Last Memorial Day, our house was hit by a tornado. Living in Arkansas means that tornado watches are fairly common, and we’ve gotten used to just going to sleep during a watch. But only twenty minutes later, a tornado had materialized, hit our house, and finished its path. By God’s grace, we were fine and the damage to our home was all exterior. But as we retell the story, we find ourselves saying each time, “it came out of nowhere.”
I wonder if those who lived in the days of Noah thought the same thing as the flood waters rose—blind to the effects of their own wickedness and staring down a massive natural disaster. To Noah, God gave an advanced warning, “Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you” (Genesis 6:17–18). God made Noah a promise of protection and enduring relationship, and Noah responded by obeying all that God commanded him (v.22).
However, after disembarking his boat and finally hitting dry land, Noah got drunk and his son Ham dishonored him (Genesis 9:20–22). After such a clear and disastrous consequence to the evil humanity wrought, humanity still could not live up to the righteousness of God. Even as Noah’s family could not hold the same level of righteousness, God made a covenant with Noah, choosing to rebuild the world through Noah and his family. I love that God gave Noah—and us—a visceral, experiential reminder of His promise. Don’t you just love catching a rainbow in the sky? The bigger, the better, and bonus points if it’s doubled. God said to Noah, “I have placed my bow in the clouds….Whenever I form the clouds…and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant” (Genesis 9:13–15).
This Old Testament promise made to Noah is a foretaste of the promised Savior we fully see materialized in the Gospels. In the time after God’s covenant with Noah, evil still seethed in humanity’s heart—and truthfully, still does today. But that time, God poured out on Jesus the judgment reserved for humanity and creation. Jesus is our defense, and no charge can be brought against those of us who are in Christ because God, the justifier, has already made us right with Him (Romans 8:32–33).
These symbols—the rainbow, the cross, and the empty tomb—are God’s reminder to us that nothing “in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Rainbows are easy to miss if you aren’t looking for them. God’s promises often slip our minds too. But just as God transformed the clouds in the skies to show a rainbow after a storm, He has renewed our hearts so that no matter where our sin leads us, His covenant faithfulness calls us back to Him.
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91 thoughts on "God’s Covenant with Noah"
“For God made man in his own image”. WOW. What a powerful statement. It really is just such a reminder of how much God loves us that he made us to be like Him. So that we can be close to Him. We are His children. No matter how far we run, he will always be there with open arms ready to show us His love.
I was “today years old” when I realized I love Romans 8:38&39. It’s an incredible thought!!
Thank you God for enduring love! ❤️
Thank you Lord for your mercy.
Thank you Jesus, for your word.
Amen! I thank God for all of His faithfulness and provision. I am very thankful for our SRT SHES as well. You all have inspired me and encouraged me with so many stories hearing how He has healed brokenness and brought The Hope.
I love you Ladies with my whole heart. Many prayers, hugs and peace are going out to all of you SHES. ✝️
I gleaned a lot from Enduring Word on why Noha cursed Ham’s son Canaan.
A. God’s covenant and instructions to Noah.
1. (1-4) Instructions for living in a new world.
So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”
a. Be fruitful and multiply: The world Noah entered from the ark was significantly different from the world he knew before. God gave Noah the same kind of mandate He gave Adam in the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:28) since Noah essentially began all over again.
b. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you: Even as Adam received instructions for eating (Genesis 1:29, 2:15-17), so did Noah. Yet now, Noah received specific permission to eat animals, permission Adam was not given (as far as we know).
i. Perhaps this was because the earth was less productive agriculturally after the flood, because of the ecological changes mentioned in Genesis 9:1-3 and 8:22. Therefore God gave man permission to eat meat.
c. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth: If man now could and would eat animals, then God would help the animals. For their protection, God put in them a fear of mankind.
i. Again, presumably before the flood, man had a different relationship with the animals. God did not put this fear in animals because man did not look to them as food.
ii. “Did the horse know his own strength, and the weakness of the miserable wretch who unmercifully rides, drives, whips, goads, and oppresses him, would he not with one stroke of his hoof destroy his tyrant possessor? But while God hides these things from him he impresses his mind with the fear of his owner, so that… he is trained up for, and employed in, the most useful and important purposes.” (Clarke)
d. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood: God also commanded Noah that if animals were killed and eaten, there must be a proper respect for the blood, which represents the life principle in the animal (Leviticus 17:11, 17:14 and Deuteronomy 12:23).
i. The importance of the idea of blood in the Bible is shown by how often the word is used. It is used 424 times in 357 separate verses (in the New King James Version).
ii. The respect for blood isn’t based on mysticism or superstition, but simply because blood represents the life of the being, whether animal or human. When blood is poured out, life is poured out.
