Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December.
Thanks for joining the second part of “Why the Noah’s Ark Story is Meaningful.” If you missed Part 1, excuse yourself and read it. We will wait.
Noah’s Ark is one of the most famous stories in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The story spans Genesis Chapters 6 through 9. Last week we covered Genesis 6 and 7. Today we study Chapters 8 and 9.
In Part 1, I last quoted the final verse of Chapter 7:
“Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days” (Genesis 7: 23-24).
Chapter 8 begins with four memorable words:
“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded” (Genesis 8:1).
Stop right there, “But God remembered Noah..” My NIV Study Bible footnote added context: “To ‘remember’ in the Bible is not merely to recall to mind; it is to express concern for someone, to act with loving care for him. When God remembers his people, he does so with ‘favor.’ ”
God “remembered Noah” because God had unfinished business with him — a covenant to establish! God had said:
“ ‘Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you.. ’ ”(Genesis 6:17-18). Continuing the story:
As the waters receded, “the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:4).
Again, press “pause” because finding Noah’s Ark interests many readers. Here are two conflicting articles from credible sources. First, the Jerusalem Post: “Has the location of Noah’s Ark finally been proven using 3D scans?” Second: National Geographic, “Why Noah’s Ark will never be found.” Plus, Mr. Google has zillions more. Now, press “play” to continue our study.
Read Genesis 8: 6 -14 for the complete account of how Noah tested whether the earth was ready for family and animals to disembark the ark. Finally:
God told Noah, “ ‘Come out of the ark’ ” with “ ‘every living creature that is with you’ ”.. “ ‘so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful..’ ” (Gen. 8:15-17). Cue the animal parade.
Now the serious business begins:
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it” (Genesis 8:20). Note the Lord did not request the altar. But as stated earlier, Noah “walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9), and this unprompted act proved Noah’s faithfulness. There is a lesson here for us. Always give thanks and praise to the Lord. He appreciates that more than we can ever know. Here is what happens next:
“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “ ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done’ ” (Genesis 8:21).
Notice the phrase “even though every inclination of the human heart is evil” is similar to what appeared in Genesis Chapter 6, justifying God’s extreme action:
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5).
God confirmed humankind is born with sin that originated from Adam. (Read more here.) However, moving forward, God found ways to deal with sin other than complete annihilation. (See Jesus Christ - forgiveness of sin.)
And although God said, “Never again will I destroy all living creatures,” that does not preclude humans from destroying the earth and themselves.
The final Genesis Chapter 9 begins with God telling Noah and his family similar to what he said about the animals:
“ ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth’ ” (Genesis 9:1).
He affirms to Noah and his sons that humankind will reign over creation. “ ‘Everything that lives and moves will be food for you’ ” (Genesis 9:3). God also warns:
“ ‘But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood, I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind’ ” (Genesis 9: 4-6).
God is a defender of human life, and there are consequences for murder. Remember that humans were created in God’s image. Later “Thou shall not murder” was included in the Ten Commandments. (See Vol. 150.)
Then after God repeats about being fruitful and multiplying, He explains His covenant with Noah (Genesis 9: 8-17). Here are the highlights:
First and again, God promises never to send a flood to destroy life on earth.
Second, God says, “ ‘the sign of the covenant for all generations to come’ ” is the ‘rainbow.’ “ ‘Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth’ ” (Genesis 9:16). Interesting that the rainbow became the gay pride symbol.
At the story’s end, there is a comical scene. Noah, the “man of the soil,” planted a vineyard:
“When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent” (The first man in the Bible to be drunk and naked.) Noah’s son “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.” Then the two (Shem and Japheth) walked in the tent backward and looked the other way as they covered Noah “so that they would not see their father’s nakedness” (Genesis 9:20-23).
When Noah awoke, he cursed Ham’s descendants but blessed his other sons (Genesis 9: 24-27). That was the first time Noah was directly quoted in the entire four-chapters
The story ends with Noah living 350 years after the flood for a lifespan of 950 years. (Genesis 9: 28-29).
Many verses outside Genesis mention Noah’s epic tale about God’s rage against His creation and His love, redemption, signs, and covenant with humankind. This foundational story has many interpretations, including God’s relationship with humans and symbolism with Jesus Christ. Noah is worthy of more in-depth study! Amen.
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are donor-supported ministries dedicated to education about the Shroud of Turin. See Shroud exhibit news and a life-sized replica in Washington, D.C. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com.
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