In this Psalm, God is interested in telling Noah that this new beginning has His blessing. God wants to emphasize that this new beginning has a blessing of His special covenant. The first 17 verses of Genesis 9 consist of God’s own personal words given to Noah after the flood. Up to this day these important words of God still in effect.

PROPOSITION: GOD BLESSES AND MAKES A COVENANT TO A BELIEVER WHO IS RIGHT WITH GOD, AND WILL RECEIVE THE PROMISES OF PROSPERITY, PROVISIONS AND PROTECTION.

Regardless of the truth, that the Sovereign God is a God of wrath and destructive judgment, but God is so gracious that God enters into a blessed relationship of any believer who are right with God. God makes the covenant and God keeps that covenant.

I - THE BLESSINGS OF GOD TO THE BELIEVER WHO ARE RIGHT WITH GOD - v.1-7

The word “bless” is a powerful word with the idea of God having Divine favor toward a righteous believer and because of that favor of the Lord, God chooses to bestow upon that person prosperity.

Included in these blessings were prosperity, welfare and happiness in life.

A. Propagation is one of God’s promised blessing – v.1

Genesis 9:1 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."

Genesis 9:1 “Binasbasan ng Diyos si Noe at ang kanyang mga anak at sa kanila'y sinabi, “Kayo'y magkaroon ng mga anak at magpakarami, at inyong punuin ang lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

The opening phrase of the first verse of this Genesis 9 says, “And God blessed Noah and his sons.” God assured them of His goodwill to them, and His gracious intentions concerning them. In the now expurgated world, Noah sustained the character and held the position of a second representative father of the human race next to Adam. Since devastation of flood to the whole world occurred based on God’s providence it was henceforth to be developed on a different plan from that of the antediluvian world, another covenant was made by God for the preservation of man in the new order of things. A new charter of privileges was given by God to Noah, embodied in a brief and simple but majestic code of fundamental laws, for the authoritative guidance of all future generations, and this legislative enactment is most appropriately represented as proceeding from God [(Elohiym (H430)], who is the supreme ruler. The law of nature that was announced to Adam, consisting with the same command, as it Adam and Eve originally did, of several parts was here republished.

In verse 1, we can see the first blessing of God is here renewed, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,” and repeated in (Genesis 9:7 “And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.”); for the race of mankind was as it were to begin again. Noah must have wondered whether God hated all life because He had destroyed it all so this challenge to be fruitful and multiply is God’s blessing to Noah. Notice the words “fill the earth” NASB, ESV, “replenish the earth” KJV. We can see that God wants that every part of His designed earth be inhabited - north, south, east and west. The fact that people live all over the world in various countries is due to this Noahic blessing. By virtue of this blessing mankind was to be both multiplied and perpetuated upon earth; so that in a little time all the parts of the earth that are habitable should be more or less inhabited; and although it is a reality and inevitable that one generation should pass away, yet another and new generation exists, so that the stream of the human race should be supplied with a constant succession, and run parallel with the current of time, until all human goes into eternity.

The blessing bestowed upon Noah, is exactly parallel to that given to our first father in (Genesis 1:28-29 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.²⁹And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”). This is a blessing with a significant addition growing of past historical events.

God’s promised blessing of propagation of mankind for the earth to be fully inhabited.

B. Provision is one of God’s promised blessing – v.2 – 4

Genesis 9:2-4 “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. ³Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. ⁴But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”

Genesis 9:2-4 “Ang takot at sindak sa inyo ay darating sa bawat hayop sa lupa, sa bawat ibon sa himpapawid, sa lahat ng gumagapang sa lupa, at sa lahat ng isda sa dagat. Sila ay ibinibigay sa inyong kamay. ³Bawat gumagalaw na nabubuhay ay magiging pagkain ninyo; at kung paanong ibinigay ko sa inyo ang mga luntiang halaman, ibinibigay ko sa inyo ang lahat ng mga bagay. ⁴Ngunit huwag ninyong kakainin ang laman na kasama ang buhay nito, ito ay ang kanyang dugo.” FILIPINO VERSION

The same command to fill the world with human life, and the same promise that the fear of man shall rest upon the whole animated creation; but this grant of dominion is so extended that the animals are now given as a blessing to man for his food. But just as there was a restriction as regards to Adam’s food, the fruit of the tree of knowledge being forbidden him (Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”), so now, there is a prohibition against the eating of blood. The sanctity provided to human life is added, with the object guarding as an evidence against such a disruption of the human race being the result of Cain murdered his brother Abel. Therefore, man starts new beginning upon his responsibility of subjugating the earth, with increased empire over the animal world, and with his own life more solemnly guarded and made secure.

