Genesis Part 1 - Week 17

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 9:1-4 

1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. 2 All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. 3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. 4 But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.” 

The command “Be fruitful and multiply” had been given previously by God. After the universal flood it is given again. God gave Noah and his sons power over the animals. Those animals would look on them “with fear and terror.” Plus, the animals were given to them for food. Previously God had given them “grain and vegetables,” but now they are to have meat to eat. The restriction was to “never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.” 

REFLECT 

Think of this radical change for mankind after the flood from what was true before the flood. 

RESPOND 

By common Jewish count there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament law system. This had to do with moral, ceremonial and dietary laws. This one about not eating anything with lifeblood in it was a critical law. See Hebrews 9:22 for a related reference. 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 9:5-7 

5 “And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. 6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. 7 Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.” 

Some debate about capital punishment and whether it should be used today. This passage gives the reason for taking the life of someone who takes it upon himself to snuff out the life of someone made in the image of God. This was to be a governmental right to take the life of one who had taken the life of another. The Bible never sets this decree aside.  

REFLECT 

Does this help you in considering this serious matter? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the life in the womb of a pregnant mother. See what Psalm 139:13-16 says about this.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 9:8-11 

8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9 “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, 10 and with all the animals that were on the boat with you—the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. 11 Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.” 

God confirmed His covenant with Noah and his sons and with all animals that had been on the big boat. God promised that flood waters would never again destroy the earth. Again this indicates the Genesis flood was a universal one because there have been many local floods since that time.  

REFLECT 

Think how this promise from God must have comforted those who had been in the boat for over a year. A heavy downpour might make them wonder. 

RESPOND 

The Bible contains many promises of God. None can be more important to an individual than what is said in John 3:16 as well as John 10:28-29. Read these verses and share them with another believer in Jesus. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 9:12-15 

12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.” 

God not only made a covenant with the survivors of the flood but He also promised a sign to remind everyone. There would be a “rainbow in the clouds.” When people might wonder if torrential rains would eventually cover the earth as before, the rainbow would remind them that they would not. Interestingly, airline pilots say when one is flying high enough the rainbow appears as a complete circle.  

REFLECT 

Rejoice that God not only makes promises but also sometimes gives signs to remind people of them. 

RESPOND 

Think of this today with local floods that could be in your area. They can take lives and be terrible. But they are nothing in comparison to what the Genesis flood was like that destroyed all life on earth except that in the big boat with Noah and his family.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 9:16-17 

16 “When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.” 

Notice God’s covenant with Noah was an “eternal” covenant, not a temporal one. God confirmed this with “all creatures on earth.” This is an eternal covenant and the promise of God is for all creatures.  

REFLECT 

The eternal God is the only one who can make an eternal covenant. 

RESPOND 

Consider Isaiah 43:2-3 for encouragement from the eternal God when you are going through tough times. Use these verses to encourage others.