Diving In Covenant 3 The Noahic Covenant

Background

Taking the cubit as the long cubit of ancient times (22 inches) would mean that the Ark was 547’ long, 91’ broad, 54’ high. It was the largest seagoing craft ever built until the SS Great Britain in the 19th century. It’s displacement has been calculated as 81,062 tons

Interesting view of how the Ark might have looked

I’m told that this idea was produced by ship design department of Bristol University some years ago.

• It would be perfectly designed to float (remember, the Ark wasn’t going anywhere so didn’t need a bow, stern or keel, and those design ideas would have been unknown at the time – they were a long distance from the sea and it probably hadn’t rained before – see Gen. 2:6).
• This would make it flat-bottomed, which is how many of today’s largest ferries are designed.
• It would float about 2/3rds submerged, which would give good temperature control, and be very stable in the water as waves wouldn’t knock it sideways .
• The ‘window’ would be a slot running right along the top allowing for good ventilation, and ensuring that the occupants could only look up! This ties in with Gen. 6:16 where the word translated ‘window’ means noon or noonday, in the sense of the sun being overhead, (as it is translated everywhere else in the Old Testament).
• ‘Finish it above to one cubit’ can mean narrow it to one cubit at the top, giving the triangular shape.

Spiritual background

Gen. 6:1-7, 11-13 paints a very grim picture of the sorry state mankind had come to in the 1500 or so years since Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden! But lest we look back and think “I’m glad we weren’t living then!”, Jesus tells us that this is how it will be in the times leading up to His return. So there are lessons here which we can learn from Noah which can help us be ready for that, and to enjoy the Lord’s protection during such times.

Firstly, we can see that he lived according to God’s will and in fellowship with Him

• Gen. 6:8 In contrast to the darkness of the pre-Flood world and God’s intention to wipe everything out and start again, the first thing we read about Noah is that he “found grace in the eyes of the Lord”, reminding us of a young girl who “found favour with God” and would be the mother of Messiah! Also reminding us that “the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him”. (2 Chron. 16:9)
• So we read in Gen. 6:9 that, like his great grandfather who was translated 70 years before Noah was born, he ‘walked with God’. His name means “Rest” but his life models obedience! He was given an mammoth task against a projection of conditions that had no precedent in the history of the world up to that point.
• He was just, or righteous, and “blameless in his generation”, in contrast to the generation in which he was living (see Gen. 7:1 where the same word – dor – is used for that). The plain reading of verse 9 is that he was blameless – there were no accusations that could be made against him – the Hebrew word means sincere, without spot, undefiled, upright.
  2 Pet. 2:5 says that he wasn’t only righteous in himself, but that he “preached righteousness” but he was no hypocrite! He ‘walked the walk’ as well as ‘talked the talk’. But for all that, his only converts were his own family – often the most difficult people to reach as they see and know what we are like in private as well as in public!
• Some have suggested that ‘perfect in his generations’ means that his genes were not corrupted by the “sons of God” impregnating the “daughters of men” and, while that could have been the case, a different Hebrew word would probably have been used for generation (toledoth – which looks back as in the first occurrence of the word in v. 9). The word here is dor and it’s in the singular pointing to the generation in which he was living.

The important lesson for us is that we should be like him in our conduct, remembering that the grace we have been shown “instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12-13) Who the Ark typifies.

The Lord therefore assures Noah in Gen. 6:18 that He will establish His covenant, or perhaps has established/confirmed His covenant (Young’s Literal gives past perfect tense not future as in most other translations. The verb ‘you shall come’ into the Ark is also past perfect but was obviously still future at that time, so it may be like the future perfect tense ‘will have come’, indicative of a perfectly completed action in the mind of God, while still in the future to us – Young’s gives “thou hast come”. See John 17:4 where Jesus says “I have finished the work You gave me to do, when the Cross was still ahead of Him).

This may indicate preservation under the terms the Edenic and Adamic covenant, and that the covenant of gracious redemption and restoration, would be maintained with him and his family despite the judgement coming on the rest of the world. Or it could prefigure the Covenant that God was going to establish with Noah, but of which Noah actually knew nothing at the time. Or both! Reading it both ways at the same time gives a continuity of covenant promise. The Lord is effectively saying “My promise of the preservation of human life built in to the previous covenants will continue with you even though I am destroying all other human life”. We then see that promise of preservation elaborated and expanded in the Covenant God makes with Noah and the whole human race after the Flood. “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world”! Acts 15:18)

Discussion of Scripture: Genesis 8:15-9:17

Note Gen. 8:1 God remembered Noah – covenants usually include a record of what the granter has done for the recipient(s). Gen.8:2-14 are that record.

