Genesis 8-9
(A teaching from the study of Genesis)
Greetings, ladies! Today, I want to share a thought on the story of Noah, which begins in Genesis 5 and goes all the way through Genesis 9. But for the purpose of this post, we’ll focus on chapters 8 & 9. First, let’s set the stage…
The world had become corrupt and wicked, even to the point that man’s bloodline was in danger of becoming completely perverted as well. So God sent a flood, a worldwide flood, to destroy mankind; to hit the reset button; to make a new beginning. But Noah—the only righteous man on the earth at the time—Noah, He would save. He told Noah to build an ark for himself, his family, and the animals God would send to him. When the time was right, God shut them all in the ark. And it started to rain. It rained for 40 days, and 40 nights. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. And in Genesis 8:1 it says, “Then God remembered Noah.”
As I studied for this teaching, I tried to put myself in the ark with Noah. 40 long days and nights. Wind and rain, maybe lightning and thunder. Waves tossing the ark to and fro; the endless creaking and rocking. I hope no one got seasick.
How hard it must have been for Noah and his family! How small they must have felt among the crashing waves. How tiresome the beating rain on the roof must have become. I wonder if there were times when they felt afraid. Or lonesome. Or desperate. Or depressed.
By day 14, did they wonder if God had forgotten about them? By day 20? By day 30? How often have we wondered that in the middle of a storm? Even the way it’s worded in Scripture makes it sound like maybe Noah was forgotten: “and then God remembered Noah.” But we all know that God doesn’t forget. In fact, this statement is what’s known as a anthropomorphism, which, David Guzik writes, is “a non-literal picture of God in human terms we can understand”. It wasn’t like God was going about His business up in heaven and glanced up at the calendar and went, “Oh shoot! Noah!” God isn’t like us…thank goodness, right? No, some commentators actually believe this phrase means that God was continuously remembering Noah. Noah was always on His mind. It was just at this time that God chose to again act on Noahs behalf.
Now, as we continue to read in Scripture, we can see that the flood could basically be broken down into 3 stages. First, the rains and floodwaters came; that’s the first 40 days and nights. Then, the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. And then, the waters began to recede continually from the earth.
I bet the occupants of the ark were so excited when that last drop of rain finally fell. Finally, the storm was over! It must’ve been time to come out of the ark. I wonder how disappointed they were when they realized…there was nowhere they could come out of the ark. Were they confused? Were they frustrated?
Sometimes, I think the storms in our lives are like that. First, we go through this devastating storm that shakes us up and rocks our boats. But when it’s finally over, it doesn’t actually feel like we’ve been delivered, does it? There’s still some aftermath. There’s still waiting. Even though the storm was over, Noah’s time on the ark wasn’t through yet. In fact, it wasn’t even halfway through.
The flood began in Noah’s 600th year, in the second month, on the 17th day of the month. Then, there was the actual flooding phase, then the waters prevailed on the earth, and then they began to recede. And on the 7th month, in the 17th day of the month, the ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat.
That’s five months of being in the ark. It makes me wonder about Noah’s wife, because she isn’t mentioned except in passing. What was she doing during all of this? How did she feel? If I had been Noah’s wife, I’m sure I would have been beating at the door to get out at that point. We’ve landed, there’s dry land, let’s get the heck out of here! I would have been so ready for this to be over.
Anyways…Noah doesn’t seem to be antsy at all. Instead, he rests and waits.
There is a significance about this day, the 7th month, the 17th day of the month. See, in the Jewish calendar, which would come about after the Israelites came out of Egypt, this day would actually be the first month, the third day of the month. It would be three days after Passover. It would be the same day that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, having been delivered from Egypt. But it would also be the same day that Jesus would be resurrected.
So on this day in history, we see Noah delivered, we see the Israelites delivered, and we see our salvation realized in Jesus’ resurrection. I thought this was so cool…and very significant. It all points forward to Jesus. Just as Noah and the Israelites were delivered, God had a plan to deliver us, too! And just like the ark rested on the mountain, like Noah rested in the Lord, like the Israelites were able to rest after fleeing Egypt, we can rest in Jesus, the Hope of our salvation. Even when we don’t understand, even in the midst of our waiting, we can rest in Jesus. Isnt that so cool?
And we see how Noah rested in the next few verses. Noah didn’t dip into despair. He was still hopeful. He trusted God. When the storm was over, he sent out a raven and a dove. Where else do we see ravens in scripture? Only when the Bible talks about provision. In 1 Kings 17, God sends ravens to feed Elijah. In Job 38 and Psalm 147, it talks about how God provides for the ravens.