· Blood was the sign of mercy for Israel at the first Passover (Exodus 12:13).
· Blood sealed God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 24:8).
· Blood sanctified the altar (Exodus 29:12).
· Blood set aside the priests (Exodus 29:20).
· Blood made atonement for God’s people (Exodus 30:10).
· Blood sealed the new covenant (Matthew 26:28).
· Blood justifies us (Romans 5:9).
· Blood brings redemption (Ephesians 1:7).
· Blood brings peace with God (Colossians 1:20).
· Blood cleanses us (Hebrews 9:14 and 1 John 1:7).
· Blood gives entrance to God’s holy place (Hebrews 10:19).
· Blood sanctifies us (Hebrews 13:12).
· Blood enables us to overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11).
2. (5-7) God gives to man the right and responsibility of capital punishment.
“Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
“Whoever sheds man’s blood,
By man his blood shall be shed;
For in the image of God
He made man.
And as for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Bring forth abundantly in the earth
And multiply in it.”
a. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning: According to God’s command, when a man’s blood is shed there must be an accounting for it because in the image of God He made man. Because man is made in the image of God, his life is inherently precious and cannot be taken without giving account to God.
i. By man his blood shall be shed means because life is valuable; when murder is committed the death penalty is in order.
ii. In its original languages, the Bible makes a distinction between killing and murder. Not all killing is murder because there are cases where there is just cause for killing (self-defense, capital punishment with due process of law, killing in a just war). There are other instances where killing is accidental. This is killing, but not murder.
iii. The Bible also consistently teaches that the punishment of the guilty is the role of human government (Romans 13:1-4) to restrain man’s depravity. It also teaches that the guilt of unpunished murder defiles a land (Numbers 35:31-34). As Luther said, “God establishes government and gives it the sword to hold wantonness in check, lest violence and other sins proceed without limit” (cited in Boice).
b. From the hand of every beast I will require it: To see the strength of God’s command, He even requires a reckoning for the life of man from every beast. God does not condone the unlawful killing of any kind.
c. Be fruitful and multiply: This point was repeated because it needed emphasis. The earth badly needed repopulating.
3. (8-11) God makes a covenant with man and with all of creation.
Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
a. I establish My covenant: This covenant was made with mankind (you and your descendants after you), and even with the animals (every living creature that is with you). God promised He would never again destroy all with a flood or cover the earth with a flood. This was a repetition and clarification of the promise God made in Genesis 8:21-22.
i. “It cheered my heart, when thinking this matter over, to remember that although I depend upon covenant faithfulness, I am not alone in that dependence, for every living thing upon the face of the earth lives by virtue of the immutable covenant of God. Covenant engagements preserve the world from flood; were it not for that covenant, the tops of the mountains might be covered to-morrow.” (Spurgeon)
b. Never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth: God did not believe He did something wrong or too harsh in the flood. He made the promise because He did things in the post-flood world to guarantee that the exact evil conditions of the pre-flood world would never be precisely duplicated. These things included the imprisonment of the angels who sinned with human women (Jude 6) and shortening the lifespan of man.
i. However, when things again become similar to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37), God will destroy the earth – but by fire, not by flood (2 Peter 3:1-7).
4. (12-17) The sign of God’s covenant.