As the first part of the blessing relates to the transmission of life, “be fruitful.” the original blessing being re-announced in the very same words in which it had been promised at first.

And now, the second part of the blessing is the re-establishes of man’s dominion over the inferior animals, God grants them power over the inferior creatures, God grants man:

1. A title to them - these inferior animals were delivered into man’s hands for the use and benefits of man

2. A dominion over them – without this God given dominion the title would avail little.

Notice again in verse 2 says “And the fear of you and the dread of you.” This revives a former grant, (Genesis 1:28), with the only difference, that by man in innocency he ruled by love, and fallen man rules by fear. Not like at the first, which in love and in kindness, man was now founded in terror. But still we have the benefit of it:

1. Those creatures which are in any way useful to us are reclaimed, and we use them either for service or food, or both, as they are capable.

2. Those creatures that are in any way that are dangerous and man can be hurt by some of them, so they are restrained, however, these ferocious animals do not combine together to rise up in rebellion against man.

This dread of man mentioned in verse 2, prevails among all the stronger as well as the weaker members of the animal tribes, and all the animals keeps away from his haunts but there are those type of animals employed in man’s service, that is the result partly of human reason and superior intelligence because knowledge is power. However, there is a natural sense of dread impressed on all classes of animal of the lower creation which that dread is greatly increased by the fears stirred by the steadfast piercing glance of man’s eye, and the strange or remarkable accents of man’s voice. Even with human eyes and human voice have no sound, it becomes loud when it was produced by a cannon or a gun, it carries the same magnitude or intensity of terror among wild beasts and wild birds, where that deadly weapon represents the human voice. The lion and the tiger even in the dense jungles will often sulk or hide away if they hear the man speak. This dominion or dominating power as granted anew to Noah, although declared in much stronger terms than the dominion bestowed upon Adam, probably to inspire Noah and his family with great confidence to scattered all over the earth, and it was restored only in imperfect degree in which that confident dominion was possessed after the fall, when, man’s own ferocious passions and cruel tyranny, it resulted in much impaired supremacy of man over the inferior creation, but still man’s supremacy much continue. However, the coersive rule which human now exercises which is often successfully resisted, is not to be confounded with that benign and complete dominion which could be a dangerous right or prerogative of man, which have been bestowed on Christ (Psalms 8:6-9 “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: ⁷All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; ⁸The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. ⁹O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”; 1 Corinthians 15:27 “For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.”; Ephesians 1:22 “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”; Hebrews 2:7-10 “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: ⁸Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. ⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”) on which in due time this dominion will be the imparted privilege of God’s people in the restored spiritual condition of humanity as redeemed in Christ.

Now, now notice phrase in verse 3 “Every moving thing…shall be meat for you.” The third part of God’s blessing is about the means of sustaining life: it would seem that man was for the first time allowed the free and unrestricted use of animal food (Genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”). This was not the first grant of animal food, and that power to use for animal food might be included in the general declaration made to Adam in Genesis 1:28; because it is hard to believe how can a man be profited or having benefit being given authority with power over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, except if a man was warranted to them animal food as a means of sustenance from God. At all events, different considerations that portions of the beasts offered in sacrifice were eaten; but these animal sacrifices were exclusively restricted only to few classes of considered clean animals. Possibly in the course of time, prejudices have been given consideration by religious people, like Noah and his family, they are against all other animals whom they considered as common or unclean for man’s food as well as for use of offering animal sacrifice. An explicit declaration was made that “every creature of God is good.” (I Timothy 4:4 “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:”).

The phrase “Every moving thing” in Hebrew [kaal (H3605) remes (H7431)], it is a word signifying extensively, that is not pointing with the scientific precision to any particular class of animals, but this word used once for aquatic animals (Psalm 104:25 “So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts”), commonly includes reptiles and the smaller mammals, so this word used here for all inferior animals (Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”; Genesis 6:20 “Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.”). The use of this indefinite word, conjoined with a reference to “the green herb,” was evidently designed to show in an emphatic manner the universality of the grant. But it is accompanied with a special restriction which deserves to be well observed for it is according to God’s instruction.

Again, words “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” We see that man had been confined to feed only upon the products of the earth, fruits, herbs and roots, and all sorts of corn and milk because it was the first grant given to man (Genesis 1:29). But we know what eventually happened having perhaps washed away much of the goodness of the earth, so the fruits become less pleasing and less nourishing. However, God now enlarged His grant, and He allowed human to eat flesh, which perhaps man himself never thought of until now. It is all God’s plan and purpose and provision. This shows the goodness of God to man. God promised the blessing of provision.

