Session 5: The Promise

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ
his only begotten Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell [to the dead];
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and
sits on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and
the life everlasting.
Amen.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Genesis 5:28–9:17
• Scripture Memory - Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4
• Catechism - Q: How does God plan to restore his world? A: Promise.

Introduction

He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight.

The History of the Deluge [Flood] … contains a representation of the Divine vengeance in the destruction of mankind, as tremendous, as that which it supplies of Divine mercy in their restoration.

Though the world is ravaged by sin, God assures us of his promised plan to judge evil and save a people for himself. Certainly, God is a God of promise. God is true and faithful to his word. Whether God speaks a warning or issues a prophecy, we can trust that God’s word is reliable and sure. Directed to sinful humanity, God’s divine summons for sinners’ confession and repentance is as serious as his invitation to faith and trust is comforting. In declaring a blessing or in pronouncing a curse, God’s divinely revealed word will accomplish his purposes. His decrees before the foundation of the world and his utterances to humankind are both perfect and timely. Ultimately, God’s sovereign intentions will come to fruition. Commands to obedience, appeals to worship, and invitations to covenant faithfulness demonstrate a unique character of God’s word: facilitating a relationship between God and his people. When God speaks, his word proves true, good, and trustworthy.

The character of God’s word is in stark contrast to the unreliability of human speech. Whereas God is faithful to his word, humans often break promises, transgress commitments, and violate oaths. God speaks judgment with impartiality, while humans commonly speak with prejudice and bias. God speaks with authority, guaranteeing what he intends; humans must speak with limitation, unable to control surrounding circumstances. As Creator, God appropriately makes demands of his creation; humans misuse words to exploit, tempt, and endanger fellow mankind. Given the unique nature of God’s word, it is puzzling that humans tend to doubt God. Thankfully, Scripture records the true character of God’s word, urging us toward faith and trust.

In Genesis 5:28–9:17, the Bible gives an account of a flood that destroyed sinful humanity. At the beginning of the narrative, we learn that Noah’s birth is part of a fulfillment of God’s promise to bring rest and relief to the cursed world. At the time of Noah, humanity lived in wicked rebellion against God and fellow humans. The original sin of the first humans had infected all humanity; human wrongdoing and immorality had become horrific and horrendous. Human defiance of God’s word resulted in a world where violence, evil, and ill intent prevailed. In contrast to wider humanity, Noah lived a life of faith and devotion to God. Humanity had become so evil that God told Noah he would bring creation to ruin and rebuild humanity through the line of Noah and his family. Therefore, God instructed Noah to build an ark, which would provide safety for him and his family, allowing them to escape the deadly floodwaters. God’s word came true. The flood of judgment destroyed life on earth, and the promise of salvation preserved Noah, his family, and some animals from the waters of judgment. After the floodwaters subsided, God established a covenant with Noah and creation. In this narrative, we learn about the reliability of God’s word: a word of promise fulfilled, judgment enacted, salvation secured, and covenant established.

The life of discipleship is based upon God’s word. God’s word of promise demonstrates God’s plan to restore his fallen creation. God’s word of judgment warns rebellious humanity about the consequences of sin. God’s word of salvation is a hopeful promise to rescue those who entrust themselves to God. God’s word of covenant provides security and safety of a relationship with a God who is faithful and true. Without God revealing himself to us through his word, we could not know the nature of sin, the character of God, the purpose of creation, or the plan of salvation. Followers of Christ are those who have taken God at his word—his words of warning, his invitations of faith, his instructions of conduct, and his promises of salvation. Christians orient their entire life around God’s revealed truth. The story of the flood showcases the reliability, gravity, and expectancy of God’s word. Let us engage this story with humility and hope, eager to submit our lives to God in a relationship of covenantal commitment.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God is rebuilding the ruins of creation through his promised plan: bringing rest to a cursed world, enacting judgment on evil, restoring fallen creation, and establishing a reconciled relationship with his people.

Passage Overview

The biblical narrative of Noah demonstrates the character of God and the reliability of his word. Noah’s birth was a partial fulfillment of God’s promise to bring rest and relief to fallen creation. During the generation of Noah, humanity lived in brazen rebellion against God’s word. In contrast to his generation, Noah lived a life of faith and devotion to God. Through the divine judgment of a flood, God curbed the wickedness and violence of humanity. The flood also offered a hopeful and expectant picture of a new creation. God preserved humanity by sparing Noah and his family from the fatal floodwaters. The plot and pattern of this true historical account teach us about God’s judgment and salvation. In judging the world for sin, God simultaneously orchestrates his plan of salvation and calls people into a covenant relationship with himself. The Christian life is founded upon God’s word—its promises, warnings, commandments, and invitations. Devoted faith in Christ is built upon trust in God’s good, faithful, and reliable word. Read the commentary as an explanation of this biblical narrative to help you consider God’s work of judgment, salvation, and covenant promise.

