Sunday School September 3rd, 2006 Genesis 9: (1-15)
GENESIS: First book of the Bible. (from Lumina Bible Software)
NAME
The name Genesis comes into English as a transliteration of the Greek word meaning “origin” or “beginning.” This name was given to the book in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Septuagint. Genesis reflects both the content of the book and the Hebrew name for it, which is taken from its first word, bere’shith, “in the beginning.”
AUTHOR
The authorship of Genesis is closely related to the authorship of the entire Pentateuch (lit. “five-volumed,” the first five books of the Bible, which in Hebrew are called the Torah). It is clear that the Bible regards the human author of these books as Moses. On several occasions the Lord commanded Moses to write down various things: “in a book” (Exodus 17:14) “write these words” (34:27). The Pentateuch reports that “Moses wrote all the words of the LORD” (24:4); he wrote the itinerary of the exodus wanderings (Numbers 33:2); “Moses wrote this law” (Deuteronomy 31:9). (Here it is not certain that all five books are meant, but it must refer to at least the greater part of Deuteronomy.) In Exodus 24:7 it is said that Moses read the Book of the Covenant, which he must have just completed. The rest of the OT bears witness to the writing of the Pentateuch by Moses. David referred to “the law of Moses” (1 Kings 2:3). In the time of Josiah, there was found in the temple the “Book of the Law of the LORD . . . given through Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:14, NLT). Day by day Ezra read from “the Book of the Law of God” (Nehemiah 8:18, NLT). In the NT, Jesus refers to “the book of Moses” (Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37) and otherwise mentions the commands or statements of Moses (Matthew 8:4; 19:8; Mark 7:10; cf. Luke 16:31; 24:44). The Jews also quoted from the Torah as coming from Moses, and Jesus did not contradict them. Of Genesis in particular, it may be said that Moses had the opportunity and ability to write the book. He could have written it during his years in Egypt or while exiled with the Kenites. As the recognized leader of the Israelites, he would have had access to, or perhaps even custody of, the records that Jacob brought from Canaan. He was “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22) and probably could have written in several languages and in several scripts (hieroglyphic, cuneiform, Old Hebrew). Although Moses was admirably fitted for the task of writing, one must remember that he was not putting together a human composition but was writing under the inspiration of God (2 Peter 1:21). We may with confidence conclude that Moses was the human author of Genesis.
The liberal view of the authorship of Genesis is that the book is an editorial composite—a view first put forward by a French physician, Jean Astruc, who suggested that the different names for God indicated different documents or sources for the writing of the book. The German higher critics expanded the view of the use of documents in the writing of Genesis and developed it into the Graf-Wellhausen-Kuenen, or Documentary, Hypothesis, which may also be called the JEDP theory of the authorship of the book. This view holds that there were four basic documents: (1) J, which uses the name YHWH (Jehovah or Yahweh) for God, dates from about the ninth century BC and comes from Judah; (2) E uses the name Elohim, dates from the eighth century, and comes from the northern kingdom; (3) D is Deuteronomy and is supposed to come from the time of Josiah, about 621 BC; and (4) P is the priestly element, which deals with matters of the priesthood and ritual, dating to the fifth century BC or later. Some may date portions of Genesis as late as the Hellenistic period. According to this theory, the various documents were blended together by editors, so that there was a JE, JED, and so on.
The science of archaeology discredited many of the extreme postulations of these critics, and the work of W. F. Albright and his followers did much to restore confidence in the historicity of Genesis. Within the last several decades, the patriarchal narratives and the account of Joseph have again come under strong attack, but these views are extreme, and much of the evidence adduced by Albright and earlier scholars like R. D. Wilson, W. H. Green, and others still has validity.
DATE
The date of the book is also a matter of debate. Even among those who accept Mosaic authorship there is debate as to when Moses lived. Based on the biblical data, Moses should have lived in the 15th century BC (cf. Judges 11:26; 1 Kings 6:1), but many scholars incline toward a 13th-century date. As outlined above, the liberal view of the date of Genesis would be from the ninth to the fifth centuries BC, with the final editing coming around the fifth century or perhaps even later.
PURPOSE
Genesis sketches the origin of many things: the universe, the earth, plants, animals, and mankind. It gives the beginnings of human institutions, professions, and crafts. It describes the origin of sin and death, and illustrates the insidious working of Satan in human life. Above all, Genesis relates the beginning of the history of redemption with the announcement of a Redeemer who was to come (Genesis 3:15). It names the early progenitors in the lineage of the Messiah and the beginning of the Hebrew people through whom the Bible and the Savior came. Genesis also gives a selective history of people and events as viewed from the perspective of the purposes of God.