We depend on God; we should be thankful to God. Let us not forget the privilege, advantage and pleasure we have from the labor of beasts, and which their flesh produced and bear. We ought not to be ungrateful as we enjoy the security from the savage and hurtful animals, through the fear of man which God has arranged and fixed deep in those ferocious type of creatures. We witnessed the evidence of daily and on every side fulfillment of this God’s promise. God’s grant of the animals for man’s daily food assures the use of these animals, but we should not attempt to abuse these animal foods by the sin of gluttony, and acts of cruelty. Avoid giving them pain needlessly while they live, and never take away their lives unreasonably.

God's promised blessing of provision for our security and provision for our daily food.

Interestingly in verse 4 notice the words of prohibition, “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Or translated “you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood,” NASB, ESV. The purpose of this prohibition was to prevent those excesses of cannibal ferocity, that is eating flesh of living animals, which in the earlier ages of the world, men were liable, which is still being practiced in Abyssinia (Abyssinia is a mysterious country located in the mountains of Africa which today is known as Ethiopia), also as in drinking blood, that was frequently done by the pagan people.

God opened up the whole animal world to man for food and the only stipulation God place upon the food was that the meat contain no blood (Genesis 9:4). Man should not eat meat as animals eat meat with blood seeping out of the carcass, but man needs to respect life that has been granted by God.

Before this blessing that God provide animals as man food, the beasts and fowls and fish apparently had no fear of man, and would just confidently walk near beside man. All classes of animals that had been inside the ark with Noah and would not fear him, so it is God who put a fear within the animals, birds, and fish, which God would guarantee a protection of the species. God looks and consider man above the animals and animals are to be subordinate to man.

The reason is clearly rendered, “the blood is the life thereof” includes a fact that stands among the most notable discoveries of modern science, that the blood is the circulating principle of life, so the blood being sacred to God who is the giver of life, must be carefully poured out of every animal used for human food. This prohibition was re-enacted by the Mosaic law, which forbade the eating of blood (Leviticus 3:17 “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.”; Leviticus 7:20 “But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.”; Leviticus 19:25 “And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.”; Deuteronomy 12:16 “Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.”), and recommended the blood of the sacrifices to be sprinkled on the altar (Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul,"; Deuteronomy 12:23 “Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.”). The interdict or prohibition applied to strangers as well as Israelites; and it was enforced also among the primitive Christians (Acts 15:20 “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”; Acts 15:29 “That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”; Acts 21:25 “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.”).

The blood causes an animal to live. Blood is God’s especial gift; for God alone can bestow upon that aggregation of solids and fluids which we call a body the secret principle of life. The blood is the representative, and while man is permitted to have the body for his food, as being the mere vessel which contains this life, the gift itself must go back to God, and the blood as its symbol be treated with reverence.

Blood made atonement for the soul, (Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”). The life of the sacrifice was accepted for the life of the sinner. Blood must not be looked upon as a common thing, but must be poured out before the Lord, (II Samuel 23:16“brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; ¹⁷and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men…?”). The primary reason of forbidding the eating of blood, doubtless was because the shedding of blood in animal sacrifices was to remind the worshippers in mind the importance of the great atonement; yet it is also has a purpose to check if there was cruelty act, lest men, could be possibly be used to shed and feed upon the blood of animals, and would become numb in shedding and eating of the blood of animals, and man will be less shocked of shedding human blood.

 - - - - - - - - - To be continued on Part 2 - - - - -

C. Protection is one of God’s promised blessing – v.5-6

Genesis 9:5-6 “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. ⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

Genesis 9:5-6 “At tiyak na aking hihingan ng sulit ang umutang sa inyong dugo. Aking hihingin ito sa bawat hayop at sa mga tao, bawat isa para sa dugo ng iba. Hihingan ko ng sulit ang umutang sa buhay ng tao. ⁶Sinumang tao magpadanak ng dugo ng tao, ang dugo ng taong iyon ay papadanakin ng ibang tao; sapagkat nilalang ang tao sa larawan ng Diyos.” FILIPINO VERSION

The phrase in verse 5 “surely your blood of your lives will I require” The statement “your lives of your lives” literally “for your lives” and should be translated “your blood, which is for your souls,” that means for their advantage, for the preservation and security of your lives (Israel urged to obey God’s law. Deuteronomy 4:15 “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:”; Farewell address of when Joshua was old and called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers. - Joshua 23:11 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.”, where the Hebrew word is used with the same construction). The word “will I require” in Hebrew 'edrosh (H1875), with the Hebrew proposition “min” (H4480), will punish bloodshed, avenge murder (Psalm 9:12 “When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.”).

