study slides for genesis 9
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Uniform Lesson Study for September 22, 2013TRANSCRIPT
Genesis 9:8-17THE EVERLASTING COVENANT
Call to Worship O God, we come into your courts with praise and thanksgiving!
We come in celebration and song.
We come in gratitude of your inheritance.
We come as those who have received blessing upon blessing.
We hear the cry of the poor in the land, and ache to offer them relief.
We come to bring them blessing upon blessing, in Jesus’ name.
O God, we come into your courts with praise and thanksgiving!
We come in celebration of You!
InvocationGracious God, your people are suffering.
Where there is woundedness, help us bring healing.
Where there is discouragement, help us bring support and
comfort.
Where there is dismay and mourning, help us bring the power of
new life and new opportunities.
Heal us, O God, for you are our help and our hope, the One we
turn to in times of trouble.
In the name of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Introduction
The lesson examines how God established an
Everlasting Covenant with Noah and all people, who
would be his descendants.
InvocationGracious God, your people are suffering.
Where there is woundedness, help us bring healing.
Where there is discouragement, help us bring support and
comfort.
Where there is dismay and mourning, help us bring the power of
new life and new opportunities.
Heal us, O God, for you are our help and our hope, the One we
turn to in times of trouble.
In the name of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Introduction
The lesson examines how God established an
Everlasting Covenant with Noah and all people, who
would be his descendants.
InvocationGracious God, your people are suffering.
Where there is woundedness, help us bring healing.
Where there is discouragement, help us bring support and
comfort.
Where there is dismay and mourning, help us bring the power of
new life and new opportunities.
Heal us, O God, for you are our help and our hope, the One we
turn to in times of trouble.
In the name of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Introduction
The lesson examines how God established an
Everlasting Covenant with Noah and all people, who
would be his descendants.
Introduction
The study's aim is to build confidence in God and His
Word especially in God's faithfulness.
The study's application is to live each day in faith
that God is in control and will keep His promises.
Introduction
Noah received a direct communication from the Lord about
a day of judgment—a judgment that was to be carried out
by means of a flood.
What made Noah worthy of this honor was the fact that he
"was a righteous man ... and he walked faithfully with God"
(6:9). Noah obeyed God's commands fully (6:22; 7:5).
Of course, we wonder what commands were at play.
Introduction
Last week's text focused on the aftermath of the
first sin, committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden
of Eden.
Today's Scripture brings us to the aftermath of God's
judgment by means of the great flood.
Introduction
That this Flood was universal in scope (that is, it covered
the entire earth) is attested to by the fossils and fossil
fuels found on all continents as well as on the ocean
floors.
It is also shown in the field of geology in the sedimentary
layers of rock found all over the earth. Much of this
evidence has been wrongly interpreted to support
evolution.
Introduction
To create the Flood, the "fountains of the great deep
[were] broken up, and the windows of heaven were
opened" (Gen. 7:11). As we may all be aware, water
covers about three-quarters of the earth now, and
there are vast canyons in the deepest parts of the
ocean. There are also vast quantities of water
trapped as ice in the polar ice caps.
Introduction
With a relatively small rearrangement of the deeper
sea levels and the polar ice caps, there would be
more than enough water on the earth to cover all
the highest mountains. A flood of this extent is
entirely possible from what we already know.
Genesis 9:8
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with
him,
Genesis 9:8
God saved eight people in Noah’s ark; Noah, his wife,
Noah’s three sons and their wives. God saved all of them,
because “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his
generation; Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).
Jesus said that before He returned the days would be like
the days of Noah before the great flood (Matthew 24:36-
39).
Genesis 9:8
What were those days like?
The Lord brought the flood, because “the wickedness
of humankind was great in the earth, and every
inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil
continually” (Genesis 6:5).
Genesis 9:9
“As for me, I am establishing my covenant
with you and your descendants after you,
Genesis 9:9
After the great flood, God gave the world a promise through
Noah. His promise was made in the form of a covenant or
official agreement regarding what God would do in the future.
The promise was unconditional or without conditions that
anyone had to fulfill except God himself.
Genesis 9:9
The unconditional covenant meant that no matter what
happened on earth in the future and no matter what people
did, God would not break or violate the promise and
covenant that He made with Noah and every living being.
The covenant was an everlasting covenant.
Genesis 9:9
Lesson: God graciously speaks to man and always for his benefit
(Gen. 9:8; Heb. 1:1-3)
Reflection: Like a good father, God has the ability to inflict pain in
discipline but tempers it with his words. Consider how often God
could have chastised you but continues to speak words of love to
you.
Genesis 9:10
and with every living creature that is with you, the
birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of
the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.
Genesis 9:10
Because God made humankind in His image, God spoke to
Noah rationally and made a covenant and promise the
people could understand. The promise included all living
beings and God named specifically the birds, domestic
animals, and wild animals.
Genesis 9:10
Of course, the fish were not destroyed in the flood
and are not included in the covenant. It was not
necessary for God to include the fish.