And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
a. This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature… the covenant between me and the earth: This impressive covenant was made not only between God and humanity, but God made the promise to all creation, including the animals and the earth itself.
b. I set My rainbow in the cloud: Because the blanket of water vapors was released in the flood and the water cycle of the earth changed after the flood, this may be the first occurrence of a rainbow. God used the rainbow as a sign to Noah and all generations that He would be faithful to His covenant.
c. It shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth: Every time we see a rainbow, we should remember the faithfulness of God and every one of His promises. He even says His covenant of peace with us is just as sure as His covenant with Noah and all generations.
i. For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has mercy on you. (Isaiah 54:9-10)
d. I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant: The other mentions of a rainbow in the Bible are set in the context of God’s enthroned glory (Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 4:3). If God set a rainbow around his throne, it is impressive that He set so close to Himself a reminder of His promise to man.
i. God does not only look at the rainbow on earth and remember the covenant; He also looks at the rainbow that surrounds His throne. God is committed to remaining faithful to His covenant.
ii. One the same principle, the believer glories in the sovereignty of God, because he knows God’s sovereignty is on his side. It means no good purpose of God relating to the believer will ever be left undone.
B. Noah and his sons.
1. (18-19) The sons of Noah.
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
a. The sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth: Noah’s three sons emerged from the catastrophe of the flood into a completely new world.
b. The whole earth was populated: From these three sons of Noah came the nations, as we know them. The descendants of these three sons are listed in the table of nations provided in Genesis 10.
2. (20-23) The sin of Ham, Noah’s son.
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.
a. Noah began to be a farmer: Making his way into the new world after the flood, Noah began to provide for himself and his family. He probably planted many things, among them a vineyard.
b. He drank of the wine and was drunk: This is the first mention of drunkenness in the Bible. Some think it was only after the flood that man made (or was able to make) intoxicating drink.
i. Noah’s own sinful and shameful actions show the foolishness of drunkenness. Well do the Proverbs say, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise… Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. (Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-33)
ii. It also shows the foolishness of those who claim God’s desire is to make people “drunk in the spirit” through the work of a “Holy Ghost Bartender.” When Ephesians 5:18 says, do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, it makes a contrast of the work of the Spirit with the effects of drunkenness.
iii. Alcohol is a depressant. It loosens people because it depresses their self-control, their wisdom, their balance, and judgment. The filling of the Holy Spirit has an exactly opposite effect. He is a stimulant, and He influences every aspect of our being to better and more perfect performance.
c. And became uncovered in his tent: It may be Noah was abused sexually by one of his sons or relatives. The phrase became uncovered and the idea of nakedness is sometimes associated with sexual relations (Leviticus 18:6-20).
i. This is repulsive, but not terribly surprising. Many people who get drunk become victims of abuse, sexual and otherwise. A large majority of the men and women involved in date-rape situations were drinking or taking drugs just before the attack. According to some statistics, half of all rapes involve alcohol.
ii. There are more costs to drunkenness. In the 1990s it was recorded that in the United States 100,000 people died each year in alcohol-related deaths, while alcohol abuse cost the nation hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
d. Saw the nakedness of his father: Others think Ham’s only sin here was in seeing Noah’s drunken, uncovered state, and that he made fun of him, mocking him as a father and as a man of God.
i. Literally, the ancient Hebrew says that Ham “told with delight” what he saw in his father’s tent. He determined to mock his father and was undermining his authority as a man of God.
3. (24-27) Noah’s curse upon Canaan.
So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said:
“Cursed be Canaan;
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brethren.”
And he said:
“Blessed be the LORD,
The God of Shem,
And may Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he dwell in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be his servant.”
a. Knew what his younger son had done to him: This seems to indicate that whatever happened to Noah, it was more than one of his sons or grandsons seeing his nudity. This explains the strength of the curse.
b. Cursed be Canaan: It seems strange that if Ham sinned against Noah, that Canaan (Ham’s son) was cursed. Perhaps Canaan was also involved in this sin against Noah in a way not mentioned in the text. Perhaps the strongest punishment against Ham was for Noah to prophetically reveal the destiny of his son Canaan.
i. We can trust God is not punishing the son (Canaan) for the sin of the father (Ham). This goes against the heart and justice of God (Ezekiel 18:2-3). However, through Noah’s prophecy, God told Ham what would happen to his son.
c. May Canaan be his servant: In earlier generations, prejudiced people regarded the descendants of Canaan as black people from Africa, and they used the curse on Canaan to justify slavery. But black people did not come from Canaan. Canaan was the father of the near-eastern peoples, many of whom were conquered by Joshua when Israel took the Promised Land.
4. (28-29) The end of Noah’s days.
