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Prepare: Recall as many as you can of God’s promises before you open the Bible.
Starting again
The order of events is important here. Both God’s promises and the blessings he then bestows come after the sacrifices which Noah has offered. Though God will make and destroy as he chooses, he needs to be sure of a person’s heart before he can move forward in relationship as he now does with Noah.
The rebuilding process after the deluge is in many ways like a re-enactment of the original creation. We have fruitfulness and fruits; we have prospering, multiplying creatures; we see God as creator signalling the promise of the new epoch with the glorious symbol of the rainbow. God’s expressed mood can almost be compared with how the creator feels in Genesis 1.
A new order
Almost, but not quite. There is a shadow over these verses. Humanity is saved, and one day will be redeemed, but we cannot go back. Fear and dread did not come over animals until now. The ‘demand for accounts’ suggests the necessary but harsh laws of Moses more than our early innocence.
These arrangements with Noah’s descendants have been described (eg by David Atkinson) as ‘God’s provisional will’ rather than his ‘creation intention’. Nevertheless, his covenant with humanity and creation is for ever and not to be doubted. That is his nature. Ours is to mess up – as happens even before the end of the chapter.
Respond: Give thanks in prayer that we have been saved from so many natural and deserved consequences of our sinful natures.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-01-12
Starting again
The order of events is important here. Both God’s promises and the blessings he then bestows come after the sacrifices which Noah has offered. Though God will make and destroy as he chooses, he needs to be sure of a person’s heart before he can move forward in relationship as he now does with Noah.
The rebuilding process after the deluge is in many ways like a re-enactment of the original creation. We have fruitfulness and fruits; we have prospering, multiplying creatures; we see God as creator signalling the promise of the new epoch with the glorious symbol of the rainbow. God’s expressed mood can almost be compared with how the creator feels in Genesis 1.
A new order
Almost, but not quite. There is a shadow over these verses. Humanity is saved, and one day will be redeemed, but we cannot go back. Fear and dread did not come over animals until now. The ‘demand for accounts’ suggests the necessary but harsh laws of Moses more than our early innocence.
These arrangements with Noah’s descendants have been described (eg by David Atkinson) as ‘God’s provisional will’ rather than his ‘creation intention’. Nevertheless, his covenant with humanity and creation is for ever and not to be doubted. That is his nature. Ours is to mess up – as happens even before the end of the chapter.
Respond: Give thanks in prayer that we have been saved from so many natural and deserved consequences of our sinful natures.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-01-12
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