STRUCTURE
The book is divided into 11 parts of uneven length, each set off by the _expression “these are the generations [descendants, history] of” (2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1; 37:2). Only three times does the formula coincide with the first verse of a chapter. Usually called a heading or superscription, the _expression serves as a kind of link between what precedes and what follows.
Genesis (Smith’s Bible Dictionary)
The
five books of Moses were collectively called the Pentateuch, a word of Greek
origin meaning "the five-fold book." The Jews called them the Torah, i.e.,
"the law." It is probable that the division of the Torah into five books
proceeded from the Greek translators of the Old Testament. The names by which
these several books are generally known are Greek.
NOAH (from Lumina Bible Softward) Noah was a righteous man who protected his faithful family from God’s judgment. He was the son of Lamech and the grandson of Methuselah, a descendant of Seth, the third son of Adam (Genesis 5:3-20). Lamech named his son Noah, a name that sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “relief” or “comfort.” When Lamech gave him this name, he said, “He will bring us relief from the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed” (Genesis 5:29).
God was determined to destroy creation because of widespread wickedness (compare Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27). But God made an exception with Noah, a man righteous in God’s sight and blameless before people (Genesis 6:3-9). Following God’s precise instructions, Noah constructed an ark. Only eight people entered the ark: Noah and his wife and his three sons and their wives. Also entering the ark were all kinds of creatures in pairs. They were all protected from the deluge in which all other living things perished (Genesis 6:14-8:19). When they emerged from the ark, Noah built an altar and sacrificed burnt offerings that pleased God. God promised that the Flood would never be repeated or the sequence of the seasons disrupted, despite man’s sin (Genesis 8:20-9:17).
Noah had withstood mighty temptations. Noah was 950 years old when he died, 350 years after the Flood.
Noah, Daniel, and Job are specifically cited for “their righteousness” in Ezekiel 14:12-14, 19-20. The Letter to the Hebrews commends Noah, who by faith, holy fear, and rejection of the world became the heir of righteousness (Ezekiel 11:7). In 2 Peter 2:5 Peter calls him “a preacher of righteousness.”
Noah (from Smith’s Bible Dictionary)
The name Noah means "rest." He was the son of Lamech, father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth; builder of the ark which saved his family from the destruction of the world which God sent on the world by the flood; became the new seminal head of mankind because his family was the only survivors of the flood
Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Grace
Our lesson today commences with the end of the great flood. God was wroth due to the sin of man; judgment soon followed. The crowning creation of God, mankind, had rebelled in every way. They had turned the wonderful creation of God into a place of pain and misery. Every thought of man was evil. It seemed there was no hope, but Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Noah wasn’t without sin, but he sought God by faith. Because of that, he obtained grace. Nothing has changed. God is not looking for people who are perfect; He is looking for someone to seek Him in faith. When we seek God; we find grace in His sight. Those who find grace, survive. The world may fall apart around them, but God preserves them. Sometimes they may lose their lives, but when they do, it is but a short cut to heaven! God’s commandment to Noah and his sons is similar to that of Adam and Eve. They were commanded to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. God wanted them to conceive and raise Godly children. God was not done with mankind. He wanted some to enjoy the wonders of heaven with Him.
9:2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
The enmity of man and animals
Genesis means beginnings. Here is another first. Before the flood human beings were vegetarians. Man did not eat animals, but they ate the fruit of the ground. After the flood, God put a natural fear between the animal kingdom and man. An animal which has not been tamed will avoid human beings. That’s probably a pretty good idea as everything man touches he usually destroys. Man was made the dominant being on this earth. Notice the phrase “into your hand are they delivered.” Mankind has dominated every animal. Some are stronger, bigger, fiercer, and seemingly designed better, but man has been given the power to reason which allows him to dominate his planet. This is in the plan of God. This, to me, is one of the fallacies of evolution. It seems to be other creatures are better designed to exert their influence on this earth than man. It seems the strong has not survived best in this case.
9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Do not eat the blood
Here is a restriction to the permission of man to eat animals. They were not to eat the animals with the blood still within the flesh. This type of butchering animals which make them acceptable to eat is called “kosher” butchering. It is still a practice of observant Jews today. The prohibition of consuming blood has a prophetic meaning if you look closely. Listen to the words of Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” There can be no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. When Jesus, who is our atonement, shed His blood it meant that He gave his very life force. The life of a man or woman is in the blood. Without the proper flowing of blood it is impossible to live. Life is precious in God’s eyes and He wants man to understand that life comes from God. Man is to respect this gift of life. He is to offer the blood to God for life can only come from God!
