The Beginning and Meaning of Everything that Matters CREATION Genesis 1:1-2:3 | The Seven Days of Creation Genesis 2:4-25 | Man and Woman in the Garden CORRUPTION Genesis 3:1-24 | The Fall of Man Genesis 4:1-5:32 | The Progress of Sin Genesis 6:1-8:22 | The Judgment of God Genesis 9:1-11:32 | The Necessity of Covenant 9:1-17 God’s Word (Re)establishes Life after the Flood By His command (Gen. 9:1-7) By His covenant (Gen. 9:8-17) How do these two sections (vv. 1-7 and vv. 8-17) relate? God is talking to Noah and his sons in both sections… In 9:1-7, He tells man what he must do and must not do… In 9:8-17, He tells man what He will do and will not do… The order is significant—God binds Himself to His own word (covenant, vv. 8-17), not conditioned on whether man does His part Altogether, this passage establishes the economy of the relationship between God and man A New Beginning*(continued)* 1. What is a covenant? “A biblical covenant between God and man is a solemnly sealed and explicit declaration of intent and obligation, about a matter of great importance. It binds one or both parties to fulfill the words of the covenant oath.” (Paul Henebury, The Words of the Covenant, p. 42) 2. What types of covenants are found in the Bible? The Noahic (Genesis 9), The Abrahamic (Genesis 12, 15), The Mosaic (Exodus 20), The Davidic (Psalm 89), The New (Jer. 31) 3. What is the purpose of covenants? “The function of a covenant is to amplify or reinforce the plain terms of the oath between the parties in order to clarify their relationship and clear away ambiguity or misinterpretation, thereby insuring a unified understanding of the terms.” (Henebury, p. 42) “The taking of a covenant oath was meant to confirm a matter and to make ‘an end of all dispute’ (Heb. 6:16. When the Lord Himself takes an oath, as Deuteronomy 32:40 pictures Him doing, He vows to all below Him that He intends to perform a specific action. He puts His character on the line, as it were, before every creature, seen and unseen.” (Henebury, p. 1) 4. What is this particular covenant? The Covenant Established (Gen. 9:8-11) The Covenant Assured (Gen. 9:12-16,17) Conclusions: God’s word includes His promises to all creatures, but especially to man. God’s promises to man are entirely gracious and necessary. God’s keeping of His promises is guaranteed according to His character and word. God’s desire for all mankind is to take Him at His word and entrust ourselves to Him and His purposes.