Week One Discussion

• Gen. 8:15-19 Noah’s obedience
• Gen. 8:20 Noah’s worship and thanksgiving
• Gen. 8:21-22 The Lord’s response – first Covenant promise of provision and protection

We highlighted Noah’s obedience and righteousness, emphasizing that Noah found favour with God and preached righteousness to others.

David discussed various interpretations of the phrase “perfect in his generations” (Gen. 9:1b) in relation to Noah, but ultimately concluded that it referred to Noah’s conduct in his own generation, as the Hebrew word there is ‘dor’ which in Gen. 7:1 refers to his current generation (as opposed to ‘toledoth’ referring to past generations – the first occurrence of the word in Gen. 9:1a). The conversation also touched on God’s covenant with Noah, emphasizing that God was establisheing preservation under the previous covenants and would preserve Noah and his family despite the impending judgment.

We discussed the covenant God made with Noah after the flood, emphasizing God’s assurance and faithfulness. The group also mentioned the design of the ark and the significance of the olive branch brought back by the dove.

We discussed the possibility of trees re-emerging after being planted on a hill, the geological changes caused by the flood, the significance of the flood as a foreshadowing of the new creation, and the symbolism in relation to Jesus, including the foreshadowing of the covenant, the significance of the first day of the first month, the importance of blood in atonement, and a suggestion that olive oil may be connected to the tree of life.

David discussed the typology of the covenant, particularly focusing on the Noahic covenant in Genesis 8.1. He highlighted the characteristics of a covenant, including God remembering Noah, the record of what God did, Noah’s obedience and worship, the covenant promises of provision and protection, the mandate to replenish the earth, new provisions for food, expanded promise of protection, and the sign of the rainbow.

We then went on to discuss various aspects of the story of Noah’s Ark, including the significance of the pitch used to cover the ark, the distinction between clean and unclean animals, and the redemptive nature of the entire event as a picture of God’s love and judgment.

We discussed various aspects of Noah’s story, including the amount of food needed in the ark, the conditions before and after the flood, Noah’s obedience to God, and his relationship with Him. They also mentioned the possibility of animals hibernating and the practicality of caring for them during the flood.

In the discussion, we talked about Noah’s worship, the curse on the ground, and the ongoing need for redemptive rest. We also mentioned the pleasant aroma coming from Noah’s sacrifice after the flood (‘pleasing smell’ and Noah’s name coming from the same root word, meaning comfort or rest), and the continuation of seed time and the changing seasons.

We discussed the permanence of God’s covenant and its connection to day and night. They also touched on climate change and its various perspectives. We debated whether climate change is a permanent phenomenon or just a fluctuation, and emphasized the importance of focusing on sharing the gospel and being prepared for the future, rather than worrying about climate issues as God has promised to maintain the natural order until the end of time!

Finally we talked about finding stability and assurance in God’s unshakable kingdom amidst the turmoil of the world. We discussed the significance of the covenant and its connection to God’s plan for redemption and restoration of all creation and acknowledged that God’s faithfulness and promises give them confidence to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.

Week Two Discussion

• Gen. 9:1, 7 Mandate to replenish the earth
• Gen. 9:2-3 New provisions for food (Acts 15:20)
• Gen. 9:3-6 New restrictions and responsibility
• Gen. 9:8-11 The promise of protection expanded
• Gen. 9:11-17 The sign of the covenant – the rainbow

David discussed the Noahic Covenant and its significance in Genesis chapter 9. He also mentioned the first mention of rain and the first rainbow, and how the flood explains sedimentary layers and deposits of coal and oil.

We discussed how the eruption of Mount St. Helens and the subsequent events challenged the assumptions of carbon dating and the theory of gradual geological processes. They also highlighted the influence of narrative bias and financial pressure on scientific research. We went on to discuss the evidence of a global flood that a geology professor discovered, which led to him losing his job. They also examined the covenant that God made with Noah and his descendants after the flood, including the sign of the rainbow as a reminder of the everlasting covenant.

The group discussed the concept of covenant in the Bible, the fear of animals, the impact of sin on creation, and the importance of being fruitful and multiplying. They also touched on topics such as eugenics, abortion, and the responsibility and accountability of humans.

We discussed the importance of animals in God’s creation and the responsibility humans have towards them. We also touched on the topic of animals in heaven and the significance of blood in sustaining life, the significance of blood in religious texts, the concept of human responsibility in government, and the importance of relationships and love for one another. They explored the idea that these aspects reflect the image of God and the command to be fruitful and multiply.

