Noah’s flood ended in Genesis 8, but Genesis 9 contains direct outcomes of the flood. God’s first command for the flood survivors is to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth, v.1 & v.7. The word “replenish” is an old English word that means simply “to fill”. Webster’s 1821 Dictionary Procreation is God’s plan. God did not want the earth to be left empty. God loves His creation, especially humans that He made in His own image.

Transition

Genesis 9 introduces us to several changes that began after the flood. Each of these changes has a direct bearing on our lives today.

Animals Began to Fear Man, v.2

  1. Evidently, before the flood animals were tame
    1. God created the animals with no fear of man. Before they loved and reverenced humans as lords and friends. M. Poole
    2. At creation, God gave man the dominion over the animals (Gen 1:26, 28). He had authority over the animals and they obeyed him.
  2. Now, animals fear man
    1. The fear and terror of man was now upon the animals. Instead of obeying man, they now either run in fear or attack in defence. All the creatures now fear man:
      1. Every beast of the earth
      2. Every foul of the air
      3. All the moveth (creeps or glides) upon the earth
      4. All the fishes of the sea
    2. We know, just as the book of James confirms, that animals can be tamed, but naturally, they are wild.

      James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

    3. Perhaps the reason God made animals to fear man has to do with the next change.

Meat is Allowed in Man’s Diet, v.3-4

  1. All creatures and man were created vegetarian
    1. Herbs or vegetation was man’s original food.

      Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

    2. Vegetation was also the food of all creatures

      Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

      Note that the word “meat” in the Bible is a general word for food. It can refer to flesh but it often does not.

  2. God gave man permission to eat meat
    1. For the first time, God allows man to eat the flesh of animals. God does not forbid a vegetarian diet, but He lifts His demand for it.
    2. God’s only restriction at this point was that man must not eat the blood of animals, v.4. This restriction was still active in the New Testament (Acts 15:20). I believe it is still God’s restriction for us today.
    3. No one knows why God made the diet change. See the Genesis Record, p.222
      1. Perhaps man needs more protein for energy without the vapour canopy around the world.
      2. Perhaps it is to show man that he is superior to the animals because he is in the image of God.

Capital Punishment is Introduced, v.5-7

  1. Creatures will now attack man
    1. Animals now defend themselves against man.
    2. Animals will attack man and even kill man if threatened.
  2. Murderers are to be put to death
    1. Murder is the selfish, angry, or hateful, non-defence, killing of another human being.
    2. God commands capital punishment for murder.
      1. God is not a pacifist.
      2. God is not against self-defence.
      3. Neither is God against national defence.
    3. God is against murder. Murderers must die.
      1. Homicide is wrong.
      2. Suicide is wrong because it is the selfish killing of oneself.
      3. Euthanasia is wrong because it is killing a sick or elderly person instead of allowing God to end their life in His perfect time.
      4. Abortion is wrong because it is the selfish killing of a defenceless unborn baby.
        1. Life begins at the moment of conception. If you are not convinced of this fact, watch this lecture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kt3Kk8mtlo
        2. Twenty-five verses in the Bible speak of pregnant women being “with child”.
        3. The Psalmist tells us that God knows children from their conception.

          Psalm 139:14-16 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

      5. Murder is a sin like all other sins and can be forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Christ.

God Made a Rainbow Covenant, v.8-17

  1. This new covenant is to man and creatures
    1. A covenant is a pledge or a promise.
    2. God spoke to Noah and his sons, v.8. Why did God not speak this to Noah’s wife and the sons’ wives? Man is to be the leader of the home, and God hold’s man responsible for his leadership. Wives, let your husband be the leader in your home. Husbands must teach the Bible to their wives and children (cf. 1Co 14:35, Deu 6:7).
    3. God established His covenant with Noah and his sons and with their descendants (v.9).
    4. God established His covenant with every living creature (v.10). God cares about the creatures of our world. The covenant is for them as well as for us.
  2. This new covenant is eternal, v.11
    1. God promised never to destroy all flesh with the waters of a flood.
    2. God promised never to destroy the earth with a flood. This again is clear evidence that Noah’s flood was global not local. If it was local, then God has lied many times, but that cannot be!
  3. Rainbows are God’s token of His covenant, v.12
    1. A token is a sign, reminder, or proof.
    2. Every rainbow is a reminder that God will never again destroy all life or the earth with a global flood.
    3. Notice how many times God stresses the purpose of this covenant and of the rainbow (Ge 9:11, 15, 16, 17).

      Rainbows should also remind us of the flood and the reason for it. God sent the flood because of man’s sin. The Bible clearly tells us that one day God will destroy the world with fire (2Pe 3:10). Rainbows ought to remind us to prepare to meet our God. Rainbows can also be witnessing tools to point others to Christ’s salvation.

Conclusion

In Genesis 9, God tells us, 1) How He placed the fear of man in animals, 2) That he changed man’s diet to allow us to eat meat, 3) That man is to practice capital punishment, 4) That every rainbow is a reminder of God’s promise never to flood the whole earth again.

The next time you see a rainbow, remember God’s promise, but also remember the coming fire judgment. Let’s be faithful at warning others so they can go to heaven and escape that terrible judgment.

Song: Rescue the Perishing – 432
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Noah’s Flood: The Rainbow
18 May 2014 AM – Genesis 9:1-17 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs