DBG - January 3 - Genesis 7-9

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This chapter is the record of the preparation for and arrival of the Flood.

vs. 1 – Note that

vs. 2-3 – often overlooked is the detail that seven of the “clean” animals were taken aboard the Ark, not two like other animals.  This would allow animals for sacrifice and food.  The distinction between clean and unclean is clearly known before it is articulated more fully in Leviticus 11.

vs. 11 – Most events in Scripture are not given exact dates.  The fact that the onset of the Flood is given one proves that it was an historical event and of immense importance.  Assuming the Hebrew calendar is being used here  this would around the end of October.

vs. 19-20 – It is popular to doubt that Flood was indeed a global, catastrophic event.  Some have speculated it refers to a local flood, but every evidence of Scripture says otherwise.  The entirety of the globe was submerged in water.

vs. 24 – The Hebrew calendar has 360 days and is based on 30 day-lunar months.  150 days here equals 5 months.

This chapter covers the time during the Flood and the disembarking from the Ark.

vs. 4 – [Warning: this is going to get technical…] The Ark came to rest on the 17th day of the 7th month, 5 five months or 150 days from the beginning of the flood.  This date coincides with some other important days in Bible history.  The next is the crossing of the Red Sea. The date is not given, but if you read Numbers 33:1-8 and count the encampments after leaving on the 15th (Passover) you come to the 17th when the Red Sea was crossed. It also appears to coincide with Israel’s entering the Promised Land and the ceasing of the daily provision of manna in Joshua 5:10-12 if you do similar calculations as before.  It is the same day that the Temple returned to use after being cleansed under Hezekiah in II Chronicles 29:17-21.  It also appears to be the date that Esther brought about Haman’s downfall (compare Esther 3:12, 4:16, 5:1, 7:2).  The most important date it can coincide with though, is in the New Testament.  If Christ was crucified on the same day as the Passover lambs (14th Nisan) and was in the tomb for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:39-40), that means He arose at the close of the 17th.  If there is a theme for this day it is a day of deliverance from judgment to entrance into blessing.

vs. 4 – The Ark comes to rest on a mountain in Ararat, the modern borderland between Turkey, Iran, and Armenia.  There have been many purported findings of the remains of the Ark but no concrete evidence has yet to emerge. For more information, see https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/noahs-ark-found/has-ark-been-found/

vs. 5 – The eater abates very slowly.  Though the Ark is resting on a mountain it is 2 ½ months later that other mountain tops can be seen.

vs. 7 – A raven will feast on carrion, which likely floated on the waters.  It would leave and return to the Ark for shelter.

vs. 8 – A dove would not find food or a perch until plants began to grow.

vs. 11 – The second dove returns with proof that plants were beginning to grow again.

vs. 12 – The third dove no returning was sign that the earth was ready for animal life to return.

vs. 14 – They were on the Ark for 371 days total.

vs. 20-21 – This burnt offering of was a “sweet savour” likely similar to the one described in Leviticus 1.  It is not an offering for sin but out of thanksgiving for deliverance through the Flood.

vs. 21-22 – God promises that no judgment like on the scale of the Curse or Flood will come “while the earth remaineth”.  The next cataclysmic judgment will end this world in fire (II  Peter 3:10, Revelation 21:1)

This chapter is the record of Noah’s family restarting civilization.

vs. 1-3 – Similar to God’s directions to Adam after Creation in 1:28-30

vs. 4 – The same prohibition against eating blood is in Leviticus 17:11

vs. 5-6 – This is the establishment of human government.  Responsibility is place on man to see that justice is performed.

vs. 13 – God gives man a sign to know that He would never destroy the world by water again.  The sign is God figuratively placing His bow (weapon) down as witness between heaven and earth.  This is of course the rainbow, which the makeup of the atmosphere before the Flood did not create as it does now.

vs. 18 – A few decades have passed here.  Noah’s sons had no children before the flood, but now Ham’s sons Canaan appears to be a mature man.

vs. 20-21 – “We see the great man that was perfect in his generation, just and walked with God, this new head of the race that had such faith, a preacher of righteousness, as he falls into sin, the sin of drunkenness. This teaches that no man, however exalted in character or position, is absolutely safe from a fall. I don’t mean that a Christian may fall away and be forever lost, but I do say that the most exalted Christian in the world must exercise watchfulness and prudence, or he will bring shame upon the name of religion.” – B.H. Carroll

vs. 22 – There are a few opinions as to what the nature of Ham’s sin against his father entailed.  I like the most simple solution, that he too satisfaction in his father’s shame.  He expressed no grace toward Noah but went and told his brothers about what he saw.  Likely he was bitter and rebellious against his father’s authority.

vs. 25-26 – Noah prophesies about the descendants of his three sons.  It is covered in greater detail in the next chapter, but here are the basics:  Ham’s descendants, especially through Canaan, would be subordinate to their cousins;  Shem’s descendants would have a close relationship to God; Japheth’s descendants would be numerous and prosper, and also have a ties to Shem’s descendants.

While we covered some of humanity’s darkest times in these early chapter of Genesis, it is not without glimmers of hope shining through the darkness.  Noah and his family were carried through the floods of God’s wrath, yet were safely protected.  It is a picture of our salvation in that Christ endured the fullness of God’s wrath against sin, but because we are united in Him we pass through to life anew.

Another aspect that is one of my dad’s favorite things he has recently learned, is the idea that Noah’s shame was covered.  It is a beautiful picture of atonement, which steps in to cover the shame of our sin and clothe us in Christ’s righteousness.

I also want to remind you again that if you are interested in learning more about Creation or the Flood, I highly recommend the resources from Answers in Genesis and the Institute for Creation Research.  We do not have an unreasonable or blind faith.  There is much evidence to confirms the truth of the Biblical record.

“O Cease My Wandering Soul” was written by William Augustus Muhlenberg and originally published in 1826.  It is largely forgotten but draws a wonderful picture of Christ as our refuge.

 O cease, my wand'ring soul,
On restless wing to roam;
All this wide world, to either pole,
Hath not for thee a home.

Behold the ark of God!
Behold the open door!
O haste to gain that dear abode,
And rove, my soul, no more.

There safe thou shalt abide,
There sweet shall be thy rest;
And ev'ry longing satisfied,
With full salvation blest.

Ah, yes! I all forsake,
My all to Thee resign;
Gracious Redeemer take, O take
And seal me ever Thine.