Listen, our own lives are not so our own, that we may put them in the end at our own pleasure. Our lives are own by God, and must resign our lives at God’s pleasure, at God’s delight. We should never in any way hasten our own deaths, because if we do we are accountable to God for our lives.

The words “At the hand of every beast” that is rather of every living creatures (Exodus 21:28 “If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.” There is the strong support of man’s life, that an animal which sheds it becomes guilty, therefore must be slain; and those animals must be destroyed which prey upon man. To show how tender God was of the life of man, he will have the beast put to death that kills a man. This was confirmed by the law of Moses (Exodus 21:28), and it would not be unsafe to still observe it.

Then another phrase in verse 5 says, “At the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man” The words “of every man’s brother” is literally, “of man his brother”; it means the brother or the kinsman of the murdered, fellowman. God is saying “I will avenge the blood of the murdered upon the murderer. When God requires the life of a man at the hand of the murderer that took the life away unjustly, the murderer cannot render that life or cannot give back that life, and therefore the murderer must render his own life, stead of the life he taken away for it is the only way left of making restitution.

The meaning of the passage in verse 5, “At the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man” obviously is, that God the Supreme Ruler, setting a high value upon human life, will constantly and lively exact a penalty for acts of murder that is done willfully and intentionally, and that penalty is, blood for blood, life for life. This is not by an abrupt hit of the hand of the Almighty as a move of vengeance, but this is by delegation of God’s power to men who are in authority, who are considered “ministers of God for good.” The fourth part of God’s order establishes a new power for protecting human life, that is about the institution of the civil magistrate (Romans 13:4“For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”). This civil magistrate who were armed with public and official authority to prevent, control, subdue the commission of violence and crime. That power of the institution of the civil magistrate had not yet existed previously during in the society of the patriarchs.

The words in verse 6 says, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood.” The Hebrew verb denotes not to commit homicide, but to kill from premeditation or malice (The plot against Joseph by his brothers,- Genesis 37:22 “And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.”; The city will not be spared says the Lord,- Ezekiel 14:19 “Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:”). The verb being in the participial form, is to be taken in the widest sense, as denoting every murderer of whatever condition it would be.

Again, in verse 6 it says, “By man shall his blood be shed.” The words “By man” is emphatic, and therefore is placed in the beginning of the clause. This word was omitted entirely by the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. We need to consider the words as containing a command as a denunciation against the taking away of human life and we should not consider this word as just a warning (I Thessalonians 4:6 “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.“). The Hebrew preposition have properly rendered in the same way by all the best versions translators and it was used here to point out the person by whom the blood is shed, and the authority to take the life of the murderer is given by God to those, whether they are patriarchal or regal persons who possess the character of public or recognized magistrates, who were appointed to be the avenger of blood. God highly values life and God protects it by a penalty. Prior to the flood, unbridled violence filled the earth (Genesis 6:11, 13 “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹³And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”). Murders were common with no regard for life. God promised that a death penalty would be given to anyone or anything that would shed the blood of a human. If you notice the word “require” which mentioned three times in verse 5 that means God will seek out and demand accountability, which includes judgment and punishments for one who sheds man’s blood. God is turning over to man the responsibility of holding murderers accountable by giving them the death penalty. Before the flood, with regards to the story of Cain, God took the punishment of murder into his own hands, but now God committed this judgment to men, to the heads of countries. That this law of taking away of human life was designed by God to be universal, as evident from the reason connected or joined, which is applicable to all ages and to all parts of the world.

This penalty of life for life is not to be left to natural law, but man himself, and under such safeguards as the civil law in each country shall order, is to execute the Divine command. Thus, life of both man and beast was protected from violence. With all terrible crimes forbidden that had polluted Adam’s beginning, but now in peace and security in Noah’s new beginning is to commence afresh man’s great work upon earth.

