Sunday: God’s Covenant With All Humanity
We look at how bad the world is today; that is, we see all the evil in it, and yet God still bears with us. Thus, we can only imagine just how bad things must have been in order for the Lord to destroy the whole world with a flood. God had given men His commandments as a rule of life, but His law was transgressed, and every conceivable sin was the result. The wickedness of men was open and daring, justice was trampled in the dust, and the cries of the oppressed reached unto heaven.
-Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 91.
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
Read Genesis 9:1-17. What covenant was made between God and humanity, and how does it reflect God’s grace toward the creation?
The covenant God expressed to Noah was the most universal among the biblical covenants; it was with all humanity, and it included the animals and nature too (Gen. 9:12). Also, this was a one-sided arrangement: the Lord didn’t impose any requirements or stipulations upon those with whom He was establishing the covenant. He simply was not going to destroy the earth with water again, period. Unlike other covenants, nothing was conditional about it.
God then sealed His covenant with a visible sign, that of a rainbow, which symbolizes the covenant promise that the earth will never be destroyed by a flood again. So, anytime we see a rainbow, the mere fact that we are here to see it is, in its own way, a vindication of this ancient covenant promise. (After all, if we had been wiped out in a universal flood, we wouldn’t be here to see the rainbow!) Amid the constant sin and evil here on earth, at times we are blessed with the beauty of the rainbow, a sign of God’s grace toward the whole world. We can look up at it and draw hope, not only from just how beautiful it is in and of itself, but also because we know that it’s a message from God, a message of His love toward our wretched planet.
Dwell upon the grandeur and beauty of a rainbow. Especially in light of what the Bible tells us about the rainbow, in what ways can it draw us toward God, toward transcendence, toward something greater than what this mere earth itself offers?
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As noted in the lesson in Noah’s day there were oppressed people whose cries reached heaven. The Lord sometimes extend mercy to people of the world, including the underprivileged and oppressed, and thereby some have derived temporary relief or gain in this life. For this all may be thankful. Yet the oppressed were not spared in the Flood (2 Peter 2:4-5).
Well-meaning people may assign a place in Heaven to those who have been known to be charitable in this life. As well there may be a tendency to assume that the poor will automatically go to heaven. However while the Savior sympathizes with the suffering and commends good deeds such conditions and actions are not substitutes for God’s established means of salvation.
That some have had a hard time in life or have helped a lot of the needy does not provide exemption from compliance with the Creator’s requirements under His covenant. Obedience is not optional. And sometimes one decision may make a big difference.
In Noah’s day the final test of faith for both physical and spiritual salvation was a binary choice, to enter the ark of safety or to stay out (Genesis 7:1). Likewise while perfect obedience was required in everything there were also two distinct options in the Garden of Eden, to partake or not to partake of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:16-17).
As human probation draws to a close the test which caps the contest between Christ (loyalty to the Creator) and Satan (way of rebellion), presents two alternatives (Revelation 14:9-12). With this final test the fate of mankind is sealed, and so too is the everlasting covenant with the Creator (Revelation 22:11).
Hugh, I'm afraid someone might misunderstand that obedience to the law somehow qualifies us for heaven or merits salvation. Of course, obedience is our loving response to our Creator for the grace and forgiveness provided through the death of Christ on the cross. Even our obedience is ultimately a gift to us through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. So we have nothing to boast of, in ourselves. Eph. 2:8
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Eph. 3:20-21
Gen 9:16 "...and I will look upon it, THAT I MAY REMEMBER THE EVERLASTING COVENANT..."
Might God forget His covenant, if it were not for rainbows? Of course it is an absurdity to suggest such a thing. The rainbow is not a reminder for God, it is a reminder for us.
The rainbow is for us to remember that God has not forgotten!
When we see that bow in the sky, let us remember - GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN.
God established the covenant and purposed not to destroy the whole world again by water. Please, how does this covenant reflect God's grace towards creation? (Because I know that God is going to destroy the whole world by fire)
Its aclear indication that God is going to destroy only the rebelous sols and its nolonger going to be collective punishment.
I understand your point Derrick. If God is effectively saying, "I promise not to kill My enemies with a club anymore, but I am going to kill them with a knife", then we have a problem. (And from a human standpoint I would rather drown than burn to death, especially if I were to burn for "many days".) But I have a little thought I'd like to share... and will try to submit it later today. I do believe that God is much better than any of us really imagine... the length, breadth, height, and depth of His love is still, for the main part, comprehended but little.
This covenant was established with Noah, with Noah's sons (including successive generations), and it was established with the animals that came through the flood with Noah. (Gen 9:8-10)
On one level the covenant was an assurance that when they saw clouds gathering, and when they saw rain or storms, it would NOT be the beginning of another catastrophic event, the likes of which they have just passed through. Nature had just undergone dramatic changes. Rain, which was previously unknown, will now fall on a semi-regular basis, and the people and the animals must not associate it with death and destruction.
