Friday, December 16, 2011

15 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 9:1-17

Genesis 9:1-17
"God's Covenant with Noah"

(Okay, just so you know, I wrote this while extremely tired, so please bear with any logical/flow/grammatical errors.)

Right off the bat, in v. 1-3, we see a familiar-looking passage (i.e. Gen 1:28-30). In both statements there are three concepts given in God's instruction: reproducing, ruling the world and eating.

Of these three, only the 1st concept is worded such that the two passages are saying the same thing (1:28 has an extra "and" and "and subdue it".

The second part of God's command/blessing involves the manner in which Man is placed above the animals. This category is different. Gen 1 records God telling them [Adam and Eve] to rule over the fish, birds and land animals. Gen 9, however, records God telling Noah that the land animals, birds and fish would live in fear and terror of Man. This shows the intended relation ship between Man and God's creation in contrast to the "current" relationship.

The third segment is markedly different between Gen 1 & 9; it involves the dietary allowance for Adam and Eve and Noah. Adam and Eve were only given the command (along with the other animals) to eat only the fruits, nuts, and produce of plants. Noah was given allowance to eat meat (now, as for whether some of the general populace actually ate meat: it's unknown)

From v. 4-11, we see God announcing a qualifier to the allowance of meat, God warning Noah against murder, and God reiterating two promises.

The qualifier was established as a means of limiting that which Noah and his descendants were allowed to eat, namely no bloody meat. The warning against murder was tied to the qualifier and essentially serves to highlight the set, just penalty for murder - death*.

The two reiterated promises/blessings given were given as confirmation. God was confirming to Noah that 1) He would bless Noah's descendants as follows above and 2) that He would never again destroy the world by flood. Ever.

Lastly, we see God formally affirming the last covenant with Noah [no more world-destroying floods]. God set up a memorial of sorts in remembrance of the covenant (you later see the Israelites under Joshua performing other such remembrances). This was not so much a physical reminder for God's sake; He's omniscient. It serves as a reminder to us, even through the end of today.

*No, now is not the time to start discussing the death penalty

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