Passage Outline

God’s Word of Salvation and Judgment

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

There is unspeakably more in the promises of God than we are able to understand … How low are our conceptions of God! … God [promises] to be to us what he designed to be when he created us after his image, and filled us with his fulness. His people, are those whom he recognizes as his peculiar property, the objects of his love, and the recipients of his favors.

Introduction

God promises that he will always be true to himself and his word. God’s promises teach us that he will always act in concert with his character, staying true to his purposes and remaining steadfast in his faithfulness. In effect, God’s revealed word is a divine pledge—an oath given on the basis of his own character—of his righteous commitment to his creation and his covenant loyalty to his people. Whether God’s word is a promise of salvation, a declaration of judgment, a revelation of wisdom, a prophecy of the future, or a command to obedience, his word is authoritative, righteous, and good. As such, no one can live outside of God’s promises. God’s sure and reliable word governs the course of history, manages the universe, and establishes the essence of a full and thriving life.

In general, humans are suspicious of promises. We live in a culture where the human word is suspect. Contracts are constantly renegotiated. Covenant vows can be easily broken. Original agreements are casually altered. Formal oaths can be officially annulled. Verbal pledges can be conveniently rescinded. Needless to say, confidence in a person’s word is low. Parents break promises to children, politicians renege on commitments to their citizens, spouses undo the vows of their marital union, and even some religious leaders betray their own ministry duties. Confidence in one’s word has waned throughout cultures and generations.

In contrast, basic Christian doctrine holds that God’s word is true, reliable, and good. God is a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. Importantly, God’s character shapes the nature of his revealed word. Pronouncements of divine judgment are based upon God’s righteous character. Promises of gracious salvation are extensions of God’s love, compassion, and mercy. Commands to godly obedience highlight God’s authority and purity. Divine blessing reflects God’s overflowing goodness. Predictions of future events clearly demonstrate that God is all-knowing and all-powerful. Pledges of covenant commitment reveal God’s faithfulness and loyalty to himself and his people. God’s word is how he relates to his people, accomplishes his purposes, and reveals his character. The scriptural account of Noah and the flood gives specific attention to the nature of God’s word.

The biblical account of the flood is recorded in Genesis 5:28–9:17. This narrative recounts the hopeful birth of Noah as an agent of God’s redemptive agenda to restore rest and relief to the cursed world. In his generation, Noah lived a life of devotion to God in stark contrast to the egregious immorality of general humanity. Because of human depravity, God pronounced judgment upon all living things on the earth. Announcing gracious salvation in the midst of righteous retribution, God instructed Noah to build an ark as a refuge from the floodwaters of judgment. Noah obeyed God. Noah, his family, and select animals went into the ark as the waters flooded the earth. Everyone on the ark was kept alive. Eventually, the waters receded from the earth. Noah left the ark and offered a sacrifice to God. God blessed and established an everlasting covenant with his new creation.

Inasmuch as the flood narrative highlights God’s work of new creation, it calls Jesus’ disciples to entrust themselves fully to God as revealed in Scripture. Sometimes we cling to aspects of God’s character that we find appealing and ignore other divine characteristics that are equally true about God. Christian maturity is grounded upon trust in the full revelation of God. Like Noah, our trust in God’s word enables us to walk with God in faithful devotion. In the course of Noah’s life, God’s word details relief from the curse, judgment of sin, salvation of his people, and restoration of a relationship with God. Noah’s example summons us to hear and heed God’s word, establishing it as the unerring guide for truth and godly living. Let us study this true and ever-relevant account of Noah and the flood in order to build our understanding and trust in God’s word.

May This One Comfort Us: Clinging to God’s Promise for Rest and Relief

Biblical Narrative (Genesis 5:28–32)

A man named Lamech had a son named Noah (5:28–29). Lamech had other children before he died (5:30–31), and Noah himself had children of his own (5:32). Of all Lamech’s children, Noah would be a special agent of God’s plan to rescue his fallen creation from its cursed existence. When Noah was born, Lamech expressed hope that his son would bring rest and relief to the sinful world: “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the Lord has cursed” (5:29). In this pronouncement, Lamech recalled God’s earlier promise to defeat Satan (3:15) and undo the dismal effects of the curse (3:14–19). The promise of relief involved recovering the restful paradise of the garden (2:15–17), restoring life to fallen creation (3:20–23), and rescuing fallen humanity from its painful exile (2:22–24). In fact, Noah’s very name sounds like the Hebrew word for rest or comfort.

