Genesis 9:1-17
Talk Summary
How does God define His relationship with humanity after the flood? What will it look like? And, is God still committed to His promise in Genesis 3:15, even with such broken people?
God defines this relationship through a covenant.
The covenant with Noah shows them that God is committed to His promises and to them, even more than they are to Him. He remains faithful, even when they fail.
We look at two key parts of this covenant and how it points forward to the New Covenant in Jesus:
- God commands Noah and his descendants to be fruitful and multiply, and He forbids violence and murder because humans are made in His image. This covenant is a reminder that all life is precious to God, and they are called to protect and value it.
- The sign of this covenant is the rainbow—a powerful symbol of God’s promise never to flood the earth again. When they see a rainbow, they’re reminded of God’s faithfulness and His desire for peace with His creation. But more than that, they see how this covenant points forward to the cross, where God aimed His bow of judgment at His own Son, Jesus, to bring about a new covenant of grace and forgiveness.
- In this new covenant, Jesus gave them the signs of His body and blood through the bread and wine. Just as the flood covered everything, Jesus’ blood covers all their sins. This covenant with Jesus is not just about being saved from God’s wrath; it’s about being saved to new life, a movement from death to life, from sin to righteousness.
As we navigate a world full of contracts and agreements, we can find comfort in knowing that God has defined the relationship for us, through His covenant in Jesus. This covenant shapes how we live, love, work, and view the world. It’s the backbone of our faith, and it calls us to reflect on all that Christ has done for them and to live as one of His covenant people.