Genesis 9:11
I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never
again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Genesis 9:11
God promised that never again would He flood the entire earth and destroy all living creatures by water. Of course, localized floods still occur, but never again would all living beings that live and breathe on the land be destroyed by
floods
Genesis 9:11
God did not say that He was no longer going to be the
supreme King and Judge of the universe. He only eliminated
a universal flood as a form of judgment and punishment for
human sin and rebellion.
Genesis 9:11 The Noahic Covenant was initiated and dictated by God. The
sovereignty of God is clearly seen in this covenant. While some ancient covenants were the result of negotiation, this
one was not.
God initiated the covenant as an outward expression of His purpose revealed in Genesis 3:20-22. God dictated the terms
of the covenant to Noah, and there was no discussion.
Genesis 9:11Lesson: God's concern and grace extend to all of His creation
(Gen. 9:9-10)
Reflection: We often forget that God knows when the sparrow falls and feeds His creatures every day. Consider how great is His love for you and His attention to every detail of your life.
Genesis 9:12 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:
Genesis 9:12The sign of God’s covenant (that God made for and
with every living creature forever) showed God would never use water again to cover all of the land on the
earth as a form of judgment.
The sign was similar to a signature on an official document with terms that specified the obligations of
the person who signed the document.
Genesis 9:12The sign of God’s covenant should remind every person that
God will judge people for their wickedness; therefore, sinners
should repent and turn from wickedness if they are not living
as Noah lived before the great flood. Peter wrote that a final
future judgment of God would come, and it would come with
fire instead of water (2 Peter 3:1-7).
Genesis 9:13
I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a
sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Genesis 9:13
God’s bow might be thought of as a warrior’s bow that
God put in the sky to never use again. Or, the sky might
be thought of as a giant document or contract that God
has signed with a rainbow, which can be seen by people
around the world.
Genesis 9:13The rainbow may first have appeared here.
Genesis 2:5-6 implies that initially watering took place in a different
way from rain (mist from the ground). It is just possible that the bow
was a weapon that God put down (will not destroy mankind in
judgment). In ancient times hanging up the bow was a symbol for
peace. It is also possible that God put a new meaning to a common
physical occurrence.
Genesis 9:13
God did not mean that He would not use other ways than
water to judge people, discipline people, or punish
people who persisted in doing evil. God would fight for
and defend His people in the future, as the history of the
Hebrew people demonstrates.
Genesis 9:13
Perhaps the bow could be seen as a beautiful monument
or sculpture that would remind people of a past event
and the promise of God for the future. There might have
been rainbows prior to the great flood; if so, God gave
new meaning to the rainbow.
Genesis 9:14
When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is
seen in the clouds,
Genesis 9:14
God gave special meaning to the rainbow that could
appear and be seen anywhere on earth where
clouds could be seen and rain or snow could fall in
the light of the sun.
Genesis 9:15
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.
Genesis 9:15
Of course, God did not need to see the rainbow to
remind Him of a covenant or promise that He had made.
Rather, God promised and gave the rainbow so
whenever it rained or snowed people could remind
themselves that God had made a promise that He could
and would never forget to keep.
Genesis 9:15Every covenant has its accompanying sign. The sign of the Abrahamic Covenant is circumcision (Genesis
17:15-27); that of the Mosaic Covenant is the observance of the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8-11;
31:12-17). The “sign” of the rainbow is appropriate. Also, the rainbow appears at the end of a storm.
So this sign assures man that the storm of God’s wrath (in a flood) is over
Genesis 9:15
Lesson: God can never forget His promises (vss. 14-
15)
Reflection: We make promises every day that we fail
to keep or even remember. Consider that God
renews His promises to us every day and will not
allow anything to prevent His keeping them.
Genesis 9:16
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.”
Genesis 9:16
Essentially, God said the same things at least two or
three times to emphasize that He would keep His
covenant with Noah and all living creatures.
God only needs to make a promise or covenant once
to mean what He says, but sometimes (if not often),
people need to hear some things repeated several
times in order to believe and remember.
Genesis 9:16
Noah and his family had experienced and witnessed
the destruction by flood of every living person but
themselves, and every living land animal and bird
except those on the ark. They needed to hear God’s
reassuring words of promise repeated more than once
in order to overcome their traumatic experience and
feel reassured when it rained again in the future.
Genesis 9:16
Lesson: God's promises are gracious, clear, and
trustworthy (Gen. 9:11; Num. 23:19)
Reflection: We are often more concerned with God’s
commands than His promises. Take the time today
to rediscover some of His promises for you.
Genesis 9:17
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.”
Genesis 9:17
We do not know the date of the great flood, but we
do know that God has kept His covenant or solemn
promise to all flesh that is on the earth. We do know
that events today and the actions of people today
are similar to the days of Noah and similar to the
days that Jesus described.
