Gen. 9:1

Gen. 9:1

God doesn't just speak to Noah here. This has been forgotten by some, because we tend to focus on Noah specifically. However, when He spoke to all of them, it showed several things.

First, the command to replenish the earth went to all of them. Noah and his wife, like Abraham and Sarah, could have had a miracle baby. (His wife was almost surely past childbearing age even for the longer life spans of pre-flood people, who may perhaps have had babies in their 100s or 200s.) But, his children were used by God not because they were part of the original promises God made to Noah, but because they had seen Noah's -and, presumably, his wife - as good examples of God and chosen to follow God. It is not our heritage or anything about us personally that can get us saved, but merely our faith in Jesus Christ and trusting Him to forgive us of our sins, calling on Him by simple faith to forgive us and repenting of our sins and trusting Him to change us inside, living in us through the Holy Spirit.

Second, as has been noted elsewhere, good examples are vital in showing God's love and His holiness. They chose to follow God before because they saw Noah doing so.

It is, of course, possible to do so without that example. King Hezekiah brought a repentance revival to his kingdom, in fact. The Shunemmite woman starting in 2nd Kings 4:8 is a great example of how to lead like that, and forms the outline for this free blog book on how to do it. However, God shows in His Word how it works best.

Finally, as with all His people, God knows what we will do, and He knew the mistakes these men would make just like all others. It is shameful that people invented a supposed “curse” involving Ham when in fct God *blessed Ham along with Shem and Japheth. Not only did God bless Ham, but the only person Noah mentions after Ham does something wrong later is Canaan. And, it's said that it is very likely this wasn’t a curse on Canaan that Noah pronounced, but a prophecy, with Noah saying, “Canaan’s really not going to turn out well because of this sin that Ham has trouble getting rid of.”

But, more on that later. The point here is, these people who spoke of this curse for their own selfish interests not only misused Scripture, they insulted God by claiming that one man had a right to override the blessing God had placed upon Ham here. Only God has the right to determine what is best for each of us.

Gen. 8:21-22

Ge. 8:21-22

God promises He won't curse the ground any more. There could have been an additional curse on it that was then removed, but this is unlikely. The phrasing seems to show a promise not to do any further, especially since it is together with the promise not to destroy the earth with a flood anymore. The next time will be with fire.

God also remarks that mankind is sinful from youth. It is that sin nature that caused things to spiral so much out of control in such a short time. So, it makes sense that God would short life spans and also have another plan for future problems.

Of course, it's interesting that things have not company as bad until very recently in 4500 years as they had in the first 1500. Part of this is because people who were so evil only lived 50 to 80 years instead of 500 to 800. However, it also adds some evidence to the idea that part of the problem before the flood was genetic manipulation by fallen angels, who then interacted with people.

Finally, He also promises the seasons will continue to the end. This is not to say that there wouldn't be some local areas that would suffer long drought for some places that had large local floods. In fact, the land bridges people talk about between Britain and the continent, and another between Alaska and Siberia, with a final one probably between Spain and Africa, all existed at the end of the flood until the Ice Age and subsequent waters melting after it. That is how people got across to the Americas.

However, this promise has been kept for the world as a whole. While there have been times when parts of the world suffered from smaller harvest - such as after large volcanic eruptions like that of Tambora in 1815 - this season's, seedtime, harvest, and so on have continued. This has been a great comfort to many farmers, who know things can always get better and who thus learn very early to rely on the Lord.

Gen. 8:13-20

Gen. 8:13-20

In the book of Revelation, God shows how, after the Battle of Armageddon, he will make the world new in preparation for the Millennial Kingdom. There, Jesus will rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of lords, and we who have trusted Him as Savior will rule and reign with Him.

Here, we see a new world wear something similar is going on. Just as God will pour out His wrath on a terribly sinful world during the Tribulation Period, here He has just finished judging the world with the flood.

We can see other comparisons, which have been discussed in previous verses. Most notably, of course, the fact that the last days will be as in the days of Noah. The most important thing in these verses, however, yes that Noah and his children were all followers of God who - in a very short time - wound up seeing that worship of God virtually vanish from the world.

As it was, for now Noah built an altar to worship the Lord for bringing him and his family through the terrible flood. He recognized God's provision and protection in the terrible ordeal through which the world had come.

While the flood shows God's judgment, then, and the art is a type of how God will protect us from his wrath, we can see in Noah's attitude a type of the tribulation saints who survived - if any - and the aJews,God's chosen people, who will survive to populate the Millennial Kingdom. Because, these people will initially be very grateful for what God has done for them, and yet their descendants will find it just as hard to fathom ourworld as those after the flood found it hard to fathom the world before the flood.

This is easy to understand because the devil will not have a part in the Millennial Kingdom, because he will be bound a thousand years and unable to bother the inhabitants, just as his demons will not be able to bother them. However, those born during the tribute during the Millennial Kingdom will still have a sim nature nature. They will need to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save them from there sins. In the same way, Noah and his descendants needed to realize that God still had not yet sent the promised Redeemer and that they needed to trust him to save them from their sins. So it was that Noah built his altar, recognizing that only through God's work could he see Heaven.

 It is also worth noting that it took the ground time to dry out. Noah waited till the effects (the water) of God's wrath were completely gone. When Jesus saves us from our sins, he removes them comlpetely, so His wrath does not abide on us anymore. The physical effects may still be there - scars from brawls if one fought often with people, perhaps damaged relationships, etc. - but we know that God will restore all things in Heaven, and here on Earth He can take what we have to give Him and make something wonderful out of it.

And, it was immediately after the ground was dry that Noah made this altar and worshipped God. In the same way, the moment we are saved we should be praising God and wanting to grow in Him, recognizing that he has cleansed us from every sin and stain.