The covenant delivered to Noah and his family was a considerate and caring assurance for that time. Rain must not be considered a curse -- in fact it was now going to be necessary for their welfare. It will, for the main part, be a blessing to them, and it will come in due time if they remain loyal to their Maker. (Gen 9:11-13)
Once the human family [and the animals] began to multiply, the specifics of the covenant might have carried less and less weight, because the new members would grow up accustomed to rainfall. But the covenant meant more than some anticipated. I suggest that it was a broad assurance that the people of God would be sustained - they would not be completely swept away, or "cut off". I suggest also that in the days of Isaiah, God calls the covenant made with Noah, "the covenant of My peace". (Isaiah 54:9-10)
Ultimately - "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Jn 14:27)
To have another chance, that is grace. Lamentations 3:22
The destruction of the world by flood in Noah's time was not a final cataclysmic end to the earth. It was a mere interlude brought in to interrupt the evil drift of the then world. After that interlude, life continued as usual in a sin-infested world with the human nature still carrying the gene that permits it to sin. The world was still expecting the final redemption of man - that time when Man's Edenic relationship with God would be restored.
What God promised was that there would never be such an interlude again in the history of the world when there will be a universal destruction of Man by water after which life would still continue on a sin-infested earth by humans with a fallen nature still very prone to sin. In order words, God was saying that until He restores the Garden of Eden as was known after the Creation; until the promised new heaven and new earth when sin will be completely and totally wiped out; until He comes to make a total end to sin and grant man the ability never to sin again, He (God) would never bring about another global destruction via water.
The difference between this and the final destruction of the earth by fire is that that destruction would result in a total eradication of sin and sinners, preventing sin from rearing its ugly head again. It will bring about a completely new order of things with total restoration of the image of God in Man. Recall that the flood did not result in the restoration of God's image in man. The flood may have eradicated the then sinners but did not eradicate Man's sinful nature. Sin continued after the flood; but in the final destruction by fire, sin will never again return to the earth. In the flood, satan was not destroyed and therefore carried on his work. In the final destruction of the world by fire, Satan, his evil angels, sin itself and sinners will all be destroyed thus presenting no opportunity for the resurrection of sin in the new world that God will make.
This to me is the difference in the two destructions: In the rainbow promise, God is telling us that pending the time when he will come to make a total end to sin and sinners, He would never bring about a global destruction as He did at the time of Noah. The only universal destruction would be the one that will usher in the new heaven and the new earth - not the sort of destruction where after all, humanity will continue in sin in a sin-infested world.
Remain blessed, Chidi
God's faithfulness goes beyond our ability to recall all of His promises to us. His rainbow, to me, symbolize not just His promise to not destroy the earth with water, again, but His everlasting grace and love towards us. Both, His grace and His love have no limits. The rainbow's openness, denotes (to me) His amazing, awesomeness covering us. Its an umbrella under which His entire creation can find refuge. I love my God.
A bow to me is inspiration story, just to think technically: the 7 colors potrayed mean complete purity of God being faithful to his promises,and also 7 colors of the bow mean God's plan to save mankind without looking at the color of skin,race,tribe,sex....the list may go & go. SOP states that God pays attention to individuals as if He created only one being...
"He cares for each one as if there were not another on the face of the earth." (Desire of Ages p.480)
The rainbow is a miraculous appearance of fractions of light created off of water. Light is made up of all colors when broken as filtered through water we can see its beauty. The supernatural part is the ability to algn it with the earth and in layers . Gods love is supernatural and always aligned with us all encompassing and covering us on many layers meeting us in all ways and al desires and needs. His love is just s the rainbow. The rainbow also draws our vision skyward away from things of this world closer to Him and it is always a sign of the end of the rain the beginning of a fresh clean start. In Jesus Name Thank you Father For the beauty of the Rainbow.
In the Costarican sky, there's always a rainbow. Sometimes while it is raining, in the midst of a somewhat gray sky, there is a rainbow. After it has rained, there's a rainbow. In the mornings, you look up and there's a rainbow. Just beautiful, to have the constant remainder that our loving God is still with us.
Please read the book, Patriarchs and Prophets, the chapter entitled "The Law and the Covenants" especially pages 370 to 372.
Thanks brothers n sisters for all your comments. I believe God is Love and His love cannot be measured.seasons come and seasons go He is still the same. How l wish we as coworkers with Christ can have the same Love and Passion towards each other for the Love of God. God help us!
The good thing about the rainbow is that it usually appears when there is rain and the sun rays are passing through it. And we always have this hope that i know its raining but the earth aint gonna be destroyed today
because of the rainbow in the sky and 2 peter 3:9 keeps the hope alive
When ever I see a rainbow it reminds me that the promise of God not to destroy the world by flood. Yet it shows me as well as the world that God is REAL.
The raimbow is a colour of purity and grace no more dwstruction with water but the fact is there is still destruction when the Lord come for His harvest. only those who will pass the test at the end wont face the destruction 2cor 2:9- how I wish we all pas the test. Gen 2:16-17, take or not take the forbiden fruit but that one mankind failled , durins the time of Noah it was get into the ark or dont Gen 5:1 during Lots time never look back. all the tests are on obedience the test we are facing now is in Rev 14:9 either worship the beast and face the wrath or worship God and have eternal life. O yes He cares. sing along
We serve the lovely God who is always welcoming the siner back to him. How lovely he is that he always makes new covenants with in our lives.