Genesis 8 – God Remembered Noah
The flood swept away every living person on the earth except Noah and his family, who were remembered by the Lord. Because of Noah’s obedient, he and his family were saved. God was in control when the rain started and when it stopped. It had been 40 days from the time the rains began. God remembered Noah and all the animals in the ark and sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded. First Noah sent out a raven which kept flying back and forth. Then Noah sent out a dove to see if there flood had receded, but the dove could not find a place to land so it returned. After seven days Noah sent out a dove again and it returned with an olive leaf. He knew then the waters were receding. He waited another seven days and sent a dove again but it did not return. (Gen. 8:11-12).
Did God forget Noah? When the Bible said “God remembered Noah”, it means that He acknowledged Noah’s faithfulness. God cannot forget anything. It’s like remembering a birthday. It doesn’t mean we have forgotten a birthday, but we acknowledge and remember it each year. There are other examples in Bible when “God remembered”. He remembered Abraham, Hannah, His covenant, etc. He didn’t forget, but acknowledged them.
Do you need assurance that God hasn’t forgotten you? When you feel this way, stop and think about the salvation God has granted you in Jesus Christ. Your salvation is not based on anything in you or what you do or don’t do. God remembered Noah and He remembers you.
Why do you think he sent a dove? Perhaps God told him to or maybe Noah knew doves ate only plants and if the land and vegetation had surfaced, the dove would fine it. Then God told Noah in Gen. 8:15-19 – “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you – the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground – so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.” Noah, his family, and the animals were in the ark for one year.
Don’t you think after a year on the ark Noah wanted to get off immediately? But he waited until God told him it was ok. – Gen. 8:15. He was more obedient to God than his own feelings. God provided for him again by making him wait until the destruction of the land had healed so there would be food for Noah and the animals.
One day God will judge the earth as He did the earth in Noah’s day. He has plans and purposes and He will bring about His perfect plan. All those who are against God will be judged, when Jesus returns. He alone judges justly, but extends saving grace. He may delay judgment because of His patience and mercy, but He will judge. God is perfect and loving. He cannot tolerate sin. He loved us even though we were sinners. He loved us enough that He sent His son, Jesus to die in our place and for our sins.
When will Jesus return? We don’t know, but He will come when we least expect it. He is waiting as long as He can. He wants no one to perish, but time is running out. God’s judgment will inevitably fall and will separate those who trust in Jesus from those who have rejected Him. God has provided a way of escape for you just as He did for Noah. That way is through Jesus.
The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was to build an altar to God. Noah was thankful to God’s provision and for sparing him and his family. He responded to God by sacrificing burnt offerings on the altar. Being a man of God, Noah had probably done this before. In Genesis 4 Abel’s offering was a fat portion from some of the firstborn of his flock so this was not something new. This was so pleasing to God that He said He would never again destroy all living creatures as He had done. “And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” – Gen 8:21b-22.
Genesis 9 – The Covenant
Noah was now living in a new world. God was so pleased with Noah’s burnt offerings that He blessed him and his sons and told them to be fruitful and to multiply and fill the earth. God told Noah that every living thing will be food for him just as He had given him greet plants. He must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. (Gen. 9:1-4).
Why did God forbid man to eat the blood of animals? The life of a creature is in the blood. Animal blood was used as a sacrifice for the atonement for man’s sins. Now that Christ shed His blood, we have a new covenant and His blood is the atonement for our sins.
The idea of blood is used often in the Bible. It represents the life of the being, whether animal or human. When blood is poured out, life is poured out. Blood was the sign of mercy for Israel at the first Passover. Blood was used as a sacrifice at the altar. Blood made atonement for God’s people. Blood justifies us and brings redemption. It brings peace with God. It cleanses and sanctifies us. Blood enables us to overcome Satan.
God also said, “I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.” – Gen. 9:5-6. I think here God is giving man the right and responsibility of capital punishment.
Murder carries with it a sentence of death. Capital punishment is not murder. It is the punishment for the crime of murder. Life is valuable so God requires a life, when a person takes another’s life. This punishment has been placed into the hands of the State. – Rom. 13:4-5. Why does God punish by death? It is because man is the image of God. Man belongs to God and we are accountable for taking what belongs to Him.
God values all human life, even the life of the unborn. The Bible is clear on how God values life – Numbers 5:27-28; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 6:16-10; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 22:10; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-18.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jer. 1:5
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Ps. 139:13-18
God made a covenant with Noah. He made a rainbow as a sign of this covenant. (Gen. 9:1-13). Today the symbolism of the rainbow has been corrupted by the world. It is used to symbolize other things. It is used as pointing to a treasure with a pot of gold at the end, a peace movement, homosexual rights, etc. But the rainbow’s purpose is so we remember the faithfulness of God and His promises.
Did you know there is a rainbow in heaven? Read Rev. 4:3.
What is a covenant? It is an agreement or contract between two people or two groups that involve promises on each other’s part. A covenant today has an end date, while a covenant in the Bible is a permanent arrangement. Covenants in the Bible are still in effect today – snakes still slither on the ground, women still give birth in pain, man hast to work to eat, we all turn to dust when we die, all nations are blessed through Abraham because of Christ, and the land of Israel still belongs to the Jewish people. Jesus made a covenant with the believers at the Last Supper. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” – Luke 22:20.
Because of sin the image of God is blurred and for it to become clear again, you must be born again. We must be born of the Spirit. “I tell you the truth no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” – John 3:1. “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Eph. 4:22-24
If we focused on God’s image in other Christians, it would affect our relationships with them. We wouldn’t be so critical and see their shortcomings and faults. We need to be more like Christ - more loving, forgiving, and compassionate. When we believe in Him, the veil of ignorance is lifted and we see the truth. We are changed and can then be more like Christ. – 2 Cor. 3:15-18.
Join me here next week as we continue our study of Genesis -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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