Biblical Principles

The Promise of Rest. God is working to bring rest to his fallen creation: to reverse the curse, relieve toil, and heal pain. Even when God pronounced judgment on creation, he spoke a word of promise. He announced the certain fact that one day the serpent would be defeated (3:15). Additionally, God acted graciously toward his fallen creation. He covered the nakedness of the first humans (3:21) and guarded them from an everlasting estrangement from God (3:22–24). Even in the tragic fall of paradise, God sowed a hopeful expectancy that creation would be restored, rescuing it from the curse that brought conflict, pain, toil, and death (3:14–19). The birth of Noah represents a partial (yet real) fulfillment of this hopeful expectation. Noah’s father announced that Noah would “comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands” (5:29). Whether Lamech declared this as a personal lament of present travail, as a confident desire for future relief, or as a prophetic certainty of divine working, he revealed that Noah would function as an emissary of rest and relief in God’s saving work. Lamech acknowledged that the labor and toil were “caused by the ground that the Lord has cursed” (5:29). Generations after the first humans were exiled from Eden, God had provided in Noah an agent of his redemptive work: bringing rest and relief to a world burdened under a curse of divine judgment. In name, faith, and devotion, Noah embodied this divine promise.

Generations. Another important theme in this narrative is the intergenerational nature of life and faith. That there is an extended genealogy before the flood narrative (cf. 5:1–32) highlights both the work of God across the ages and the infectious and destructive impact of sin from one generation to the next. In fact, Noah’s introduction to the biblical story takes place in his own genealogical record (5:28–32). The account of this record is interrupted with a sorrowful complaint over the lingering effects of sin. Lamech lamented that humanity still felt the effects of the fall so many years beyond the original event (5:29). The human condition continued to deteriorate under the burden of a curse. Human depravity descended into depths of evil, violence, and decay that grieved the very heart of God (6:1–8). As much as sin was transmitted across the generations, God also worked out his plan of redemption across the ages and stages of human history. God was faithful through many generations to raise up a promised deliverer for fallen humanity. As families populated the earth, God’s purposes prevailed in the midst of human lineage and ancestry. Noah was both a man for his generational times—a culture and society that had grievously sunk into acute sin—and a man who had a role in God’s cosmic purpose to restore fallen creation (cf. 6:9; 7:1; 9:12). Through Noah, God would establish a covenant in which he would remain faithful to humanity and his promised word into future generations (cf. 9:12). Combatting the generational and inherited devastation of sin, God accomplishes his plan of salvation in the midst of an unfolding drama of human history.

Blameless in His Generation: Heeding God’s Righteous and Authoritative Word

Biblical Narrative (Genesis 6:1–13)

At the time Noah lived, humanity had grown in number and increased in wickedness. Many years after the first humans were evicted from Eden, the curse continued to burden the created world. Although troubled by sin and the curse, humans fulfilled part of the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (1:28). The human population increased as “men began to multiply on the face of the earth” (6:1). The intensification of evil was mirrored in the expansion of the human population. So evil was the condition on the planet that “the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose” (6:2). During this primeval time in human history, “Nephilim were on the earth” (6:4) and “the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men” (6:4). As a result of these suspect relationships, “they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown” (6:4).

To add to these incidents, all humanity was in a state of depravity and disobedience: “the wickedness of man was great upon the earth” and “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time” (6:5). Mankind did evil things, intended evil aims, spoke evil words, and felt evil emotions. Evil actions, which are contrary to God’s commands, resulted in violence against humanity. As such, during this time of human history “the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence” (6:11; cf. 6:12–13). Since the time of the curse, humanity had fallen into a downward spiral of greater and greater sin.

The evil of humanity was an affront against God. As a result, God said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever” (6:3). Righteous and holy, God would not allow humanity to live in perpetual evil. Eventually, God would judge humans for their sin. One way that God enacted judgment on humanity was by shortening the typical lifespan of a human. Prior to this time, humanity had lived for hundreds of years (cf. 5:1–32). In order for mankind to recognize that “he is mortal,” God decreed that “his days shall be 120 years” (6:3). When “the Lord saw … the wickedness of man” (6:5), he “regretted that He had made man on the earth” and “was grieved in His heart” (6:6; cf. 6:7). Inasmuch as God’s word is a representation and reflection of his character, sinful disobedience of God’s word is an offense against God and an insult to his character.

