Like his great-grandfather, Enoch, Noah was a righteous man who loved and obeyed God. In fact, the Lord taught Moses that Noah was a perfect man in his generation. (Genesis 6:9)
And the Lord ordained Noah after his own order and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch. And it came to pass that Noah called upon the children of men that they should repent; but they hearkened not unto his words. (Moses 8: 19, 20)
Wickedness was so entrenched that God knew they were incapable of repentance. It is difficult to think of a more discouraging calling.
A later Old Testament prophet, Amos, wrote that God will do nothing save he reveals his secrets unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3: 7) God had revealed the inevitability of destruction to Enoch; now He did so with to Noah. God saw that the wickedness of men had become great in the earth: and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually. (Moses 8: 22
God instructed Noah to prepare his family to escape the judgment. He said: Make thee an ark of gopher wood. . . And this is the fashion which thou shalt make of it: (Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, so here it is, just as explained in Genesis 8: 15-17)
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. (Genesis 6: 18)
God commanded Noah to collect two of every animal, male and female, and five of all clean animals (for meat and sacrifice) Thus did Noah did according to all that God commanded him. (Genesis 6: 22)
When everything was completed, God commanded Noah to enter the ark with his family, the animals, and all the supplies God had asked him to gather. (See Genesis 7) And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground. . . and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth 150 days. (Genesis 7: 23-24)
However, Noah and his family and the animals aboard the ark did not perish. God kept His promise.
After the waters abated and the earth was dry, God spoke again:
Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Brint forth with thee every living thing that is with thee . . . be fruitful and multiply upon the earth. (Genesis 8: 16-17)
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. (Genesis 9: 1)
And Noah built an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast . . . and fowl and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor . . . (Genesis 8: 20)
As I read these verses, I am remembering the covenants God made with Adam and Eve in the Garden: Obedience and sacrifice: be fruitful and fill the earth with your posterity. And God made a further covenant with Noah and his seed and with every living creature upon the earth. To my knowledge, I believe this is the only covenant that God made with all living creatures:
And I, behold, I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you . . . all that go out of the ark. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood. . . (Genesis 9: 9-11)
And God said, this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations. (Genesis 9: 12)
Most covenants with God involve a two-way promise: I will be your God and do these things for you and you will be my children and do these things for me. This is one of the few covenants that God made that is unconditional. The Rainbow itself is not the covenant: it is a token of the covenant; given to us as a sign of God's promise to the world.
It hurts my heart that this token has been usurped by those who would deny God and seek to justify the pride in their own hearts.
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