And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.
a. Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years: Noah was a remarkable man who served God in his own generation. Yet his last years do not seem to match the glory of his first years.
b. All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: Noah was man of great triumph and of weakness. His godliness is remembered in the New Testament, marking him as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:7) and a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).
Thank you for sharing this Debra. Very informative.
❤️
♥️
“I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures…”
To see a rainbow is a reminder to us that God remembers! What a comfort that must have been to Noah and his family who went through the flood. Would every rainfall bring about terror of it happening again? But God placed that bow to show He does remember His covenant. He does keep His promises.
I want to look for the rainbow in the storm of my life and know that God remembers me. Nothing can separate me from His love!
Praise God!!!
Amen
The reading today grabbed my attention in the aspect of the wicked descendants. Ham was the wicked one in what he did to his father. And let’s analyze his children. Ham gave birth to Egypt (I did not notice this before, that a nation is later named this, and it’s common that they name land after the person). My ESV version shows the name of this son as Egypt, but some other sources say the name is Mizraim which is the original Hebrew name for Egypt. Nonetheless, Egypt (the person) gave birth to Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came). Ouch! Egypt and Canaan are brothers, both are sons of Ham, and both are names of the nations that become enemies of God’s children later on. These nations worship idols and do evil pagan practices. The curses on Ham really work. Look how far it went down in the bloodline. Sometimes we wonder why there are such great divisions and deep rooted conflicts between many nations nowadays, even different ethnic groups. But look here, the answer is in this story, at least for me I saw it here. There has been a division originated by choices, that started from Noah’s generation, between these 3 brothers, the youngest one Ham chose to dishonor and the other two chose to be righteous and reverent. Again it’s a personal choice between godliness and worldliness. God is to be feared. May we choose this day to live worthily of our call, behave like wise children, not to blend in with cultures and its common foolish and darkened practices, to please God foremost and follow His ways. Look how one wrong choice has become the practice repeated for generations. There is always room for repentance with our God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. Hallelujah. May God’s grace and peace always be with His children.
Whoooo, yes, girl, preach it! I was reading your comment out loud, (my husband had to pay attention to me, lol),and so profound how the scripture tells us SO much and is living and breathing, and relevant to our lives! It matters. Our choices matter. Will we honor our God, our blend in with the worldly ways?
Yes, Mercy! As Joshua says, “… choose today whom you will serve. …But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
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AND verse of the day – Biblegateway – 1 Peter 1:15-16New Living Translation
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Amen, Mercy. Thank you for highlighting the connections.
This is so insightful! It really gets me thinking. I often wonder what my ancestors did that ensures our generation was saved. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, Mercy, this is beautiful. Thank you, truly. I love how insightful this is.
Thank you, Mercy! This is so good
Amen
I love that God has always wanted to be in communion with us; even when we were blatantly disobeying him. If he kept calling the people of the Old Testament back to himself, how much more will he call us back to himself; those who have been washed in Jesus’ blood.
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains move
and the hills shake,
My love will not be removed from you
and my covenant of peace will not be shaken, says your compassionate Lord.
I take such comfort in these words. Our God is not shaken by anything that happens, in our World, in our families, with our health. He knows it all and is not surprised by any of it. So grateful that we serve a God who is in control of it all! This line from HRT struck me today: Fear produces anxiety, and anxiety often forms when we sense we are out of control.
I hate being out of control, who doesn’t? Giving up control and allowing God to “take the wheel” is scary, but also necessary. I have learned so many times in my life as a Follower of Christ, that to surrender to His control is the only way.
Grateful to God for His covenant to us that He will never leave us. He is by our side no matter what storms we face.
Dear She’s I truly covet your prayers; I was just diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. I’m trying to wrap my mind over the
surprise of it all,I didn’t see it coming but God did so I know he’s with me in it all.
R, please keep us posted! Prayers for clarity and wisdom, assurance and peace in the days ahead! ❤
Thank you CeeGee I certainly will
I’m looking for His bow in the midst of the storm!
❤
Oh, R- will definitely join in prayer with you and the she’s.
Joining in prayer, R, with you and our sisters here. Praying for you, your medical team, proper diagnosis and timely treatment, guidance and wisdom from the Lord.
Praying for you R! Yes please keep us updated.
