Foundations - Humanity's New Beginning (Genesis 8:13-9:17)

Shane Millard
04/07/24 - Sun AM

Genesis 8:13-9:17 - The flood has ended. God returned the evil world to the uncreated state by covering it with water like in (Genesis 1:1-2). Now a new world arises out of the water, much like the original creation (Genesis 1:9). It’s been an entire year for Noah and his family. The world that they knew has been washed away and a new and different world lays before them.

This story is about new beginnings and second chances. God is giving humanity a fresh start and an opportunity to write a different story than the world before the flood. As such, God is going to call humanity back into the same three fundamental relationships like in the garden.

However, almost immediately, we will notice that this is not the garden, and these fundamental truths about humanity that will continue on until the Lord returns. This section gives us powerful insights into the world we live in and how we are to live today.

Our relationship to the creation (Genesis 8:13-9:5)

The first picture we have is of Noah and the animals coming off the ark, and the first thing Noah does is prepare an altar to the Lord. A number of things should jump out to us: First, the sacrificial system still continues and it is something the Lord is pleased with. Immediately we are struck with some implications: Death and sacrifice are going to be part of this world. The story of redemption has not been completed. Remember, sacrifice was introduced by God back in the garden as part of the covering for sin.

Second, God is not going to curse the ground again because of man’s evil. The creation will be a safe space for humanity and the animals. God will preserve the seasons and changes of the world and will not intervene to destroy the earth with water.

Also, we have some encouraging words about our world. There is a prevailing thought out there that humanity will destroy the world through climate change. Yet, notice the promise that God makes here - God will ensure the seasons. Now, that doesn’t mean that is no responsibility to the creation, or that man cannot destroy ecosystems and cause harm to themselves. It means that God will preserve humanity and that he is the one in control of the world. (Hebrews 1:3) reminds us God upholds the world with his power.

As a side note, this is the time when the ice age would have occurred. Because of all the tectonic movement and volcanic action, there would have been higher evaporation and dust in the atmosphere to produce a cooling effect, that, along with warmer seas would create the circumstances for a massive ice age and enable the land bridges for animals to migrate.

Now, as part of this new world, God wants Noah and his sons to fulfill the same type of mandates that God gave to Adam. They are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. But, the relationship between humanity and the animals is quite different. Now, the relationship is filled with fear, the animals will fear and dread humanity. Further, all animals are in their hand and they are able to be eaten. This text in verse three is very important, mankind was not originally made to eat meat and death was not part in the original creation. But now things are different, they are able to eat any of the animals. But, there is one important caveat - they cannot eat the flesh with its blood. We’ll explore this more later. And one last difference is the fact that God will hold a reckoning on the animals if they kill human beings. We might be curious what this looks like, but practically it works out like in the Mosaic law, if an animal ever killed a human being the animal was to be killed.

Do you see how different this world is from the original creation? This is critical information to help us understand and shape our view of the world and what we are to do. Our world is a brutal and beautiful place, filled with death and beauty. Mankind still has the responsibility over the world, but the relationship has become more complicated because of sin.

All of us go back to Noah and his family, as such, these instructions are given to us all. This world is controlled and preserved by God, and we are given the important responsibilities of being fruitful and multiplying - our job is to bring about the flourishing and cultivation of the world. The responsibility of humanity over the animals remains, but the relationship has changed. We have access to all kinds of animals, but we must be conscious of the blood.

Isn’t this a fresh and empowering viewpoint? The world says you’re just an animal, and we’re all just part of the circle of life. The world says we’re going to destroy the earth. While we can cause problems for ourselves and the animals, God is in control and the world is secure till he judges the world by fire (2 Peter 3:7). See, the Bible gives us unparalleled resources for the care and cultivation of creation, while also not allowing us to become subservient to animals or worship the creation. This helps us understand our relationship to the creation, but also our difference from the animals. We have a unique charge to rule the world on God’s behalf. God wants us to be fruitful and fill the earth with His glory.

Our relationship to humanity (Genesis 9:5-7)

Next, we turn to the relationship we share with our fellow human beings. Again, the text shows clear similarities and differences between what was established initially in the garden. These instructions zero in on justice and reckoning in the relationship.

This text highlights the establishment of justice in a way that was not elaborated on in Genesis so far. God is holding a reckoning on all loss of human life, wether it is from an animal or a man. God will ultimately hold all those accountable who shed innocent blood. It’s preserved for us in  verses six and seven: if blood is shed by man, the man’s blood is to be shed. Why? Because God made man in his own image. That image bearing is tied directly to the fruitfulness and multiplying that humanity is given back in (Genesis 1:26-30), and it is repeated here.

A number of important elements come out of this. First, God is the one who is to hold the ultimate reckoning for loss of human life. Will God ultimately bring justice? Yes!

Second, we have the establishment and foundation of justice in the world. Why is it wrong for human beings to be killed? Because they are made in the image of God. What are human beings to do when cases like this happen? They are to put to death the one that shed the blood. This is the basis of governmental authority to carry the sword in (Romans 13:2-4). God is set on the fruitfulness and multiplication of humanity, murder is the prevention and destruction of that blessing God gives to humanity.