Humanity’s sin resulted in a divine sentence of punishment. God pronounced righteous judgment on depraved and defiant humanity. Specifically, God declared, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth” (6:7). So severe was human sin that this pronouncement of judgment represented “the end of all living creatures” (6:13). It was a statement of God’s intent to “destroy” (6:13) his creation. The sin of humanity affected the rest of creation. Not only were humans culpable of sin, but also “all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways” (6:12). In fact, God would enact divine retribution that would affect “every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air” (6:7) and even “the earth” (6:13). The depth, scope, and intensity of human sin would be matched in kind by a punishment of vast and decisive proportion.

Even though human sin had incited God’s judgment and infected all creation, there was a righteous man who lived on the earth. Against the backdrop of human depravity, it is amazing to learn that “Noah … found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (6:8). Noah “was a righteous man” who was “blameless” and “walked with God” (6:9; cf. 5:24; 7:1). Because of his faithful devotion to God, this ancient saint lived faithfully “in his generation” (6:9; cf. 7:1) and in his family (6:10). Noah lived in countercultural contrast to the times in which he lived. Even after God’s announcement of judgment, “Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him” (6:22; cf. 7:5, 9, 16). In contrast to general humanity, who disobeyed God’s commands, Noah followed God’s commands. Humanity did as they pleased; Noah walked as God instructed. While the breadth of humanity rejected God, Noah had placed his faith in God. Rejection of God amounted to suspicion of God’s character; Noah’s faith was a statement of trust in God as perfect, sinless, and trustworthy. Humanity faced God’s wrath; Noah experienced God’s favor.

Biblical Principles

Human Depravity. At the time of Noah, humanity lived in flagrant rebellion against God. Like the first woman eating the forbidden fruit, humanity continued to yield to illicit desires (6:2) and pursue immoral relationships (6:2, 4). In a statement of presumptuous self-will, the sons of god “took as wives whomever they chose” (6:2). Biblical scholars disagree on the precise identity of the “sons of god,” but what the text makes clear is the gravity of human corruption on the earth at that time. Grotesque and grievous, “the wickedness of man was great” (6:5). In fact, this wickedness penetrated mankind’s inner being as “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time” (6:5; cf. 8:21). As wickedness prevailed on the earth it resulted in violence against other humans (6:11, 13) and corruption on the earth (6:11, 12). Defiance against God and the depravity of the human condition multiplied injury and degradation in God’s world. Rather than submitting to God’s word, sinful humans lived as a law unto themselves. Because human disobedience was contrary to God’s own character, God “grieved in His heart” (6:6; cf. 6:7) and “regretted that He had made man on the earth” (6:6). God announced that he would take action against sinful humanity (6:3, 7, 13). Any violation of God’s commands amounts to an affront against God. This behavior continues today. Humanity’s autonomous self-governance involves a repudiation of God’s righteous and good character as much as a rejection of God’s revealed word. To live contrary to God’s word is to stir a righteous response of divine judgment.

Faithful Devotion. In contrast to wicked humanity, Noah lived a life in adherence to God’s word and alignment with God’s character. Characterizing a life of faith and devotion, Noah “walked with God” (6:9). This life of faithful commitment to God manifested itself in a life of obedient living (6:22; 7:5, 9, 16) and godly character (6:9; 7:1). Noah lived a life of submission to God’s word; he lived in contrast to the surrounding world (6:9; 7:1). Humble and unreserved devotion to God resulted in Noah finding “favor in the eyes of the Lord” (6:8). Wicked humanity provoked God’s retribution; Noah’s faithful devotion resulted in God’s favor. Whereas general humanity lived in defiance of God’s word and character, Noah displayed devotion to God’s word and character. By submitting to God’s rule over his life, Noah surrendered himself to the good and reliable authority of God’s word. Like Noah, a life surrendered to God’s authoritative word fosters a righteous character that reflects God’s own person. Walking with God in submission to his revealed word enables us to obtain favor with God.

The Lord Shut Him In: Responding to God’s Righteous Judgment and Gracious Redemption

Biblical Narrative (Genesis 6:13–7:24)

God’s response to human depravity (6:1–8, 11–13) and Noah’s faithfulness (6:8–11) revealed God’s righteous character and moral authority. Judgment of sin and acceptance of faithful devotion are expressions of God’s personal holiness and revealed word. Having announced his intent to destroy humanity, God instructed Noah to build an ark. In these instructions, God detailed the dimensions, materials, and design of the ark (6:14–16). God repeated his intent to judge the earth, explaining that he would “bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life” (6:17). In this act, “everything on the earth [would] perish” (6:17) and God would establish his covenant with Noah and his family (6:18). Like a new Adam, Noah (and his family) would be a new start to the human race.