“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?”
Luke 12:24
In the midst of our storms, God provides for us.
So Noah sent out a raven. He also sent out a dove. Doves in Scripture are a picture of the Holy Spirit, like when the Spirit in the form of a dove descended on Jesus after he was baptized (Matthew 3). So the dove went and flew about over the waters—that sounds familiar (Genesis 1)—before returning to Noah. And Noah received her to himself.
Then Noah sent another dove, who returned this time to Noah with an olive branch—a symbol of peace. Can’t you just feel the hope blossoming inside of Noah? The waters were going down.
And finally, Noah sent out a dove which did not return to him.
This is a picture of how the Spirit interacts with believers. Noah reached out and received the first dove. The second dove brought him an olive branch. And the third dove went out fro Noah. In the midst of our storms, in our waiting, if we receive the Spirit unto ourselves, He will give us peace and hope. And we can share that peace and hope with others as a witness of God’s faithfulness.
“And it came to pass in the 601st year, in the 1st month, on the 1st day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry.”
Genesis 8:13
Yet Noah still did not come out! Can you hear his wife now? “What are you waiting for?!” Boy, I’m glad I wasn’t Noah’s wife…I worry my complaints would have been mentioned…
Noah knew what he was waiting for. In the 2nd month, on the 27th day of the month…one year and ten days after the flood began…the earth was dry. “And God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark.” Finally–finally! It was over. I have a picture in my head of any movie where the main characters have been out to sea for a long time, and when they finally come to land the start kissing the dirt…you know?
But the first thing Noah did was offer a sacrifice to the Lord. He worshipped God! That was the first thing on his mind. He knew who his Deliverer was, and he worshipped Him. And given what we’re told about Noah’s character, I have no doubt that he was worshipping God throughout the entire storm, the duration of his waiting, through any fears or doubts he may have had (after all, as we see in chapter 9, he was still human). That’s a true heart of worship.
God answers Noah. He answers with instructions to Noah and his family, after apparently being silent for so long. He commands them to be fruitful and multiply the earth, He allows them to eat meat as long as they don’t eat the blood, and He instates capital punishment.
If you’re familiar with the book of Genesis, you know that blood is significant the God. We see it in the first ever sacrifice, when God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins after the Fall (Genesis 3). We saw it in our study of Cain and Abel, when God said that Abel’s blood cried out to him from the earth (Genesis 4). It was the blood of a lamb tbat was spread over the doorways on the first passover (Exodus 12). And of course that pointed to the Lamb of God, Jesus, who would shed His blood for the atonement of our sins. Not only that, but it also was more sanitary and safe health-wise for them to eat their meat well done. Blood is important. Which is why blood must be answered for blood. We are created in God’s image. God cannot tolerate the murder of Man created in His image without consequences. So God instituted capital punishment.
Then, after his instructions, God gives them a promise. “…never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And He gives a sign. A rainbow. A picture in Scripture of God’s glory. As the Jesus Storybook Bible puts it, a bow laid down by its archer, pointing no longer down at mankind, but up into the heart of heaven. Up at Jesus, who would take on God’s full wrath for us, that we would be saved from our sins. Wow.
Noah’s story is so relevant in our lives, especially this year, a year that for many has been filled with storms. We can learn so much from Noah. His story teaches us to trust and obey God, even if we don’t understand. It teaches us that when storms come, we know that God never forsakes us. It teaches us that even after the storm, we might not receive the immediate deliverance we want…but God is still with us and has a perfect plan for us. Noah’s story shows us how to rest in Jesus, and in God’s perfect timing. To be in touch with the Holy Spirit while we wait for God’s instructions. That the Holy Spirit ministers to us in time of need. To worship in the midst of the storms and trials, and what proper worship is. And it shows us that God always keeps his promises. But most importantly, Noah’s story points to Jesus. It’s a picture of our salvation. Even when the world is in chaos around us, we can be assured of our salvation. We are held fast and kept safe in the Lord. We can rest in Jesus, our Savior. And at the end of it all, when we take our last breath or when He calls us home, we will be in glory with him forever.
Father, thank you so much that you love us. Thank you for the wind and the rains and the storms to remind us that you’re bigger than all of it. Lord, thank you for rainbows—for your promises and your truths even when our lives are torrential. Thank you for Jesus, our Ark, our Deliverer. You are so good, Father. Please be with us as we go through our storms. Grant us your peace even when our boats are rocked and the clouds grow dark. Remind us who you are, and who we are in you. We lift our storms up to you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
