Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

This concludes our study of Noah.

Genesis 8

Key Word: "remembered"

Key Verse: Verse 1 relates that "God remembered Noah." I wonder, if at times, Noah thought God had forgotten him in the storm. But it is good to know God does remember us.

Purpose Statement: This chapter shares the closing days of the account of the flood and the deliverance of Noah.

Outline: The Story of Noah (continued)

F. The waters recede (8:1-5)
G. The sending of the raven and the dove (vs. 6-14)
H. Noah leaves the ark and sacrifices to God (vs.15-20)
I. God's promise (vs. 21-22)

Thoughts to Ponder: While it took only forty days to flood the earth, it would take over eleven months to dry it out. This meant that Noah and his family were in the ark for 370 days. Wow! That is a long time to be confined. But they knew the protecting hand and the providing hand of God during that time. Those opening words of this chapter are powerful: "But God remembered Noah..." God will never forget us. That is His promise.

Genesis 7:1 is God's command to enter the ark. Genesis 8:15 is God's command to exit the ark. Noah's survival depended upon his obedience to the first command; his receiving God's blessings upon obeying the second. God does ordain our going in and our coming out (Psalm 121:8).

Genesis 9

Key Word: "covenant"

Key Verse: Verse 17 summarizes the covenant between God and all flesh on the earth.

Purpose Statement: This chapter has three intents: 1) the command concerning the sanctity of life; 2) the giving of the eternal covenant between God and mankind; and 3) the sin of Noah and the cursing of Canaan and the blessing of Shem and Japheth.

Outline: The Story of Noah (continued)

J. The command concerning the sanctity of life (9:1-7)
K. God's covenant (vs. 8-17)
L. Noah's sin and its consequences (vs. 18-27)
M. Noah's death (vs. 28-29)

Questions to Probe: Prior to the flood (compare verse 3), was man only a vegetarian?

Thoughts to Ponder: It is fascinating to know that the rainbow was given not only as a sign to Noah and his family but also to every creature upon the earth. Could this mean that creatures of the earth were able to recognize the presence of God and the promise of God as it related to them? Certainly there is much imagery in Psalms that expresses the praise and worship of the creation toward its Creator. And Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that all creation is now groaning awaiting its redemption. God does care for each of His own. Praise the Lord for that great thought.

The covenant of the rainbow is all of God. He made it with Noah. The conditions of the covenant, the length of the covenant, and its initiation were all from God and not man. Sinful man has nothing with which to bargain with God. We cannot dictate terms. The covenant is all from God.

The act of Ham in exposing his father's nakedness was an act of disrespect. His two brothers handled it properly. But Noah's curse fell upon Ham's son rather than Ham. No one knows the exact reason why, but perhaps Canaan was present when Ham exposed his father and did nothing to
prevent it. Whatever the cause, it was a curse that would have lasting consequences in biblical history.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: There is a great person who makes every person feel small. But the real great person is the person who makes every person feel great. (G.K. Chesterton)

Genesis 6-7 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 10-11