Because Noah would represent the start of a new humanity, God told Noah to bring animal pairs—“male and female” (6:19; cf. 6:20)—and food into the ark (6:21). God would rebuild the created order and repopulate the human race. Noah did what God commanded (6:22). When it was the right time, God commanded Noah and his family to “go into the ark” (7:1). In addition to the pairs of animals, Noah was instructed to bring seven pairs of clean animals, seven pairs of every bird, and a pair of every unclean animal (7:2–3). Everyone and everything in the ark would “be kept alive” (6:20). Noah obeyed God’s word, doing “everything precisely as God had commanded him” (6:22; cf. 6:5, 9, 16).

When the time arrived, God announced that he would “send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights” in order to “wipe from the face of the earth every living thing” (7:4; cf. 7:12). God said that he would send the rain in seven days (7:4, 10). Noah was 600 years old when God flooded the earth (7:6, 11–12). After the seven days, God caused it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights (7:10–12). Water flooded the earth from the rain above and the fountains below (7:11). Obedient to God’s command, Noah, his family, and the animals entered the ark (7:7–9, 13–16). As a sign of God’s protection on Noah (and all with him), “the Lord shut him in” the ark (7:16).

So much rain filled the earth that “the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth” (7:17) and “all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered” (7:19; cf. 7:20). As the inundating floodwaters filled the earth, “every living thing that moved upon the earth perished” (7:21) but “the ark floated on the surface of the waters” (7:18). While all life on earth died (7:22–23), “only Noah and those with him in the ark remained” (7:23). These destructive floodwaters “prevailed upon the earth for 150 days” (7:24). True to his word, God brought waters of judgment that destroyed life on earth. God had enacted his word of judgment on his rebellious creation.

Biblical Principles

Warning of God’s Righteous Judgment. God remained faithful to his word of judgment. As an expression of his righteous retribution against unrighteous humanity, God sent floodwaters on the earth just as he said he would (7:6, 10–12). As we have already mentioned, this judgment was a response to human depravity and disobedience that amounted to an affront against God himself. The descriptions of water flooding the earth give insight into the nature of God’s judgment. Explicit statements—“I will bring” (6:17) and “I will send” (7:4)—show that God himself brought this judgment on his creation. When God brought the waters of judgment on the earth, “the floodwaters came upon the earth” (7:6; cf. 7:10; 12; 17) and “all the fountains of the great deep burst forth” (7:11). The overwhelming waters from above and the bursting waters from below emphasize the undeterred and certain nature of God’s judgment. Humans do not often experience immediate effects from their sinful decisions. Nevertheless, God will exact certain and eventual punishment for wrongdoing.

Fulfilling God’s word, “the floodgates of the heavens were opened” (7:11). When this happened, God unleashed a severe sentence of punishment on sinful humanity. The judgment God had previously restrained in divine patience was now released in righteous indignation. As “the flood kept coming on the earth” (7:17) at the time of Noah, so God’s righteous judgment against sin is unrelenting until God’s wrath is fully satisfied. At the time of the flood, “the waters prevailed upon the earth” (7:24). In a similar way, God’s righteousness will prevail over wickedness. In his judgment, God’s power was put on display as “the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth” (7:18; cf. 7:17, 20). Showing that God’s judgment is total and inescapable, “the waters completely inundated the earth” (7:19). Just as “all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered” (7:19; cf. 7:20), God’s judgment is comprehensive, bringing every deed of evil into account. True to his word, God will punish sin.

When God unleashed his righteous judgment upon humanity, it resulted in destruction (6:13, 17; 7:23). Since judgment is a reversal of creation, God’s judgment on Noah’s generation involved the blotting out (6:7; 7:4, 23) of “every living thing … [God] made” (7:4; cf. 6:6–7). The force of God’s righteous character against wickedness resulted in perishing (6:17; 7:21) and death (7:22). For God to judge the world is to expedite its own self-corruption (6:12–13) and self-destruction (6:13). Although God’s punishment upon Noah’s generation was unique, his word of judgment on that wicked generation forecasts the final judgment that awaits all those who live in rebellion of God. One day, God will bring his righteous, total, unremitting, and exhaustive judgment on humanity.

Obedience to God’s Authoritative Word. Noah’s faith translated into obedience. For Noah, a man of trust and devotion, God’s word was authoritative and trustworthy. Noah took God’s warnings seriously, followed God’s commands precisely, believed God’s truth wholeheartedly, and trusted God’s word earnestly. When God gave instructions, “Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him” (6:22; cf. 7:5, 9, 16). Noah knew that his life was safest when he submitted to God’s revealed word. As God’s word is both a revelation of judgment and salvation, our destiny is determined by our response to God’s word. In fact, since God’s word is a revelation of his character, our submission to God’s word defines our relationship with God himself. A relationship with God defined by obedience and submission begins with genuine faith.

