Genesis 8:15 - 10

GENESIS 8:15 – 10

God is a “God of a fresh start”!!!  Aren’t we grateful that HE gives us a new start continuously!  In Genesis, HE gave the world a new start…Noah and his family a new start!

8:13-19 God meets our benefits, rather than our desires; just as with Noah and his exit from the Ark, He knows what is good for us, better than we do for ourselves! Likely, we would go out of the ark before the ground is dried; and perhaps, if the door is shut, we are ready to tear off the covering, and to climb up some other way; but God's time of showing mercy is the best time. Noah removed the covering of the ark--probably only as much of it as would afford him a prospect of the earth around. Yet for about two months he never stirred from his appointed abode till he had received the express permission of God.

As Noah had a command to go into the ark, and no matter how tedious the long stay had been, he waited for a command to go out of it again.

That, in itself, constitutes an act of faith. How many would have reasoned that if it's dry outside, why not go ahead and get out there. It is worth noting the difference in the expressions between verses 13 and 14. We are told in verse 13 that on day 283 "the face of the ground was dry." In verse 14 we are told "was the earth dried." It is likely that verse 13 expresses the mere appearance of the surface while verse 14 declares that all conditions are now safe. They waited for God's command to leave.

Some times we have no choice!  They may not have had a choice but to stay on the ark for those additional 87 days. According to Genesis 7:16 before their 370-day odyssey began, it specifically says "and the LORD shut him in." Since God had shut them in, one might very well assume that no one leaves until God lets them out. We must in all our ways acknowledge God, and set Him before our coming and going. Those only go under God's protection who follow God's direction and submit to Him.

Genesis 8:15-22 . DEPARTURE FROM THE ARK.

And God spoke . . . Go forth--They went forth in the most orderly manner--the human occupants first, then each species "after their kinds"  Genesis 8:19  literally, "according to their families," implying that there had been an increase in the ark.

The first order of business is to make an animal sacrifice. That's why there was the extra clean animals that Noah had been directed to load onto the ark Genesis 7:2-3.  Altho not yet declared and described in Scripture, obviously Noah knew “the clean animals” … he had obtained them to board the Ark and now he knew which animals to sacrifice as clean animals.  The sacrifice has been important from the beginning Genesis 3:21  "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Although, Adam did not do the sacrifice…it was done for him. Genesis 4:1-5  Abel placed his offering of the "firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" on an altar before God.

However, here we see Noah literally building his own altar and making a burnt offering of the clean animals. Today some would exclaim, "Hey...Noah...that's no way to treat an animal!" What was God's reaction to this slaughtering of innocent animals?   Verse 21, "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour."

God gave a promise after Noah made his burnt-offering sacrifice (verses 21-22) regarding the destruction of the earth. The guarantee from God is plain in verse 21, "... neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." That's right...no more world-wide destruction of the earth...period. In this context, God speaks directly about the flood in 9:11-17.  Isaiah 54:9

20. Noah built an altar--literally, "a high place"-- probably a mound of earth, on which a sacrifice was offered. There is something exceedingly beautiful and interesting to know that the first act he did was an expression of gratitude for God’s acts of mercy and goodness which he and his family had experienced…

for so unparalleled a deliverance, a special acknowledgment was due.

[I shall spare them--to enjoy the blessings of grace, through a Saviour.]

2 Peter 3:7 There will be no flood between this and that day, when the earth therein shall be burnt up.

Then it's on to establishing a covenant with Noah. This covenant begins with God's promise in verse 8:21 "...neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." Gen. 9:1 says, "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." Does that sound like a command to you?

v. 3 EVERYTHING  for food except do NOT eat the blood.

Verse 6 says, "Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Here is the foundational statement regarding capital punishment. The Mosaic Law would later add much detail upon this foundation.

God established an unconditional covenant in 9:8-17.

The provisions and requirements of the Covenant:

•   Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1, 7)

•   No more vegetarian diet (Genesis 9:2-3)

•   They started out as vegetarians Genesis 1:29-30

•   No eating blood (Genesis 9:4)

•   Personal accountability for loss of life - first mention of capital punishment (Genesis 9:5-6)

•   No more global floods (Genesis 9:9-11, 15)

•   The rainbow as a token of the covenant (Genesis 9:12-14, 16-17)

Regarding verses 8-17, take note of this entry found in the Jewish Study Bible:

In the Talmud, it is taught that "descendants of Noah: - that is, universal humanity - are obligated by seven commandments: (1) to establish courts of justice, (2) to refrain from blaspheming the God of Israel, as well as from (3) idolatry, (4) sexual perversion, (5) bloodshed, and (6) robbery, and (7) not to eat meat cut from a living animal (b. Sanh. 56a). Whereas Jews have hundreds of commandments in addition to these seven (traditionally, 613 altogether), Gentiles who observe the "seven commandments of the descendants of Noah" can meet with God’s full approval.

In other words, observant Jews today regard all Gentiles who observe these seven components of the "Noahide Laws" as those who meet God's approval. They fully acknowledge that the Law of Moses is for Jews - not Gentiles.

Verses 11-17 deal with the token God gave for the accompanying provision that the earth would never be destroyed by flood again. Actually, 8:21 declared that the earth would not be destroyed in its entirety by God's judgment by any means, but the immediate interest here is by flood. Hence, the rainbow becomes the token of that covenant. The rainbow wasn't just a decorative touch placed there by God as a token, there was a functional reason for it.