We must not miss how revolutionary this idea is. Imagine you ask a person with a secular mindset “why is it wrong to kill a human being?” What would they say? If we follow the mindset of the world that says you’re just an animal, and we’re all just part of the circle of life, then what’s the problem? There are no courts set up by apes to deal out justice. It is humanity that knows about the inherent dignity and worth of a human being. But why is it? Genesis tells us - it is because we are made in the image of God. We are his representatives in creation.

But notice how revolutionary this concept is. This is true wether you are in the womb or in the nursing home. Wether you are 9 years old or 90 years old. Wether you are poor or rich. Wether you are sick or healthy. Wether you have dark skin or light skin. Wether you are disabled or fully functional. It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, what language you speak, how you dress, or anything else. It is always wrong, at all times, to shed man’s blood unjustly.

What a radical concept that empowers us to live lives seeking the justice and fairness of others regardless of superficial differences. Actions against human beings are actions against their maker! In a world that is full of prejudice, hate, bias, and unfairness, God wants a level playing field for all those made in his image. We then are to look at every person around us as a special creation of God, our equal, and loved by God. They have a status as God’s representatives.

Humanity is part of the creation, but they are called to be more. Unlike the rest of creation, mankind is made in the image of God with the charge to be fruitful and multiply. The ultimate goal continues of filling the earth with God’s glory and of bringing about the flourishing of the creation. That’s the radical and transforming vision God gives us of humanity.

Our relationship to God (Genesis 9:8-17)

While both of these things are important and transformative, there is a real tendency of humanity to idolize one or both of these concepts. There is a greater and more important relationship that all humanity is called to - a relationship with their creator. Romans 1:18-23 reminds us of the potential to suppress the truth in unrighteousness. God’s eternal power and divine nature of God can be ignored and we can resort to worshiping the creation instead.

If we end up focusing too much on our relationship with the creation, we end up becoming a worshipper of creation. We are enamored with the beauty of the created world and we get our hope, and identity from it, instead of seeing the beauty of the one who is infinitely superior.

If we end up focusing too much on our relationship with humanity, we end up becoming a worshipper of human beings. In the same way we can become enamored with the power and beauty of human beings so much that they become our standard of righteousness, our deep desires and pursuits, and the ultimate treasure of our hearts. Instead, we need to be struck with the dignity, worth, and honor the one who is the source of wisdom, power, and goodness.

Notice that God does something astounding happens here - God makes a covenant with the earth, animals, and humanity - he will not destroy the earth again by water. And further, the text mentions this is an everlasting covenant (8:16). The sign of that covenant is the rainbow. When God see that, he will remember and keep his word. God is committed to his world.

Tragically this has become a sign of the perversion of our society. This is what sin does over and over - it takes something beautiful and perverts it. But, we should take the rainbow back and understand it as intended. This has enormous significance for us today. First, this word for bow is often used for a war bow. This means that God is hanging up his war bow. God has judged the evil that is on the earth in the flood. God is extending mercy, but there is a clear warning. Genesis 8:21 speaks about the nature of man’s heart, it is evil from its youth. God knows this and has brought judgment. God will hold a reckoning for our sins and is extending mercy.

Second, consider when we see rainbows - they are usually weon cloudy days with rain. Now, it is obviously a sign that the flood will never destroy the world. But, it is also a word of hope and beauty in challenging circumstances. In some of the darkest moments of our lives, God has a beacon of beauty and faithfulness. For thousands of years now, God has been faithful. As christians, knowing the truth allows us to see the true beauty and how it points us to God.

Conclusion

As we wind this section down, we are left with an important vision for humanity’s second chance: It is one of beauty and tragedy. Every relationship has a reference to this - Creation has fruitfulness and multiplication, but fear, dread, and death with animals. Humanity has being made in the image of God, but the threat of murder and injustice. God has the promise of faithfulness, but dark days and hope in midst of judgment. What a description of our world.

But there are four things used in this text to help continually point us forward in the story and bring us to hope of an ultimate resolution: sacrifice, blood, reckoning, and covenant.

The sacrifice points us forward to a type where God will provide a sacrifice that will be the ultimate pleasing sacrifice where sin’s man is atoned for and their hearts are changed.

The blood points to the value of all life and particularly of human beings. This is a signpost to the blood of Jesus that is shed for all humanity and the forgiveness of their sins.

The reckoning points forward to the ultimate day of God’s justice. God will hold a reckoning for all murder, and all sins and violations against his image bearers. God will bring ultimate justice.

The covenant points forward to the ultimate goal of humanity. God is faithful and is set on restoring the lost garden blessings to humanity. God will bring rest like Noah pointed to (Genesis 5:28, 2:1-3). In Jesus, there is a new covenant, the covenant of his sacrificial blood and the sign of the Lord’s supper. It wraps all these together and reminds us of Jesus ultimate return (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes to keep his promise for humanity and all creation (Romans 8:18-25) and we will live in a new world of righteousness that Noah’s world shadowed (2 Peter 3:10-14).

(Points drawn from Tim Keller's sermon "Lord of the Earth")