Still in verse 6, notice it says, “for in the image of God made he man.” It means that the human nature reflects the divine image. For in the image of God, He made man. Man is a creator dear to His Creator, and therefore our fellowman ought to be so dear also us; God put honor upon man, let us not then put contempt upon all men. To destroy ruthlessly that man with that image from God, as a murderer is to commit a fearless outrage against the majesty of the Creator. Although, that image of God in a man has been affected and injured by the fall of man, but that image is not lost. Theologians call that natural image of God, consisting of reason and intelligence, and still that natural image remains in man, otherwise what will be the use and sense of subjoining that natural image of God in a man as the ground of the preceding command? (James 3:9 “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”; “Sa pamamagitan nito ay pinupuri natin ang Panginoon at Ama, at sa pamamagitan nito ay nilalait natin ang mga taong ginawa ayon sa larawan ng Diyos.” FILIPINO VERSION. We notice that there is a high value attached to the life of every human being, even the poorest and humblest, and a dreadful, horrible criminality that is involved and accountable in the destruction of human life with image of God.

  - - - - -  To be continued on Part 3  (October 17, 2021) - - - -

II – THE BINDING OF GOD’S COVENANT TO THE BELEIVER WHO ARE RIGHT WITH GOD – v.8-17

A covenant is established when God makes a legal promise to someone, thus God binding and obligating Himself to fulfill something according as Has promised to do. Once God established a covenant and He has promised to do something, God must do it regardless of a nation faithfulness or an individual’s faithfulness to God.

A. God Established the Covenant – v.9a

Genesis 9:9a "And I, behold, I establish my covenant"

Genesis 9:9a “Narito, aking itinatatag ang tipan” FILIPINO VERSION

In verse 9, Moses said “I, behold, I establish my covenant,” in Hebrews [meeqiym (H6965) 'et (H854) bªriytiy (H1285)]. It means God set up or make a “covenant”, that is a solemn promise.

When Moses uses word “establish”, Moses is saying that God is the One who raised up and brought into existence this covenant and man had nothing to do with this work. The covenant was totally a work of God. The covenant was established by God and no man had done this work of establishing the covenant.

We have here the general establishment of God's covenant with this new world, and the extent of that covenant.

B. God Established the Covenant with one man – v.9b

Genesis 9:9b “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you“

Genesis 9:9b “Narito, aking itinatatag ang tipan sa inyo” FILIPINO VERSION

The covenant of the blessing of God was received primarily by Noah who is right with God.

The established covenant is a solemn promise of as binding a nature of it to Noah and his family.

C. God Established the Covenant with all men – v.9c

Genesis 9:9c “And I, behold, I establish my covenant…and with your seed after you“

Genesis 9:9c “Narito, aking itinatatag ang tipan…at sa inyong mga anak na susunod sa inyo” FILIPINO VERSION

There is a universal application of this covenant for all men who would come into existence through the family of Noah and all men would become beneficiaries of this Noahic covenant.

The covenant between God and man is thus solemnly introduced as Elohim’s personal act.

There is no biblical basis of existing covenant that is mentioned between Elohim and the antediluvian world, but now there is distinctly a step onward in all respects, and in the renovated new earth after the flood, man is brought nearer to God by being admitted into covenant with Him.

D. God Established the Covenant with all animals – v.10

Genesis 9:10 “And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.”

Genesis 9:10 “at sa bawat nilikhang may buhay na kasama ninyo, ang mga ibon, ang maamong hayop at bawat mailap na hayop sa lupa na kasama ninyo, sa lahat ng lumabas sa daong, sa bawat hayop sa lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

Notice in verse 9 the words, “And with every living creature”. We are taught in Scripture that the most ordinary of God’s creatures are always the objects of God’s watchful providence, and that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without our heavenly Father knowing about it (Matthew 10:29). So far, this merciful regard of the lower animals is carried, that in the covenant with Noah they are specially mentioned. In this passage of our study, and others similarly, had open new views of the divine government undiscoverable by reason (Psalms 113:4 “The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.”; Psalm 113:6 “Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”). That such considerations about God may hurt the pride of man; but no one who believes the Bible to be a true revelation of the will of God can consider on the fact without having higher views of the duties of that relation in which that bible believer stands to the lower animals, and being inspired with God’s kind-heartedness which is thus widely spread over the creation. God is highly above all creatures that are in heaven and in the earth. Therefore, animals also received the blessings and benefits like men under Noahic covenant.

Animals are a special part of God’s world because the animal world would also receive benefits from this

Noahic covenant. The noun “beast” is used twice in verse 10, which emphasized that God will even protect and care those less domestic animals.

Therefore, not only is man included in God’s established covenant, but, first, those animals which had been with Noah in the ark; and, secondly, those which had not been admitted there, as it says in verse 10 “from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.” That is the larger world.