Faith in God’s Saving Promise. The earth remained flooded for nearly five months (7:24). All that God said happened. Although everyone and everything that was left on the earth was destroyed (7:21–23), those who went inside the ark were kept safe (7:1, 7, 9, 13, 15–16, 23). God’s instructions for Noah to construct an ark displayed God’s gracious and saving character. The construction of the ark provided a saving refuge (6:14–16) for Noah, his family, and select animals (6:14, 18, 19; 7:1–3, 7–9, 13–16). In contrast to retribution against disobedient humanity, those who listened to God’s word were saved, protected, and preserved. Everyone and everything that was in the ark was “kept alive” (6:20). God’s salvation was extended only to those in the ark. While life on the earth perished under the inundating waters of judgment, “only Noah and those with him in the ark remained” (7:23). Taking refuge in the ark was the only means to “escape the waters of the flood” (7:7). God guaranteed the safety of those in the ark by shutting them in (7:16) and sustaining them with food (6:21). Demonstrating his faithfulness, God planned to establish a covenant relationship with those who escaped God’s judgment (6:18). Even in the midst of judgment, God is gracious and loving. He provides a means of salvation and rescue. Only those who entrust themselves to God—taking refuge in God—can be kept, preserved, and saved from judgment.

Fully Dried Up: Expressing Faith and Hope in God’s Divine Rescue

Biblical Narrative (Genesis 8:1–19)

Although the earth remained flooded for nearly five months (7:24), God kept his promise. Showing faithfulness to his revealed word, his chosen people, and his creation, “God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark” (8:1). In response, “God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside” (8:1). Putting an end to the destructive flow of water, “the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained” (8:2). For another five months, “the waters receded steadily from the earth” (8:3). In an act of redemption and gracious restoration, God was reversing the destructive effects of the flood to bring his new creation into plentiful existence.

As the waters receded, the ark rested on the mountains (8:4) and eventually, “the tops of the mountains became visible” (8:5). Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out birds to check how far the waters had receded (8:6–12). He first sent out a raven which flew above the waters until the waters dried up (8:7). Then, Noah sent out a dove (8:8) which returned to the ark because “the dove found no place to rest her foot” (8:9). After seven days, Noah sent out the dove again (8:10) and it brought back “a freshly plucked olive leaf” (8:11). After another seven days, Noah sent out the dove again and “this time she did not return to him” (8:12). The waters of judgment had dried up on the earth.

About one year after the flood began, Noah took off the covering of the ark and “saw that the surface of the ground was dry” (8:13). True to God’s intent and plan, “the earth was [eventually] fully dry” (8:14) and the divine waters of judgment had completely subsided. Then, God commanded Noah and his family to exit the ark and bring out the animals (8:15). God instructed them to “spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it” (8:17). In obedience to God’s command, Noah and all the animals exited the ark of refuge to repopulate the earth as God’s new humanity (8:18–19). At this point in the narrative, an extended time of righteous retribution would give way to an emerging season of divinely appointed hope.

Biblical Principles

Remembering. At the center of the flood narrative is the statement that “God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark” (8:1). In fact, later in the narrative, God said the rainbow would serve as a sign in the sky to remember his covenant with creation (9:15–16; cf. 6:18). The emphasis on God remembering those in the ark is a statement of God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises. God does not forget his word. He does not default on his promises. God is never unfaithful in his covenant commitments. When God speaks a word—whether a word of judgment or salvation—God guarantees that his word will come to fruition. In the life of a Christian disciple, believers trust that God comes through on his word.

Hope Beyond God’s Judgment. Just as God was the source of divine retribution, he was also the source of divine restoration, removing the waters of judgment from the earth (8:1). Through God’s initiative, “the waters began to subside” (8:1), “the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed” (8:2), “the rain from the sky was restrained” (8:2), and “the waters receded steadily” (8:3; cf. 8:5, 8, 11). The lessening of the floodwater, the closing of springs and floodgates, and the restraining of rain all represent the end of God’s judgment. In fact, eventually, “the waters had dried up from the earth” (8:7; cf. 8:13) and “the earth was fully dry” (8:14). In this way, God sent hope beyond judgment and punishment.