Those who have the theory of the canopy!...Consider the following with regard to the token of the rainbow:

•   The "firmament" of Genesis 1:6-7 (see notes) was created to "divide the waters from the waters." This firmament "divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament." The earth was engulfed with a canopy of water.

•   There was no rain before the flood according to Genesis 2:5-6. The earth was watered by a process of evaporation and condensation between the water on the earth and the water "above the firmament."

•   In Genesis 7:11 we are told that "the windows of heaven were opened." Specifically, the canopy of water above the earth began to disintegrate, and continued to do so for 40 days. Add that to "the fountains of the great deep" (water under the surface of the earth) that were broken up, and you have a lot of water suddenly dumped upon the surface of the earth.

•   So, while the canopy of water was in place over the earth, the earth was never exposed to direct rays of sunlight. It was always diffused by the moisture comprising the canopy.

•   After the flood, the canopy of water over the earth was gone. Now, direct sunlight did make it all the way to the surface of the earth. Rays of sunshine refracting through pockets of moisture create rainbows. With the canopy gone, rainbows were possible. The rainbow was a sign that the canopy of water that had collapsed, causing the flood, no longer existed. Hence, no more floods were possible as long as rainbows were visible because rainbows were not possible until the canopy of water was removed.

Noah had a little too much to drink from his vineyard. His son Ham went into Noah's tent and saw him uncovered. He went to tell his brothers, Shem and Japheth. They backed into Noah's tent and covered him up. When Noah awoke, he was outraged over what Ham had done (seen him disrobed), so he passed out some cursings and blessings - a curse on Ham's youngest son, Canaan, and blessings on Shem and Japheth in verses 25-27.

Incidentally, this curse was used as the basis for slavery in the early foundations of the United States of America by the proponents of the practice. It was taught that this curse meant that the black population of the continent of Africa (Ham's descendants) were preordained to be servants. Many slave owners in early America had a sincere, abiding faith in God and the Bible. However, their doctrinal basis for slavery was misguided - based on a skewed teaching of scripture.

Here's the real story regarding the curse (prophecy) Noah issued that day. Canaan was the only one of Ham's sons who was cursed according to verse 25. There was no curse on his other sons - the ones who actually migrated into Egypt and then into Africa. The land of Canaan should sound familiar to you. We see in Genesis 10:15-19 that this is where the descendants of Canaan landed after the flood. It was the land that became Israel's homeland per God's decree in Genesis 12:7.

This curse, whatever its generational reach, applied only to Canaan, not to the whole line of Ham. Perhaps it was only one generation, but if it applied to successive generations, we see in Joshua's conquest of the land of the Canaanites hundreds of years later that these descendants of Canaan became the servants of the Hebrews when they conquered the land.

One more thing, some have elaborated upon the scenario of Ham's sin in this passage to make his deeds much more sinister than stated. Was his shortcoming only that he "saw" the nakedness of his father? Was more than that involved? It is impossible to know. All we see here is that the actions of Ham are contrasted to the actions of his two brothers. Anything beyond that is mere speculation.

After 950 years, Noah died.

Chapter 10  This is one of those chapters that gives us perspective - who begat whom. Notice that everyone on earth is descended from one or more of Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. In verses 8-10 we see the birth of the troublemaker of chapter 11, Nimrod, the grandson of Ham through Cush. It would appear that he was a fierce fighter and exercised dominion over others.

10:8-14 Nimrod was a great man in his day; he began to be mighty in the earth, Those before him were content to be upon the same level with their neighbors, and though every man bare rule in his own house, yet no man pretended any further. Nimrod was resolved to lord it over his neighbors. The spirit of the giants before the flood, who became mighty men, and men of renown, Ge 6:4, revived in him. Nimrod was a great hunter. Hunting then was the method of preventing the hurtful increase of wild beasts. This required great courage and address, and thus gave an opportunity for Nimrod to command others, and gradually attached a number of men to one leader. From such a beginning, it is likely, that Nimrod began to rule, and to force others to submit. He invaded his neighbors' rights and properties, and persecuted innocent men; endeavoring to make all his own by force and violence. He carried on his oppressions and violence in defiance of God himself. Nimrod was a great ruler. Some way or other, by arts or arms, he got into power, and so founded a monarchy, which was the terror of the mighty, and bid fair to rule all the world. Nimrod was a great builder. Observe in Nimrod the nature of ambition. It is boundless; much would have more, and still cries, Give, give. It is restless; Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command, could not be content till he had four more. It is expensive; Nimrod will rather be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the honor of ruling them. It is daring, and will stick at nothing. Nimrod's name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to God. The days are coming, when conquerors will no longer be spoken of with praise, as in man's partial histories, but be branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible.

Here's another interesting note stuck into verse 25. We are told that in one man's lifetime, the earth was divided. That man is Peleg, the great grandson of Shem. It is commonly held that, in the years following the flood, the continents of the earth were divided by the waters of the oceans. While secular scientists believe this division happened over an extended period of time, it would appear that the initial division took place while Peleg lived. It does make sense that some significant land settling must have taken place after the waters receded. It could have been the natural result of the earth's recovery from the upheaval caused by the flood. Today’s secular scientists commonly hold that the continents are still drifting in relation to each other.