❤️❤️
These scriptures and devotional were timely today as we face the devastation of the fires here LA. The promises of God and the enduring relationship we have with Him are what we cling to in the face of all this loss. Join me in praying that the Lord would bring floods of people to church this Sunday, those have faced and fear loss, and start a new fire…in peoples’ hearts for His kingdom. I love my city, and I am convinced the Lord is doing something here.
Amen, prayers Lara!
“… start a new fire…in peoples’ hearts for His kingdom.” I you in that prayer, Lara, and sending hugs of comfort in your loss. ❤
Praying, Lara, for safety of all and containment of these awful fires. Especially praying that hearts would be softened in this tragedy and turn to the Lord.
Amen ❤️
God’s love and promises are everlasting. What a great reminder that I easily forget in times of hardship and fear.
BECCA said, “…just as God transformed the clouds in the skies to show a rainbow after a storm, He has renewed our hearts so that no matter where our sin leads us, His covenant faithfulness calls us back to Him.” That reminds me again of Ezekiel ❤36:26!
Warren Wiersbe says this, re: Psalm 44:22
“Paul quoted verse 22 in Romans 8:36 as part of his magnificent argument that nothing could separate God’s people from His love, not even defeat after a record of victories! The principle is the same for both God’s old covenant people and His new covenant people: Those who give their lives in His cause are conquerors, not victims, and God can be glorified even in what seems like defeat.”
That statement is so encouraging to me because there are many times when it feels like my attempts to make a difference aren’t going anywhere. Keep on keeping on!
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Happy Friday, sisters as I enjoy a rare snowy morning in upstate SC!
Oh thank you Cee Gee, so good! ❤️
❤
This is such a beautiful reminder today of God’s faithfulness to us!
Living in Oklahoma, it is easy to ignore the warnings of the potential of tornadoes. We have done exactly what Becca did, went to bed! Fortunately, for us, we have never been hit and we live in Moore. OK!
This really spoke to me about being on guard when I hear the warnings of the Lord in scripture. Even from Noah’s family, you would think after the flood, they would work very hard to fall back into their sinful ways.
Aw, but thanks be to God, that we have a Savior to stand in the gap for us!
Praying for Becca and her family! Praying for all the SHE’S. I’ve been on here but not commenting much. I have flu and am on the mend, just can’t shake the flu headache! But God is good and we caught it early enough for the Tamiflu and also got some for my husband to take to keep him well! I love that I can talk to you without fear of infecting you. I’ve been pretty isolated!!
Have a blessed day!
Aww Cheryl, I hope you feel better! I live your insights and they remind me of the verse we just read in Gen 4:7 7 “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Like you said, we need to always be on guard because how of how easily it creeps in
Yes, so good ladies, amen!
Feel better Cheryl! Missed you! ❤️
Cheryl, so sorry you have been sick, but glad you are on the way to recovery! I grew up in SW Mississippi where we had severe thunderstorm/tornado threats almost daily in the summer time. We didn’t flinch much either. A few years ago we had a tornado alert here in SC, but weren’t concerned and were planning to just go to bed until we had a warning and saw that one was headed our way. We got to the basement and had no damage, but a large area of our little town was forever changed.Glad you felt up to joining us today! ❤
It is interesting to see the names in the genealogy of Ham and Canaan that represent nations that will eventually be enemies of the Israelites in many generations to come. God knew men’s heart and probably grieved that eventuality also.
Yes, I never realized!
Thank you Lord that nothing I do (or don’t do) can separate me from your love.
In my commentary of Canaan being cursed for Ham seeing his father naked, it noted several factors that blew my mind and my understanding of this part of the story. It highlighted that it days when he learned what his youngest son had done – but Ham was not his youngest son. Canaan was Ham’s youngest at that time. So the commentary notes that it was most likely Canaan that did something beyond just seeing his grandfather naked and Ham caught him. Ham was responsible as the caretaker of his son’s righteousness and upbringing. Canaan was then cursed, but Ham continues living with his family, so that indicates that the sin and lack of repentance was not on him, but on Canaan because he was the actual perpetrator. Obviously we can’t know with certainty what is true, but it really opened my mind to a different angle that made a lot more sense to me. Moody’s Bible Commentary if anyone is interested in reading it…
Romans 8:34 the 2nd half”…he also is at the right hand of God and intercede for us.”