Specifically, this part of the narrative highlights the hope for rest and relief (cf. 5:29). Both the ark (8:4) and dove (8:9) sought rest from the devastating floodwaters. The earth that was covered in judgment (8:9) eventually opened up to receive hope of a bright future. As the mountains became visible (8:5), as Noah opened the window of the ark (8:6), and as Noah eventually removed the covering (8:13), the judgment that covered the earth was being removed. In fact, as those on the ark exited their vessel of refuge, they entered into a new world that resembled a new creation (8:18–19). Just like the curse oppressively covered the earth, now God could remove the effects of the curse on his world. Christians live in the hope that there is new life beyond God’s judgment. As Noah represented this hope in part, Jesus would ultimately usher in this hope in full.

I Will Establish My Covenant: Enjoying New Creation in Restored Relationship with God

Biblical Narrative (Genesis 8:20–9:17)

Having exited the ark, Noah, his family, and the animals entered into a new creation. In an act of devotion, “Noah built an altar to the Lord” and used the clean animals to offer “burnt offerings” to God (8:20). God “smelled the pleasing aroma” (8:21). Even though “every inclination of [man’s] heart is evil from his youth,” God promised that he would “never again … destroy all living creatures” as he had done (8:21). This promise would be in effect “as long as the earth endures” (8:22).

Mirroring the creation mandate (cf. 1:26–28), God blessed Noah and his family: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (9:1; cf. 9:7). True to his original command, God wanted humanity to “spread out across the earth and multiply upon it” (9:7). God told Noah that the animal world would have “fear and dread” toward humanity (9:2). God permitted humanity to kill animals and eat them for food (9:2–3), except they were prohibited from eating blood itself (9:4). Any person or animal who killed a human would be held accountable (9:5) since humans were created in God’s “own image” (9:6).

After reestablishing Noah and his family as a new start to humanity, God established his covenant. This covenant would define God’s relationship with his creation. The covenant was made with humanity and creation (9:8–11) that there would “never again … be a flood to destroy the earth” (9:11). The rainbow would be a sign (9:12–13, 17) of the reliability and perpetuity of this divine promise (9:12–17). Through this sign, God would remember his covenant promise and not destroy all life through a flood (9:14–15). Highlighting God’s enduring commitment to his word, this covenant would be an “everlasting covenant” (9:16).

Biblical Principles

Devotion to God. Building an altar and making an offering to God (8:20; cf. 7:1–3), Noah demonstrated his devotion to God. Noah embodied faith, exemplified obedience, and exhibited allegiance to God. Emphasizing this devotion, the burnt offerings Noah sacrificed were a “pleasing aroma” to God (8:21). As Noah had favor with God before the flood (cf. 6:8), now God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice. As a result, God said he would never again “curse the ground because of man” (8:21; cf. 8:22). In this sense, Noah did provide relief from the curse (cf. 5:29). Faithful devotion to God is measured by fidelity to God’s word, his revealed truth that guides people how to find his acceptance and approval.

Blessing of New Creation. In an act of new creation, God gave humanity and the created world a new start. Resembling God’s word spoken at creation, God blessed Noah and his sons and told them to multiply on the earth (9:1, 7; cf. 1:26–28). As God gave humans authority over his world (9:2), he also announced their responsibility to care for creation (9:4). God endowed humans with intrinsic dignity (9:6) and would hold all accountable who violated this dignity (9:5). God sent humanity into all the earth (9:1) and also presented creation as a gift by which humanity would be sustained (9:3). Noah, his family, the living animals, and the dried earth represented a new beginning to creation. Through his word of judgment and salvation, God unfolded his plan of restoring creation from the fall to a renewed state of bliss. The new beginning, partially initiated through Noah and the flood, will ultimately be realized at the second coming of Christ and after the final day of judgment.

Covenant. God established his covenant with Noah, his family, and all living creatures (9:9–12, 15–16). Since it was an everlasting covenant (9:16), this covenant was established with all humanity and all creation for all generations (9:8, 11, 12, 15–16). Specifically, this covenant was a promise that God would never destroy creation the same way he did in Noah’s flood (9:21, 11, 15). The rainbow would function as a sign to symbolize God’s commitment to his covenant promise (9:13–17). Covenant promises establish a relationship between various entities. As such, covenants expect faithfulness to obligations and duties. A covenantal relationship is based upon promises and commitments. God’s word establishes the essence of the covenant relationship he has with people. Through God’s faithful and trustworthy word, believers confidently enjoy a relationship with God. By establishing a covenant after the flood, God renewed his relationship with creation. In Christ, believers are secured by an even better covenant, guaranteed by God’s faithfulness to his own word.