9:5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
You are not your own
This is a very interesting verse when understood properly. Man should not get so used to shedding the blood of animals as to think the blood of humans is the same. The word “require” means to demand an accounting for or to seek vengeance for. There are three groups that God demands they not shorten man’s life. The first is included in the first phrase. “And surely your blood of your lives will I require” means that you have no right to end your own life. God has the right to extend life and to call to death, but man has no right to hasten his own death or that of someone else. Suicide is contrary to the will of God. The second prohibition is to not allow animals to kill humans. The law includes sections which demand that animals that kill humans be killed themselves. The third one is for one man taking the life of another. Murderers should have vengeance applied to them. Before this time, in the age of the Patriarchs, there was no civil authority to control other men’s actions. Families governed families, but not others, except through force. This is God giving His direction for mankind to govern himself in the affairs of this world. The New Testament confirms this commission: Romans 13:4 “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” By the way, if mankind will not do it, God will.
9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Capital punishment
I am always amazed at the foolishness of people. Some folks will absolutely demand the right for women to kill their innocent, unborn babies. Innocent life seems to matter little to them. They will scoff at the emotional appeals of right to life folks who cry for the babies who are killed. Then let a murderer be sentenced to die and the same folks scream to high heaven. They will plead for the “sanctity of life.” I want you to know this reasoning is ridiculous. God has no problem with taking the life of a murderer. I do believe He will judge those who take the lives of innocent babes on the altar of convenience. They claim man has no right to take another life, but read this verse. “By man” shall his blood be shed. It is our duty to apply the laws of God to the murderer. Can the murderer be saved? Absolutely, but that is between him and God. When he took another life he gave up the right to his own.
9:7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 9:8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
9:10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 9:12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 9:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
The Noahic Covenant
This Scripture is called the Noahic Covenant. A Covenant is an agreement containing God’s demands and provisions for man. It is progressive in revelation. It not only demands conduct from men, but it also contains promises which God will hold Himself to. There is also a revelation of the penalty for breaking the covenant. It includes what God will do and what we should do. Here is quick review of this covenant:
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From Scofield Reference Bible (edited by RB) The Noahic Covenant. The elements are: (1) God would not curse the ground or destroy all the living for man’s sin. "Genesis 8:21") (2) The order of nature (seasons, day and night) is confirmed (Genesis 8:22) (3) Human government is established (Genesis 9:1-6) (4) A prophetic declaration is made that from Ham will descend an inferior and servile posterity Genesis 9:24,25. (5) A prophetic declaration is made that Shem will have a peculiar relation to Jehovah Genesis 9:26,27. All divine revelation is through Semitic men, and Christ, after the flesh, descends from Shem. (6) A prophetic declaration is made that from Japheth will descend the "enlarged" races Genesis 9:27. Government, science, and art, speaking broadly, are and have been Japhetic, so that history is the indisputable record of the exact fulfilment of these declarations. (See Scofield "Genesis 8:21") for the other seven covenants: |
These are the 6 other Covenants or sometimes called Dispensations from Scofield
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the other six dispensations: INNOCENCE (See Scofield "Genesis 1:28") CONSCIENCE (See Scofield "Genesis 3:23") PROMISE (See Scofield "Genesis 12:1") LAW (See Scofield "Exodus 19:8") GRACE (See Scofield "John 1:17") KINGDOM (See Scofield "Ephesians 1:10") |
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New Living Translation (recommended as a commentary only) 1 God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth. 2 All the wild animals, large and small, and all the birds and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them in your power. 3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. 4 But you must never eat animals that still have their lifeblood in them. 5 And murder is forbidden. Animals that kill people must die, and any person who murders must be killed. 6 Yes, you must execute anyone who murders another person, for to kill a person is to kill a living being made in God's image. 7 Now you must have many children and repopulate the earth. Yes, multiply and fill the earth!" 8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9 "I am making a covenant with you and your descendants, 10 and with the animals you brought with you – all these birds and livestock and wild animals. 11 I solemnly promise never to send another flood to kill all living creatures and destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "I am giving you a sign as evidence of my eternal covenant with you and all living creatures. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with everything that lives. Never again will there be a flood that will destroy all life |
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