We then discussed various aspects of the covenant and its implications, including the death penalty as a means to restrain human extinction by violence, the restriction on total liberty to preserve life, and the introduction of eating meat as a foreshadowing of the sacrificial system and communion.

The group discussed various topics including the recovery of the land after the flood, the need for protein after the atmospheric changes, the shedding of man’s blood, the significance of clean and unclean animals, and the understanding of sacrifice. They also pondered on the number of animals in the ark and speculated on what happened to the bodies of the sacrificed animals.

We talked about the possibility of animals being carnivorous before entering the Garden of Eden, the use of linen in religious garments, the importance of blood in representing life, and the establishment of an unconditional covenant by God with Noah and all of creation.

We discussed the concept of covenant and its significance in various contexts, including religious, societal, and legal. They explored different types of covenants, such as conditional and unconditional, and recognized the importance of covenant as a foundational agreement in relationships and governance, the promise of God not to flood the earth again, and the significance of the rainbow as a reminder of God’s covenant.

We summarised the covenant, its provisions, and its purpose of preservation and protection. We concluded by talking about God’s redemptive purpose and the typology of the covenant, highlighting the significance of Jesus as the ark of salvation.

Summary

The Participants in the Covenant

All mankind as represented in Noah and his family

The Provisions of the Covenant

1. Repopulate the earth Gen, 9:1,7
2. Animal creation marked now by the fear of man (not present up to this point?) and man has authority over them Gen. 9:2
3. Provision for mankind’s physical needs Gen. 9:3
4. Prohibition on eating blood Gen. 9:4
5. Government by humans over humans instituted Gen. 9:5-6
6. The earth never again to be destroyed by a universal flood Gen. 9:8-11
7. The token of the Rainbow – to remind man that God will remember this Covenant

The purpose of the Covenant

For the continuation of the human race until the end of the earth and the continuation of God’s redemptive purposes! Despite the Serpent and his seed’s determined efforts to thwart God’s purposes, God will always have the last word and can bring good out of what the enemy determined for evil. In fact, we can probably say that God uses the enemy’s evil purposes to move His own plans forward!

The Status of the Covenant

Applies to all the human race and is still in effect today – it will remain so as long as the earth exists.

• Conditional? No
• Type   Royal Grant
• Promise       Seed time and harvest, etc.
• Applies to    Human Race
• Faith   Built the Ark
• Grace Provided Ark
• Righteousness         System of Human Government
• Sanction        Death penalty for murder
• Blood sacrifice         Noah sacrificed on leaving the Ark

F. The Typology of the Covenant

Jesus  The Ark of Salvation

In Gen. 6:18 and Gen. 7:1, God says ‘Come into the Ark’, and in Gen. 8:15, He says ‘Come forth from the Ark’. Whatever the circumstances, God is there! He is with them in the Ark during the judgement of the world and He is already present in the newly cleansed world ready for them to leave the safety of the Ark. As we enter what could be very difficult and dangerous times, we have the same promise! Heb. 13:5-6. Christ is our Ark whether we go through trials and tribulations or are delivered from them!

Pointing to the New Earth in the new creation.

Conclusions

After the flood had removed corrupt society and then receded, Noah the covenant man worshiped; he built an altar and sacrificed. Yahweh responded to Noah’s worship and determined to continue his relationship with the cosmos (Gen. 8:20-9:17). Parts of the creation covenant mandates were repeated; some were explicated.

In confirming his creation covenant with humanity,

• God said every living creature was included (Gen. 9:9-10 )
• God included the death penalty for murder (Gen. 9:5-6 ), emphasizing the value of human life in particular, further underlining the primary rationale for this covenant: preserving life on earth without further divine interruption
• Meat became as legitimate food for humanity (Gen. 9:2-3 )
• Assurance concerning the continuity of the creation covenant certainly includes the implication that Yahweh would continue his gracious redemptive/restorative covenant.
• A suspension of the natural order will never again interrupt the fulfilment of humanity’s creational mandate
• This continuity would be worked out particularly with Shem, blessed by Yahweh to serve as the builder of the tent that even Ham’s offspring, Canaan, would enter. Japheth’s offspring would benefit from it and enlarge it.

After God had given absolute assurance to Noah and his sons that the creation covenant would continue, there are not many direct references to it again. But its presence and role are constantly and consistently present (see Acts 15:20; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5; 3:6). It is at least implicit from the scope of this covenant that God’s redemptive goal will ultimately encompass the whole creation.