Genesis 9 reveals the rainbow as a sign of God’s promise, a powerful reminder of His faithfulness and mercy. After the great flood, God made a covenant with Noah, vowing never to destroy the earth by water again. This divine assurance is sealed with the rainbow, a visible sign of His unchanging grace. The chapter also emphasizes the sanctity of life, the call to obedience, and the blessings of honoring God’s covenant. As we reflect on Genesis 9, we are reminded that God’s promises endure forever, just as the rainbow continues to shine as a testimony of His faithfulness.
Genesis 9 Overview
- God’s Covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:1-17)
- Noah’s Sons and the Future of Nations (Genesis 9:18-19)
- Noah’s Drunkenness and Ham’s Sin (Genesis 9:20-23)
- The Blessing and Curse (Genesis 9:24-29)
- Noah’s Death (Genesis 9:29)
God’s Covenant with Noah
1 God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. 4 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5 I will surely require your blood of your lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image. 7 Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.”
8 God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth. 11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 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: 13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
17 God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Noah’s Sons and the Future of Nations
18 The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these, the whole earth was populated.
Noah’s Drunkenness and Ham’s Sin
20 Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
The Blessing and Curse
24 Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26 He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
Noah’s Death
28 Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. 29 All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.
Sermon Themes
God’s covenant with Noah is a powerful reminder of His unchanging faithfulness and mercy. The rainbow stands as a visible sign that His promises endure, even in uncertain times. Just as Noah was called to obedience, we too are called to trust in God’s word and walk in righteousness. How does the reminder of God’s covenant strengthen your faith today? Take time to read Genesis 9 and reflect on how His promises shape your daily life.
- The Rainbow: A Sign of God’s Faithful Covenant (Genesis 9:13) – God’s promise never to destroy the earth by flood again.
- God’s Blessing and the Call to Multiply (Genesis 9:1) – The renewal of God’s command to fill the earth.
- The Sanctity of Life: The Value of Blood (Genesis 9:5-6) – God establishes the sacredness of human life and justice.
- Obedience and Covenant Relationship (Genesis 9:8-11) – God’s covenant with Noah as a response to obedience.
- Noah’s Vineyard: The Danger of Complacency (Genesis 9:20-21) – Even a righteous man can fall into sin when unguarded.
- Ham’s Disrespect and the Consequence of Dishonor (Genesis 9:22-25) – The importance of honoring authority and family.
- Shem and Japheth: Blessings of Righteousness (Genesis 9:26-27) – God’s favor upon those who choose to act righteously.
- God’s Faithfulness Through Generations (Genesis 9:12) – His promises extend to all future generations.
- God’s Promises Never Fail (Genesis 9:13) – Trust in God’s faithfulness through life’s storms.
- Obedience Brings Blessing (Genesis 9:1) – Walking in God’s ways leads to fruitfulness.
- Watch for Spiritual Complacency (Genesis 9:21) – Stay alert to avoid falling into sin.
- God’s Covenant is Unchanging (Genesis 9:11) – His word stands firm in every season.
▷ Scripture quotation taken from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.