Genesis 9:17
We do know that among the true followers of Jesus
Christ people live godly in Christ Jesus. We also see
some who appear to live with only evil thoughts
continually, just as in the days of Noah. We do know
that Jesus has promised to come again, and He will
justly judge and restore the earth through fire.
Conclusion
With the disastrous flooding and devastating fires out
west, some have questions about God’s care for this
world.
They ask, ‘If God is in charge of the world, can't he keep
a flood or a tornado from devastating whole towns and
communities and disrupting the lives of millions of
people? What good can possibly come by his letting
such disasters occur?"
Conclusion
Living in a fallen world—a world still under the curse
of sin—can present followers of the Lord Jesus Christ
with some very challenging questions. We know that
ultimately God will bring about "a new heaven and a
new earth" (2 Peter 3:13). But at times we may
wonder why he doesn't step in and fix some of
what's wrong with the earth we live in now.
Conclusion
An important part of our witness occurs in the midst of
the tragedies that are an inescapable part of life in a
fallen world. We are able in such circumstances to show
the difference our faith in Christ makes. This is not
because we are exempt from tragedies or because life
automatically gets better by turning to Jesus. Rather, it
is because Christian faith gives us a unique perspective
on the tragedies of this present world.
Conclusion
The cross of Christ becomes our sign by which we
view life (especially the difficult side) in a fallen
world. Just as God used the tragedy of the cross to
accomplish his purpose of providing salvation from
sin, so he can use the disasters of this life for a
higher, eternal purpose (Romans 8:28).
Conclusion
Just as God destroyed the world through the flood, and
the only ones saved were those in the ark, so He has
said that He will yet destroy the world through fire and
only those who are in Christ will be saved (2 Pet. 3:4-7,
10).
Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood,
through which He promised to deliver all who trust in
Him.
ConclusionThat promise is unilateral. It stems completely from God. He
initiated it, He laid down the stipulations of it. It’s not up for
debate if you don’t like it. It stems from God’s grace toward
those who deserve His wrath. God owes us nothing. The only
merit is the merit of Christ. Many people miss God’s offer of
salvation because they insist on coming to God on their own
merit. But we can’t come to God until we realize that He has
done it all. We can’t bargain with God based on our good
works.
Conclusion
That promise is eternal. The author to the Hebrews
argues that Christ’s blood obtained “eternal redemption”
(Heb. 5:9; 9:12). We don’t have to fear that God will
change the terms of the covenant at some point in the
future. When Jesus from the cross said, “It is finished,” He
meant that His work of redemption completely paid the
penalty for our sins. There is nothing to be added to what
He did there. It is accomplished and established forever.
Conclusion
That promise is universal. That is, it is available to all who
will believe in Jesus Christ. It excludes no man; Christ
purchased for God with His blood those from every tribe
and tongue and people and nation (Rev. 5:9). Jesus said,
“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the
one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John
6:37). None will be excluded from God’s covenant
because their sin was too great (1 Tim. 1:15-16).
Conclusion
That promise is conditioned on faith in Jesus Christ.
God’s covenant with Noah applies to everyone,
apart from their faith. It even applies to all the
animals. But God’s new covenant in Christ applies
only to those who put their trust in Him as Savior.
Conclusion
Jesus said, “For this is the will of My Father, that
everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him,
may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on
the last day” (John 6:40). John writes, “... whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life” (John 3:16).
Faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition of the new
covenant.
Benediction
We seek to serve you, O God, by serving others: the
poor, the needy, the least, and the lost.
Help us always to hear your words that we may
become more faithful stewards of the gifts you give
us each day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BlessingBy our words and deeds, we show God that we are faithful with
the gifts we have received.
Whether over a little or a lot, we seek to be faithful stewards of
God’s gifts.
Take the gifts of God into the world, remembering the poor, the
least, and the lost.
We will take God’s gifts to a hurting world, spreading a healing
balm in all that we do.
Guide us Lord. Amen.
Benediction
We seek to serve you, O God, by serving others: the
poor, the needy, the least, and the lost.
Help us always to hear your words that we may
become more faithful stewards of the gifts you give
us each day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BlessingBy our words and deeds, we show God that we are faithful with
the gifts we have received.
Whether over a little or a lot, we seek to be faithful stewards of
God’s gifts.
Take the gifts of God into the world, remembering the poor, the
least, and the lost.
We will take God’s gifts to a hurting world, spreading a healing
balm in all that we do.
Guide us Lord. Amen.
Benediction
We seek to serve you, O God, by serving others: the
poor, the needy, the least, and the lost.
Help us always to hear your words that we may
become more faithful stewards of the gifts you give
us each day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BlessingBy our words and deeds, we show God that we are faithful with
the gifts we have received.
Whether over a little or a lot, we seek to be faithful stewards of
God’s gifts.
Take the gifts of God into the world, remembering the poor, the
least, and the lost.
We will take God’s gifts to a hurting world, spreading a healing
balm in all that we do.
Guide us Lord. Amen.