Jesus actually is praying for us like we often pray for one another!
Jesus and his life embodies the new and superior covenant God made wit humanity!
So comforting to Jesus the Son of God, King of the universe is praying for me.
When the Shes are praying for me I take comfort but when I am reminded Jesus is actually interceding for me I get a big Wow!
Yes, that is a big Wow..that Jesus prays for me! Interceding on my behalf!!
NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING – can EVER separate us from the love of God.
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Thank you Jesus!
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Happy Friday my dear sisters in Christ. ❤️
“It came out of nowhere.”
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I wonder if those who lived in the days of Noah thought the same thing as the flood waters rose—blind to the effects of their own wickedness and staring down a massive natural disaster.
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I think so many are blind to the effects of their choices. We tend to be a “blame” society. It feels so much better to take responsibility. To be honest with ourselves. To ask God to reveal our sinful ways. I pray that God nudges me when I’m about to go in the wrong direction.
Yes..blind to the effects of their choices, and putting blame elsewhere. We see this all the time in jail ministry (and ourselves of course!). But there are consequences for our sinful choices, rejecting God’s way. We have one lady that is sad she will probably have to go to prison…but she has been arrested 35 times and never been to prison. Sometimes God might have to USE circumstances to get our attention, wake us up, have us suffer. But why are we SO blinded??!! But I say this knowing that I had a time where I kept repeating over and over the same sinful lifestyle, so that is one reason I love to go and share that with them. Sorry for rambling…
Oh….and HAPPY FRIDAY!!! Boy…are the TK teachers and I SO glad its FRIDAY!!
NOTHING separates us from our Father God! OUR Jesus! Brings back sweet memories when I starting serving in the youth group about 25 years ago in my late 20’s and we would sing a beautiful worship song of Romans 8:38-39. I can still hear it in my head. I came back to youth ministry (same church 4 years ago) and LOVE it! I’m older, and life happened, and I can testify to these beautiful sweet YOUNG ladies that GOD is faithful NO MATTER what and the above verse testifies to that! Its ALL Jesus! NONE of is me! I let them know I’m here today ONLY because of JESUS!
GM!
I love re-reading these stories we have known all our lives, but in the context “from the beginning” and forward! I love God’s physical sign giving-the beautiful rainbow, there high in the sky as a visible sign for all!! I get so excited to see one and take pictures! If only we would recognize God’s beauty and promises all around us every day! We get so busy, and skip right over. I have to say, I do love nature and take tons of pictures of it all; flowers, sunsets, sun in the tall trees, the dolphins and manatees. I have heard that everyone is made known of God through nature! That only a God COULD create this world! Just examining the human body is enough proof and the zillions of intricately put together animals! My point being God is in everything!
How do I respond to knowing God, creator of all, creator of me, makes a covenant with me – “38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What A PROMISE!! I should worship Him on that alone. Praise my Lord and Savior in response, love him with my whole heart, soul, and mind. Even when it is not what I want to do- I need to remind myself of what he has done for me. As we start a fast next week with church- it is about sacrifice, letting nourishment come from the Lord, hearing what he has for me, and direction, praising and loving and thanking him for his goodness and promises. He IS my bread, my substance, my all. May it be so. This motivates me today.
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Becca thank you for the reminder to look for God’s goodness. Sometimes this means slowing down and being still to see His goodness. Lord May we be intentional today to look for your goodness.
Thank God for Jesus, so we can live in righteousness and no longer slaves to sin. We see the rainbow and can remember God’s faithfulness over and over.
I am still confused why Ham was punished for seeing his father naked? I assume it was an accident.
He went and told his brothers, there is a lot of different ideas of what he could have done. But regardless the idea was that whatever he did was shameful and his brothers covered their father.
I thought that too May…why was he disgrace, when it was Noah that was drunk?! But yes, I guess his response was incorrect to make a mockery of the situation and bringing it to light? That seems to happen a lot in churches and such, rather than a response of love and help?!
Makes me think of when Adam and Eve sinned they saw they were naked God covered them with a fig leaf. Though Noah was drunk ( and the sinful one ?) his two sons went and covered him while Ham exposed/mocked him.