Conclusion

The true story of the flood records the birth of Noah and the expectation that he would bring relief from the curse. His faithful and obedient life evidenced his trust in God and his word. At the same time, the grave depravity of humanity was a demonstration of disobedience to God and his revealed word. The floodwaters that poured out on the earth represented God’s promise to judge unrepentant sin. The ark represented God’s promise to save those who entrust themselves to him. God brought hope in the midst of his judgment when he eventually dried up the floodwaters from the earth. Rest and relief from the curse were possible by faithfulness to God alone. Exiting the ark, Noah demonstrated faithful devotion to God, received a divine commission, and entered into a covenant relationship with God.

Noah’s story shows us that God is a promise-giving and promise-keeping God. The narrative highlights God’s promise to bring relief from the curse, retribution for sin, redemption to God’s people, and restoration to the fractured relationship between God and his people. God was faithful to his word. Noah modeled a life of faithful trust in God’s promises. His example is a blueprint for all generations. Those who base their life on God’s word can experience rest, redemption, and a covenant relationship with God. Those who remain in rebellion against God and his word will feel the full force of God’s righteous punishment. For any in this state, heed Noah’s example: trust God’s word, take refuge in God’s saving hand, and build your life on divine promises that will never fail.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 5 SYNOPSIS
Heeding God’s Trustworthy Word	In this passage, we learn about the character and importance of God’s word. True to his prophetic word, God raised up a deliverer, Noah, to bring relief to sinful humanity. Noah lived a life of faith and righteousness in a world of evil, violence, and immorality. God judged the whole world with a flood, but he preserved Noah and his family in an ark. God used Noah and his family to give humanity a new start. In this great act of judgment and salvation, God’s word is seen as a word of promise, judgment, salvation, blessing, command, and covenant. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Promised Relief from the Curse	Human sin and the curse affected all humanity across all cultures and all generations (5:1–32; 6:1–8). God worked out his plan of redemption across generations and within human history (5:28–32; 6:9; 7:1; 9:12). He aimed to bring relief from the curse through a promised deliverer (5:29; cf. 3:15) and to establish a new humanity who followed him in faith and obedience (6:7; 9:1–7).
Human Depravity	Humanity is guilty of great sin. God’s word confronts human sin. During the time of Noah, human sin and rebellion against God had become very great. Humans were guilty of immorality (6:2, 4), defiance (6:2), wickedness (6:5), evil (6:5; 8:21), violence (6:11, 13), and corruption (6:11, 12). Their evil teaches us about the sinful condition of humanity.
Divine Judgment	God spoke and enacted judgment on the sinful world. During Noah’s day, God was not pleased with human evil (6:6–7). Righteous in character and work, God announced that he would judge humanity for its evil (6:3, 7, 13, 17; 7:4, 17–24). This judgment teaches us about God’s holy character, human depravity, and the final judgment that God will bring upon humanity.
Gracious Salvation	God offers a promise of salvation to those who follow him in faith and obedience. God said he would bring salvation to Noah and his family. This salvation involved experience of God’s grace (6:8; 8:1), escape from God’s judgment (7:7; 8:1–19), gift of God’s rescue (6:19–20; 7:3), preservation from God’s wrath (7:7, 23), and enjoyment of God’s covenant relationship (6:18; 9:8–17).
Devotion to God	God calls people to be fully devoted to him. Noah exemplifies a life of devotion to God by his genuine faith (6:9), active obedience (6:22; 7:5, 9, 16), godly character (6:9; 7:1), countercultural living (6:9; 7:1), and sacrificial worship (8:20–22). His wholehearted devotion to God allowed him to experience God’s favor (6:8; 8:1), salvation (6:19–20; 7:3, 7), protection (7:16, 23), blessing (9:1), and covenant (6:18; 9:8–17). His life of faithful devotion to God is a model to all people who want to experience God’s salvation, escape God’s judgment, and enjoy a covenant relationship with God.
Covenant Promise	God forms his relationship with his people (and creation) with covenants. A covenant is a promised way of committing to a relationship and explaining obligations, duties, and expectations that form the relationship. God’s covenant promise to his people is based upon his reliable and trustworthy word. In this story, God made a covenant with Noah (6:8, 18; 8:1; 9:8, 11–12, 15) and creation (9:9, 11–13, 15–17).
The Nature of God’s Word	In Noah’s story, God accomplished his purposes through his word and divine action. From the Noah narrative, we learn that God’s word is a promise of rest (5:28), a warning of judgment (6:3, 7, 13, 17; 7:4, 17–24), an offer of salvation (6:19–20; 7:3, 7), a guide for godly living (6:22; 7:5, 9, 16), a revelation of God’s character (6:5–9), a pronouncement of God’s blessing (9:1–7), and a record of God’s covenant commitment to his people (6:8, 18; 8:1; 9:8–17).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.