God told Noah, He will blot out man and animals, creeping things and birds of the heavens but the fish and sea creatures were not mentioned (Genesis 6:7). Land animals and birds were selected to board the ark, but fish and sea creatures were not (Genesis 6:19-21; 7:2-4). So, some argue, that this would seem to indicate that sea creatures did not need the ark because they can survive flood. Some defended that Genesis 7:20-23 are the lists of animals that died, but sea life is not included and the reference to “dry land” which limits what types of animals were affected. Then some asks, why didn’t God remember the fish and sea creatures? after the flood in Genesis 8:1 in order to conclude that fish and sea creatures survives even in the midst of the flood. Some maintained their views that all fish survived the deluge by considering the Hebrew worldview category of animal life. The Jewish people saw animal life in three categories—sea life, flying animals, and land animals. The fifth day of creation included the creation of fish and sea life as well as flying creatures and birds (Genesis 1:21). The sixth day the land animals were created (Genesis 1:24). Of those three categories, only the flying animals and land animals were taken aboard the ark. The fish and sea life were not at risk under the water.

As we know, Noah was instructed to take land animals on the Ark, and that's how they survived. But how did fish survive, particularly in those churning waters? How did both freshwater and saltwater fish survive? Individual fish from most species will die if placed in a wrong environment.

To make matters worse for fish, the Flood certainly involved tectonically induced tsunamis (sometimes called tidal waves)—incredibly energetic shock waves in the ocean that traveled at great speeds and pummeled the land with towering walls of water. Fish are very sensitive to shock. Likewise, the Flood involved underwater mudflows, which even today are known to flow at up to 100 miles per hour, following an underwater earthquake or other disturbance. Wouldn’t the fish have choked in the sediment-filled water? Fish and other marine creatures obviously weren’t taken on board the Ark. How could they survive, particularly mixture of both fresh and saltwater forms?

As a matter of fact, most of them didn’t survive. Over 95 percent of all fossils are marine creatures. They died and are fossilized by the trillions. Many are buried in great fossil graveyards, tightly packed together, choked with sediments, buried before they had time to decay. Obviously, they didn’t live in the environment in which they died. They were transported by rapidly moving water and then buried in sedimentary deposits. But how could any of them have survived?

Plainly, the words in verse 10, imply the existence of a larger world-sphere than that in connection with Noah, and give the assurance that not only those now providentially preserved, but the animals everywhere, shall never again be in danger of a similar extinction because of the covenant promise of God.

We see here the happy fowls, and happy cattle, and happy beasts of the earth to be connected with Noah, and go to come under a covenant of preservation and we humans, though only worthy to be typified by these creatures which God had preserved in the ark, are thrice happy to be in the same covenant with Christ who is our Noah, our rest, our sweet savour unto God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

E. God Established the Covenant to preserves life – v.11

Genesis 9:11 “And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Genesis 9:11 “Aking pinagtitibay ang aking tipan sa inyo; hindi ko na lilipulin ang lahat ng mga tao sa pamamagitan ng tubig ng baha at hindi na magkakaroon pa ng bahang magwawasak ng lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

Notice the phrase “neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood.” The first century A.D. Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, who says that Noah accompanied his offering with an earnest prayer that God, having destroyed all the wicked, would deal mercifully to Noah and his small family who were spared, and not expose them to the punishment of another devastating deluge, that Noah’s earnest words represents by the covenant as an answer to that prayer, gives an assurance to Noah the righteous patriarch that the course of nature would be allowed to go on in the same peaceful order as previously before the flood, and that if extraordinary showers of rain should at any time fall, they would not be a judicial infliction on mankind. God is faithful to His covenantal promise.

As the old world was ruined, to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day a monument of mercy.

All the flesh will never again be destroyed by a flood as God promised. Although God has not destroyed the world by a flood according from history and New Testament revelation but God who destroyed the world because of sin, God will destroy the old-world next time by a fire according to II Peter 3:10-12. God will protect and preserve life not because of man’s faithfulness but because of the established covenant as God promised. The flood was universal as the evidence of verse 11, because otherwise it makes no sense. Actually, there have been lot of real local floods in various places, but there never another universal flood had come that devastated all flesh. God is faithful in His promise.

If the sea should flow but for a few days, as it happened twice every day for a few hours, what desolations would it make? And even such showers of rain as we have sometimes seen, were continued long. But God by the flowing seas, and by sweeping rains, as a proof what God’s wrath could do; and yet by preserving the earth from being deluged, God shews by His mercy what he can do, and will do in truth.

