Today, we finish up our lesson about Noah and the post-flood world. Our passage contains a covenant or promise [a divine pledge] from God, along with a sign or reminder of His Word—the rainbow in the sky. The rainbow reminds God of His promise while bringing hope to the world of future redemption—a gospel [good news] sign for humanity. This covenant is made to every living creature on the earth. God made an unconditional promise to preserve life on earth—a pledge to offer mercy and grace.
Let’s remember where we have been with God’s Word, Noah, and the flood. God makes a promise to Noah and his family (Genesis 6:17-18). He reminds Noah that humanity’s heart is universally sinful; we incline to sin even from childhood (Genesis 8:21). Life in the world [post-flood] is still not going to be a picnic for humanity, because the world is tainted with evil. Yet, God makes a universal promise to bless those who obey His commands (Genesis 9:1-7).
So, it is clear God takes on this obligation to put things into place to save humanity, to cleanse and deliver a heart from sin, and to provide the way to blessing and life everlasting. Essentially, God decides to deal with the problem of sin and evil differently in the future. And, we know, God faithfully does so through the cross of Jesus our Messiah. Praise God for the Promise!
Genesis 9:8-17 NLT
8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9 “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, 10 and with all the animals that were on the boat with you—the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. 11 Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”
12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the mercy and grace You have chosen to provide us. We have always needed a Savior, and we know You sent Jesus as the fulfillment of Your covenant. Even though this sinful world has chosen to take Your bow in the sky as a symbol of a social movement, we know You placed it as a reminder to Yourself never to destroy the world again by flood—a sign of the coming love, mercy, and grace of the redeeming and resurrected Savior. Because You live, Lord, we will live with You forever. Thank You! We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.