Genesis 9:1-17 – A Fresh Start, A Promise, A Responsibility

After the devastating flood, God blesses Noah and his family, giving them a fresh start and a whole new world to fill. But with this fresh start comes a promise and a responsibility. Let’s break it down!

God’s Blessing and Command (v. 1-3)

God blesses Noah and his sons, telling them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This echoes God’s original command to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28), showing God’s desire for humanity to thrive and take care of His creation.

A New Diet (v. 3-4)

God expands the human diet, allowing them to eat animals. However, there’s a catch: they must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. This reminds us that all life is sacred and belongs to God.

The Sacredness of Human Life (v. 5-6)

God establishes a critical principle: human life is sacred because humans are made in God’s image. Anyone who takes a human life will be held accountable. This sets the foundation for justice and respect for all people.

The Covenant (v. 8-17)

God makes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again. The rainbow serves as a beautiful reminder of this promise.

Questions to Ponder

1. What does it mean that God blessed Noah and his sons? How does this blessing apply to us today?
2. Why do you think God allowed humans to eat meat after the flood? What does the restriction about blood signify?
3. Why is human life considered sacred? How does this affect how we treat others?
4. What is a covenant? What does God’s covenant with Noah reveal about His character?
5. How does the rainbow serve as a reminder of God’s promise? Have you ever seen a rainbow and thought about this promise?
6. What responsibilities do we have as humans, made in God’s image, to care for the earth and each other?

Challenge

Think about how you can show respect for all life, both human and animal. Consider ways you can be a peacemaker and help prevent violence. Remember the rainbow, and let it remind you of God’s faithfulness and His promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood.

---

Drawing insights from Spurgeon and Matthew Henry

Overview

Genesis 9:1-17 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. After the devastating flood, God establishes a new covenant with Noah and his descendants, encompassing all living creatures. This passage outlines the terms of this covenant, highlighting God’s promises and expectations for humanity.

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

1. God’s Blessing and Command (v. 1, 7)

• “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

Matthew Henry: “The first blessing is here renewed… for the race of mankind was, as it were, to begin again.”

God reaffirms His original blessing to humanity, emphasizing the mandate to procreate and fill the earth. This demonstrates God’s desire for life to flourish despite the recent destruction.

2. Fear and Dominion (v. 2)

• “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth…”

Spurgeon: “Man, though fallen, was still to be the lord of this lower world.”

Despite humanity’s sinfulness, God grants them authority over the animal kingdom. This reinforces the unique position of humans within creation.

3. Dietary Changes (v. 3-4)

• “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you…”

Matthew Henry: “God enlarges the grant he had made to man of the products of the earth for his food.”

God expands the human diet to include animals, acknowledging the changed circumstances after the flood. However, the prohibition against consuming blood underscores the sanctity of life.

4. Sanctity of Human Life (v. 5-6)

• “Surely your blood of your lives will I require…”

Spurgeon: “The sacredness of human life is here most solemnly asserted.”

God establishes the principle of capital punishment for murder, emphasising the inherent value of human life created in His image.

5. The Covenant Promise (v. 8-17)

• “And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you…”

Matthew Henry: “As the old world was ruined, to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day a monument of mercy.”

God initiates a covenant of preservation, promising never again to destroy the earth by flood. The rainbow serves as a visible reminder of this divine pledge.

Conclusion

Genesis 9:1-17 encapsulates themes of renewal, responsibility, and divine grace. God’s covenant with Noah provides a foundation for the future of humanity, highlighting both the sanctity of life and the consequences of sin. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His commitment to preserving His creation.

Spurgeon: “This is the Magna Charta of the new world; the charter of nature’s privileges.”

---

Spurgeon and Matthew Henry in Harmony

Genesis 9:1-17 unveils a tapestry woven with divine blessings, solemn covenants, and profound ethical implications for humanity in the aftermath of the Flood. Let us glean insights from the esteemed commentators Spurgeon and Matthew Henry as we navigate this passage.

Verses 1-3: Blessing and Dominion Renewed

• Blessing and Multiplication: God reiterates the primal blessing of fruitfulness and dominion over the earth to Noah and his sons, reminiscent of the mandate given to Adam (Genesis 1:28). Spurgeon beautifully highlights the divine intent, stating, “God delights to see His creatures happy, and therefore blesses them that they may increase and multiply.” Matthew Henry echoes this sentiment, reminding us that “the blessing of God is the cause of our doing well.”
• Expanded Diet: The divine grant to consume animal flesh, previously forbidden, signifies a shift in human-animal relationships. Spurgeon perceptively notes, “God, who gave life, has a right to take it away, and He permits man to do the same for necessary purposes.” However, Matthew Henry wisely cautions against abusing this newfound freedom, urging against “barbarous and cruel” treatment of animals.

Verses 4-7: The Sanctity of Human Life

• The Image of God: The prohibition against murder and the institution of capital punishment underscore the sanctity of human life, created in the divine image. Spurgeon eloquently proclaims, “Man is the image and representative of God upon earth, and to kill a man is to attack the majesty of heaven.” Matthew Henry concurs, asserting that “he who unjustly kills a man defaces the image of God and does dishonour to him.”
• Accountability to God: The divine declaration, “Your blood of your lives will I require,” establishes the principle of accountability for human actions. Spurgeon aptly observes, “The murderer shall not escape. God Himself will be the avenger of blood.” Matthew Henry emphasizes the divine ownership of life, stating, “Our lives are not so our own as that we may quit them at our own pleasure, but they are God’s and we must resign them at his pleasure.”  

Verses 8-17: The Covenant of Preservation

• The Rainbow: The rainbow, a symbol of divine grace and faithfulness, seals the covenant of preservation. Spurgeon poetically describes it as “the love-token which God has set in the clouds.” Matthew Henry adds, “As God looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we may be mindful of the covenant with faith and thankfulness.”  
• Perpetual Assurance: The covenant promises the perpetual preservation of the earth from another devastating flood. Spurgeon assures us, “The bow in the cloud is the pledge of the continuance of the course of nature.” Matthew Henry reinforces this, stating, “As the old world was ruined, to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day a monument of mercy.”

Conclusion

Genesis 9 encapsulates a multifaceted divine message: renewed blessing and responsibility, reverence for human life, and the enduring covenant of preservation. Through the lenses of Spurgeon and Matthew Henry, we gain deeper appreciation for God’s grace, justice, and faithfulness toward humanity and the created order. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us heed their wisdom, cherishing the gift of life, upholding justice, and trusting in God’s unfailing promises.