Genesis 9v8-17
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish My covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 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. 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.” 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.” (ESV)
Consider the following:
- The Sovereignty of the Covenant (v8):
God established His covenant with Noah and his offspring.
- The Statement of the Covenant (v9):
A covenant is a binding agreement between God and His people or between people (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic – Exodus 9v24, and Matthew 26v28). Covenants serve as the foundational basis for the relationship between God and man. The statement includes the terms, blessings and consequences with breaking the covenant. These show God’s desire for a mutual relationship with us. It shows His grace and mercy and His willingness to redeem and restore humanity. - The Specifics of the Covenant (v11):
God provides details of the specifics of the covenant.
a) Preservation of the covenant: God will not destroy all flesh with the flood and establishes the rainbow as a sign of the covenant.
b) Prohibition of the covenant: Eating but not with the blood in it. God wants us to have a high view of life. A reminder of every imagination of man’s evil heart, continually. A reminder of the mercy and the grace of God.
c) Posterity of the covenant: God commands Noah and his descendants to multiply, thereby guaranteeing the flourishing of mankind despite human sinfulness.
- The Sign of the Covenant
a) Proclamation (v12): this is the sign of the covenant for all future generations.
b) Purpose (v13-15): It is a sign that God will remember His covenant and not destroy us.
c) Permanence of the covenant: The eternal and unchanging God established it.
We also have a sign – the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, which tells us that God will not destroy those who trust Him. He paid the penalty, is freeing us from the power of sin and will free us from the presence of sin.
What is the cross to you? I can’t do without it, just as Noah couldn’t do without the ark.