Episode 16: God's Covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:1-17)

The earth and all its inhabitants have been destroy with the exception of Noah and his family. God has re-positioned mankind whereby the extreme corruption and violence has been judged and it can now start-over. That said, God also has determined that because of the inherent wickedness in man due to sin, "the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21). Yet, God will not destroy the man and the earth with a flood again. So, he establishes a covenant with Noah, communicating His intent (Gen 9:11). Evidence that God will remember his covenant with Noah will be seen in the sky when it rains. There will be a rainbow. Not only will the rainbow be beautiful for its physical appearance, it will be beautiful for its promise that God, who is rich in grace, mercy, and long suffering, will not immediately, nor totally, punish man's sin with another worldwide, cataclysmic flood. It is not to say that God's wrath will not be exhibited on the earth, or that man will not suffer from God's wrath, but simply that it will not be as all-encompassing as it was before. That will be reserved for later, as the Apostle Paul predicted in 2 Peter 3, when judgment comes by fire.