, a promise God gave to Noah after the flood (Noahic Covenant). The sign of this covenant is still visible today. Let’s start with a quick review.

Extreme wickedness had permeated humans through demonic influence, and God took action to reset things. When God told Noah to build an ark, there had never been a drop of rain from the sky (Genesis 2:5-6). But when the boat was completed, and Noah, his family, and the animals were safely on board, rain fell from heaven, the ocean floors “burst forth,” and the entire earth was flooded. The highest mountain peak was twenty feet underwater! Many commentators tie this as a return to the pre-creation watery chaos described in Genesis 1:2. We are not told specifically how long Noah and his crew were on the ark, but most scholars set the time at 370 days. The first action Noah took upon leaving the ark was to worship God by building an altar and sacrificing an offering. Describing God in human terms, Moses said that Yahweh “smelled the pleasing aroma” signifying that this offering was acceptable to God.

Genesis 8:20-22
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

In Genesis 9:1-7, there is similar instruction to Noah as there was to Adam. Noah was to be “fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it” (Genesis 9:7). Here are several points to note in this section.

• Genesis 9:4—The life of a creature is in its blood. While plants and animals provided food for Noah, meat with blood in it was prohibited. The NET Bible notes, “Because of the carnage produced by the flood, people might conclude that life is cheap and therefore treat it lightly. But God will not permit them to kill or even to eat anything with the lifeblood still in it, serving as a reminder of the sanctity of life.”^[1]
• Genesis 9:6—It is emphasized in this verse that even after God reset humanity, man is still made in the image of God. God, himself, will punish anyone who takes a human life.

Beginning in Genesis 9:9, God established a covenant with Noah (Noahic Covenant). The flood did not eliminate sin from the human heart. Wickedness and evil still exist, but God instituted an unconditional covenant with Noah that does not depend on man’s obedience.

Genesis 9:11-15
I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And 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: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 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.”

The Hebrew word for rainbow is also the word for “battle bow.” So, now when a rainbow appears it is a reminder that the battle bow has been put away. There will never again be universal judgment on man by a flood. The rainbow is a promise of grace and peace.^[2]

Think of it. Every time you look at a rainbow, it is a beautiful reminder of the covenant that God made with Noah in Genesis. He is a God who always keeps his promises!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 8:20-9:17. Take some time to reflect on the covenant God made with Noah. It is a remembrance of his common grace. The rainbow is a sign that God has hung up the battle bow. Ultimately, Jesus will come and take the judgment on sin in his body. In him, we have peace now and forever.

Prayer and Application
The sign of the Noahic Covenant is a vivid reminder of God’s grace and faithfulness even when we persist in sin. Thank God for his faithfulness to you despite your sin and failure. Ask him to show you the areas of sin you need to own. Ask him for strength to repent of those sins. Let God know you want to be described like Noah—as a person who walks with God.

Have Questions?
Do you have questions regarding covenants or specifically the Noahic Covenant? Maybe you have another question regarding this passage. Our team is here to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Simply submit your question below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

^[1] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Gen. 9:4.
^[2] Allen P. Ross, “Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 40.