  - - - - - To be continued on Part 4 (October 17, 2021) - - - - - -

F. God Established the Covenant with a sign – v.12-16

1. Sign that Stands forever – v.12

Genesis 9:12 “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 “Sinabi ng Diyos, “Ito ang tanda ng tipang gagawin ko sa inyo, at sa bawat nilalang na may buhay na kasama ninyo sa buong panahon.” FILIPINO VERSION

This covenantal sign was to be forever, it was given for perpetual generations.

The word “perpetual generations” translated “successive generations” in NASB, or “for all future generations” in ESV, means this is eternal Covenant established with this sign that stands forever.

The word “token” in verse 12 really means sign. It is a proof or indication of God’s immediate working. It will be supernatural because the proof that mostly some act such as God alone can accomplish. On the other hand, more frequently it is something natural. That is why the sign to the shepherds of the birth of a Saviour, who was “anointed Jehovah” (Luke 2:11), it was their finding in a manger a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, a thing of the most simple and ordinary kind.

We may therefore dismiss all such curious speculations that no rain fell before the flood, or some condition was wanting necessary for producing this glorious sign or symbol. What Noah needed was a guarantee and a memorial which, as often as rain occurred, would bring back to his thoughts the promise of God, and such a memorial was best taken from the natural accompaniments of rain.

It is now become the sign of a solemn compact made with man by God, whereby God gives man the assurance that neither man nor God’s works shall ever again be swept away by a flood. What then might have been granted simply to man as a promise on God’s part is made into a covenant, not merely for man’s greater assurance, but also to indicate that it was irrevocable. Promises are revocable, and their fulfillment may depend upon man, a covenant is irrevocable, and under no circumstances will the earth again be destroyed by water. Sign that stands forever.

2. Sign that Signifies fixed – v.13a

Genesis 9:13 “I do set my bow in the cloud.”

Genesis 9:13 “Inilagay ko ang aking bahaghari sa ulap” FILIPINO VERSION

The opening words in verse 13 says, “I do set my bow in the cloud.” In Hebrews [naatatiy (H5414)] means God is saying “I appoint, or constitute,” since the word is used elsewhere (Numbers 14:4; 1 Samuel 12:13; 1 Kings 2:35). The natural effect of the refraction and reflection of the sun’s rays falling upon drops of water is the rainbow, and the rainbow must have been familiar to the minds of Noah and his antediluvian contemporaries, but the rainbow now for the first time had a symbolic meaning attached to it, which the rainbow must have its appearance exceedingly welcome to the first generation of people after the flood. Just as the application of water baptism and the use of bread and wine during the Lord’s Supper, were both adopted from existing usages as were constituted the symbols of spiritual blessing, likewise it is not the covenant itself, but only the token of that covenant, therefore the rainbow was now consecrated by God to be the sign and seal of that covenant by which God pledged Himself that the water should not be any more a flood to destroy the earth, and that upon the sight of it “God would remember His covenant.”

Again the words “I do set my bow in the cloud” means the seal of this covenant was the rainbow, which, it is likely, was seen in the clouds before, but was never a seal of the covenant till now it was made so. There is no external sign could have been chosen for this purpose which is more suited from its nature properties than the rainbow. Because the rainbow has its elevated position therefore it is visible to all, and the rainbow never appears but when there is a gentle rain with the sun shining which the kind of rain is never known to do any harm, but brings much good.

The usual direction of looking toward the rainbow is always from the earth, showing that it does not aim at men, which show that God will not shoot, so that a bow unbent or without a string is a proper symbol of peace and friendship. There is an intimate sign since the rainbow is a necessary effect of sunshine during light rain, and that scenario must continue such as long as the sun and atmosphere endure. This earth shall be preserved surely and securely from the destruction of water. The earth preservation shall be as necessary due to an effect of the promise of God as the rainbow appear during the shining of the sun at times in a shower of rain.

This covenantal sign was a rainbow.

The Hebrew word for “bow” refers to a rain bow, which is a battle bow and broken strength. With this rainbow set in the cloud, God is saying with a fixed sign, “I will never again destroy the world by a flood.”

Three men in the Bible saw the significance of the rainbows:

a. Noah after the storm

b. Ezekiel in the midst of a storm (Ezekiel 1:28)

c. John before the storm (Revelation 4:3)

3. Sign that Speaks for all – v.13b

Genesis 9:13b “and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.”

Genesis 9:13b “at ito ay magiging tanda ng tipan ko at ng lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

This covenantal sign is to be recognized by all the people on the whole earth.

The rainbow purposely should cause all people in the world to think there is God.

