Genesis 9:1-29
Q.1. How would man’s relationship with the animals, birds, and fish change? Why? Why were people not to eat the blood of animals? What does blood signify? Does the sentence of death still apply? – (Gen.9:1-5)
After repeating that people were to be fruitful and spread throughout the earth, God foreshadowed a significant change in the relationship between humans and the animal kingdom (Gen.9:2). The reason was that God was widening man’s diet from vegetables and fruit to – Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant (Gen.9:3). However, God demanded that the lifeblood of all animals should be kept sacred, since an animal’s blood represents its life i.e. animals cannot survive without blood – Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood (Gen.9:4). This also foreshadowed the sacrificial system that God would establish, so that the blood of an animal could be substituted, and cover the sin of man – For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement (Lev.17:11).The amazing truth is that we see a ‘scarlet thread’ running through the Scriptures, that would culminate in the shedding of the precious blood of God’s sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ. God also reiterated that the sentence of death that came through the Fall, would always apply to both man and animals – Surely, I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man (Gen.9:5 c.f. Rom.5:12; Heb.2:14-15).
Q.2. Why was taking human life particularly evil? What specific command did God give to people? Why was this command crucial? – (Gen.9:5-7)
God also established the seriousness of murder, and the principle of ‘a life for a life’. This is ignored today, thus allowing lawlessness to increase (Gen.9:5 c.f. Ex.21:23-25; Lev.24:17-22; Mt.5:38-39). The taking of human life was especially condemned because it destroyed the creation that God had made in His own image and likeness (Gen.9:6). Murder was to be dealt with by imposing Capital Punishment applied by society. The command to be fruitful and multiply had been constantly repeated. They were to – fill the earth and … populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it and fill the earth (Gen.9:1, 7). Man would often congregate into cities, where wickedness would multiply, as in Sodom and Gomorrah (c.f. Gen.19:23-29).
Q.3. What was the significance of the covenant God made with Noah? What sign did God give us to remind us of His promise? How long will this covenant last? – (Gen.9:8-17)
We learn that from the three sons of Noah, the whole earth was populated, so this covenant with Noah – and with your descendants after you … was foundational (Gen.9:8 c.f. Gen.9:19). In fact, the promise made was to all the creatures that God had made (Gen.9:12 & 15). God promised to never repeat the worldwide destruction of the Flood – 9 Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth (Gen.9:9-11). After the Flood, the atmosphere and climate changed, and God produced a magnificent new wonder in the sky – the sign of the rainbow – 12 This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the EVERLASTING COVENANT between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth (Gen.9:12-16). It is an everlasting covenant.
Q.4. From whom did the world’s population increase? What was mentioned about Ham? What curse was placed on him? Why? What was honourable about his brothers? – (Gen.9:18-29)
All nations and families of the earth come from Noah’s three sons who were in the ark – Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen.9:18-19). Canaan would be the land of promise that God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ham was Canaan’s father (Gen.9:18). Noah and his sons had some problems. Noah grew a vineyard, became drunk, and ended up naked because he had lost control of himself (Gen.9:20-21). Ham found Noah naked, and the Bible implies that he mocked his father, when he told his brothers. By contrast – Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness (Gen.9:23). Though in a drunken stupor, Noah knew what Ham, his youngest son had done, and declared – 25 Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. 27 “May God enlarge Japheth and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant (Gen.9:25-27). How much damage is done by disrespect. Shem was the father of Eber, the forerunner of the Hebrews and Semites (c.f. Gen.10:21-24; 14:13; 40:15).