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Genesis 9:8–17
“Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Gen. 9:11).
As we saw in yesterday’s study, Adam and Eve failed in their obligations under the covenant of creation when they heeded the serpent and disobeyed God. They therefore plunged into moral corruption, a state of spiritual death from which they could not raise themselves. But God had foreseen their fall since before time began, and the members of the Godhead had forged their covenant of redemption, agreeing to redeem a people from sin when the time should come.
God began to speak of redemption even as He pronounced judgment in Genesis 3. The serpent was cursed to crawl on his belly and eat dust, but God also promised to put enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between his “seed” and her “Seed.” This was not simply a promise that snakes and people would barely coexist. Throughout church history, this verse has been seen as a prophecy of the struggle between Christ (the “Seed” of the woman) and Satan. But while God said the serpent’s seed would bruise the heel of the woman’s Seed, that Seed would bruise the serpent’s seed’s head, a fatal blow. Theologians refer to this prophecy as the proto euangelion, “the first Gospel,” the first of many announcements of redemption. God was warning Satan that his garden victory would be avenged. On the cross, Jesus would lose His life for a season, but He would crush the power of Satan and secure redemption for His people. This was the promise given to Adam and Eve as they began life under the curse.
The third act of the drama of redemption began with Genesis 4. It was an unpleasant history at first; man slid into ever-viler sin until God determined that “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). And so God decided to destroy His creatures. However, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD,” and God made a covenant with him to preserve him and his family (6:8–21). Then, following the flood, the promise of preservation was extended to all time (8:20–22) and all peoples (9:9), and God gave the sign of the rainbow as a reminder of His pledge. He also renewed the provisions of the covenant of creation, commanding Noah and his descendants to fill the earth and subdue it (9:1–3). Thus, all humanity was again placed under the obligation of obedience, with one difference: God would preserve the race as He worked out His redemptive plan.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The Bible says God is patient and longsuffering. His patience is an expression of His faithfulness to His covenant promise not to destroy the world in response to sin. He always balances the scales of justice, but He shows mercy, too, calling sinners to new life in Christ. If you are a believer, praise Him today for His patience and mercy to you.
For Further Study
- Exodus 34:6
- Numbers 14:18
- Psalm 86:15
- Romans 2:4
- 1 Timothy 1:16