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IN THE BEGINNING
GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH
Genesis 9:1-19
INTRODUCTION: God established His covenant with Noah before the flood. (Genesis 6:18) In this chapter,
we learn more about the covenant. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God’s covenant with Noah was
pure grace. In other words, it was unconditional. The rainbow is a witness of this covenant.
I. COMMANDS TO NOAH
A. POPULATE THE EARTH.
God told Adam to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion” over all the
animals. (Gen. 1:28) The Flood destroyed every human being on earth except Noah and his family. God told
Noah and his sons to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth.”
B. PERMISSION TO EAT ANIMANLS. (v. 2-4)
The animal population would have increased faster than the human race. God put in animals a natural fear of
humans. If it was not for this natural fear, animals would take over our homes and cities. God gave man
authority over the animals. “Into your hand are they delivered.”
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
Genesis 9:3
Before sin entered the human race, Adam and Eve as well as all animals were vegetarians. After the Flood, the
Lord gave man permission to eat animals for food. Along with this permission is a restraint. The blood of the
animals was not to be eaten. The life of the flesh is in the “blood.” Blood would be offered on the altar to
make atonement for man’s soul.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for
your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11
C. PUNISHMENT OF MURDERERS. (v. 6)
Cain slew his brother Abel. (Gen. 4:8) Lamech boasted that he had killed a young man. (Gen. 5:23) Before the
Flood, the earth was corrupt and filled with violence. The Lord brought judgment upon the wicked and
godless human race. In verse 5-6, God instituted human government to protect human life.
1. Sentence for the taking of human life. “I require the life of man”
God says He “requires the life of man” who takes the life of another. The death penalty was required for one
who killed with premeditation, but not for accidental manslaughter. ( Ex. 21:12-13 ; Lev 24:17 ; Deut 27:24)
The Lord gave to the human race a corporate responsibility to deal with murderers. Capital punishment is
taught in the Old and New Testaments. (John 19:10-11 ; Rom 13:1-4)
2. Sacredness of human life. “image of God made he man”
Only God has the right to terminate life. Murder is an affront to God. The taking of a human life is to usurp
God’s sovereignty over life and death. The stated reason for capital punishment is that man is made in the
image of God. Murder expresses hatred for God since man is made in God’s image. The United States flag
represents the American people. When the flag is being burned by certain groups, they are expressing their
hatred for America. The burning of an effigy of a person is in demonstration of the dislike and hatred for that
person.
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of
God.” James 3:9
II. COVENANT WITH NOAH
A. SOURCE OF THE COVENANT. (Gen. 6:18; 9:11, 15)
The source of this covenant was God. The Lord made this covenant with Noah. Noah had no part in making it,
or in keeping it. This reminds us of the everlasting covenant of grace God had made with us through His Son,
Jesus Christ. It is a covenant of pure grace. (Eph. 2:8-9) Our covenant with Christ is unconditional. It is
founded upon His promises.
B. SCOPE OF THE COVENANT. (v. 9-10)
“And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living
creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go
out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.” Genesis 9:9-10
C. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COVENANT. (v. 11)
“And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a
flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” Genesis 9:11
D. SIGN OF THE COVENANT. (v. 13-14)
“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.” Gen. 9:13
“Humans typically see in the rainbow seven distinct colors. The seven colors are red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo, and violet. Seven represents perfection, so the rainbow might picture God’s perfect plan. When
all the colors of the rainbow are combined together, they give us white sunlight. White is the symbol of purity
and the righteousness of Christ, just as black, the opposite of white, pictures sin.”
E. SURETY OF THE COVENANT. (v. 15- 16)
“And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and
the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look
upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that
is upon the earth.” Genesis 9:15-16
1) Advocates of abortion are in rebellion against God’s command to multiply and fill the earth. They are
resisting the clear teachings of Genesis 9.
“And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.” Genesis 9:7
2) Those who commit murder are defying the clear teaching of Genesis 9. Supporters of abortions, euthanasia,
assisted suicide, and genocide are guilty of murder.
“Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Gen.
9:6
“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
3) Liberals who oppose the death penalty are contradicting God’s clear teachings of Genesis 9.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the
power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for
good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of
God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:1, 3-4
4) Vegetarians and animal rights’ activists who resist eating meat and attempt to lead others in that same
direction are in opposition to God’s permission to eat animals. They are disputing the clear teachings of
Genesis 9. It is no sin to be a vegetarian and it is not a sin to eat meat.
“ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every
creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by
the word of God and prayer.” 1 Tim. 4:1, 3-5
5) Those who reject the Bible’s teachings concerning the flood are calling God a liar and are refusing to
believe the clear teachings of Genesis 7 - 9.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, For this they
willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the
water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” 2 Peter 3:3,
5-6
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
The rainbow is a reminder that God will never destroy the earth again by water. The cross is a reminder to the
Christian that God will never destroy his soul in hell. As Christians, we are in a covenant relationship with the
Lord. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded of that covenant. Our requirement in this
covenant is to believe. Have you believed on Jesus as your Savior and Lord?