The rainbow appears when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing; God then shows this seal of the promise, that it shall not prevail.

Noticeably, a rainbow is bowed toward heaven as its target and not the earth anymore. Instead of piercing the sinful world with His wrath as He hath done before the flood, God turned the bow toward Himself and pierced His dearest own Son Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the whole world, buried, and risen from the dead for the salvation of mankind.

4. Sign is sighted by the Faithful God – v.14-16

Genesis 9:14-16 “And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: ¹⁵And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Genesis 9:14-16 “At kapag tinipon ko ang mga ulap sa ibabaw ng lupa, ang bahaghari ay makikita sa ulap. ¹⁵Aalalahanin ko ang aking tipan sa inyo, at sa bawat nilalang na may buhay; at ang tubig ay hindi na magiging bahang lilipol ng lahat ng nabubuhay.¹⁶Kapag ang bahaghari ay nasa ulap, ito ay aking makikita at maaalala ang walang hanggang tipan sa pagitan ng Diyos at ng bawat nilalang na may buhay na nasa ibabaw ng lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

This covenantal sign is recognized by God and He remembers His promise.

A rainbow not only seen by man but also God Himself saw the rainbow. God remembers His covenantal promise when He looks at His rainbow. Therefore, once God looks at man, it would be easy for God to destroy all of life, but whenever God looks at that rainbow, He remembers the Noahic covenant He promised to Noah that He will no longer destroy the world with the flood.

The rainbow appears when the clouds are most disposed to wet; when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, God shews this seal of the promise that rain shall not prevail.

As God looks upon the bow (rainbow), that He may remember the covenant, so should we, that we may be mindful of the covenant with faith and thankfulness.

Similarly to that remarkable declaration of Jehovah, recorded in Exodus 12:13, God says, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” The blood was not to be sprinkled inside the house where the Israelites might be comforted by a sight of it, but outside the house, where only God could see it. It is for our sake that the rainbow is set in the cloud, and we can see it there; yet infinite mercy represents it as being there as a refreshment to the memory of God as He said in verse 16, “The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it”.

G. God Established the Covenant that is everlasting – v. 16

Genesis 9:16 “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Genesis 9:16 “Kapag ang bahaghari ay nasa ulap, ito ay aking makikita at maaalala ang walang hanggang tipan sa pagitan ng Diyos at ng bawat nilalang na may buhay na nasa ibabaw ng lupa.” FILIPINO VERSION

When my eye of faith is dim, and I cannot see the covenant sign, I will remember that there is an eye which never can be dim, which always sees the covenant token according to verse 15, God says “I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant”; and so I shall still be secure notwithstanding the dimness of my spiritual vision. For our comfort, we must see it; but for our safety, blessed be God, it is only needful that God should see it, because God establish His everlasting covenant.

Those who are right with God like Noah can feel good about their own selves now and forever because of everlasting covenant.

Although for those who are right with God, the rainbow is a precious promise, but for those who are not right with God the rainbow is a serious warning. God turned the bow of His wrath toward His own Son Jesus Christ and for those who repented from their sins and trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior or the power of the gospel, they are given a gracious free gift of eternal life. But on the other hand, those who do not repent from their sins and believe not on Jesus Christ as their Savior, are already under the sentence of the wrath of God (John 3:18, 36), and they do not need to worry about a flood, however, but they themselves still need to worry about the eternal suffering of fire torment in hell. As God promised that He will never again destroy the world by flood, God will surely destroy it by fire in the future as God said. If you will repent from your sins, believe in thine heart that Jesus died for your sins, buried, and rose again from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9, I Corinthians 15:1-4), and you never have to worry about the sentence of eternal separation from God or about the wrath of God (John 3:16-18, 36), because you will have found Grace in the eyes of the Lord like Noah.

Concerning this seal of the covenant, it was observed that this seal is affixed with repeated assurances of the truth of that promise, which it was designed to be the ratification of that covenant:

I do set my bow in the cloud - Genesis 9:13
It shall be seen in the cloud - Genesis 9:14
It shall be a token of the covenant - Genesis 9:12-13
I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood - Genesis 9:15
I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant - Genesis 9:16

In verse 17, God said about the Covenantal sign of His promise, Genesis 9:17 “And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.”; “Sinabi ng Diyos kay Noe, “Ito ang tanda ng tipan na aking itinatag sa lahat ng nabubuhay na nasa ibabaw ng lupa.” TAGALOG VERSION.

We can read what the Lord says, through the prophet Isaiah, concerning this covenant (Isaiah 54:1-10).