Maybe Noah didn’t intend to get drunk; it could have been accidental because he didn’t realize how potent the wine was. He was at least in his tent. Another comment above this mentioned Ham and Canaan mocking him—so the disrespect is clearly a sin. We aren’t told every detail.
Thank You Father God for Your promises that are yes amen
May we look for the rainbows in our lives today and remember the faithfulness of the Lord
Caitlyn, I like, “may we look for rainbows in our lives today”! Thank you! ❤
Even though it is next in the text, a newly planted grapevine (even if Noah had started it when on the ark) does not produce grapes. So some time had passed since the family had disembarked. Not that it matters, the point being that it did not take long for sinful activity to pop up.
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We are truly hopeless without God’s intervention through Jesus.
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On that happy note…have a great day rejoicing in your salvation and sanctification.
The rainbow, the cross and the tomb. Symbols of the great love God has for us. Thank you Lord. Amen
The promises of God – there are many and He keeps every one, He is faithful. Thank you, Lord.
What a beautiful reminder a rainbow is of His promise and faithfulness to Noah.
I snap pictures when I see a rainbow (or a bonus 2!). Looking back through the pictures, I can remember most of the places they were taken and also think of the ones I missed – if you’re not in the right place/angle, you can’t see them at all or can only see a small piece. And the rainbows in my pics are generally on the edge of or surrounded by storm clouds. Am I in the right place to see God’s promises? Do I think He’s failed me if I only see a piece of a promise or answer? And in the middle of a storm, do I remember that I’m surrounded by His love and promises even if I can’t quite see them yet? Lord, help me to trust You always.
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CEE GEE – thank you for reminding of Love Lifted Me ❤️ in reading lyrics of songs, I try to drown out the tune in my mind to focus on the words. In singing many of these songs in church for years in days gone by, I realize I knew the tune and the words but lost touch with the message.
RHONDA J – great comment yesterday ❤️
MARIA B and TAMI – thank you for perspectives on gifts ❤️
SHARON JERSEY GIRL ❤️
WENDY B – ❤️
MOLLY – your comment brought a smile about answers to questions. I often say that I’m keeping a list of things that I can’t make sense of to ask the Lord, followed by the realization that none of it will matter when we are worshiping Him face to face. ❤️
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Praying for the thousands affected by the California fires.
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Praying for our caregiving sisters, LYNNE FROM AL, LINDA IN NC, NANCY S, GRAMSIESUE and others.
This is so good! Thank you for posing those questions to ponder.
Searching I love the idea of searching for a “rainbow” in the midst of our storms.Do we choose to magnify the storm or do we fix our eyes on the one who controls the storm? Thank you!
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❤️ thanks for the reminder on where we are fixing our eyes.
I love this!
Searching for the rainbow in the midst of the storm!
Fixing my eyes on the One who controls the storm!
Happy Friday! We got 8” of snow overnight and I have to go blow off the driveway…Steve charged the batteries on the snow blower. He does everything he can to help me. I really love this man! ❤️
Awesome pist, SEARCHING! Great questions to ponder! What I shared kind of touches on that. I am usually intrigued by OT quotes in the NT so I looked back at Psalm 44:22 and needed some help for clarity. That was my share.
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On songs… I do the same for the same reason. I ‘study’ the lyrics before I share them. ❤
Thank you for sharing this perspective on rainbows, Searching! Your question about seeing God reminded me of a passage I read recently in Job (Job 23:8-10) – Job says that he has searched for God in the east, west, south, and north and is unable to find Him, BUT he ends with these words, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Even when we aren’t in the “right place” to see God’s promises, we can take comfort that He hasn’t lost sight of us in the midst of the storm. He knows right where we are, and – more than that – He knows right were we will be when we come out on the other side, and is with us every step of the way.
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I have loved studying the concept of covenant with the Lord recently! Grew up in church and am now freshly 20 years old and reading through the bible for the first time, feeling excited and on fire for the things of God for the first time since losing my grandfather in 2019. Excited to join this community and learn from everyone here! Thank you Jesus for providing me ways to connect with strong women of God in so many different ways ❤️ Have a blessed day ladies
Welcome, Gabriella!
Gabriella, I love that you have a renewed enthusiasm for the His Word! When I was a teenager, I lost my grandmother and it took a huge toll on me spiritually. But God is so faithful and held onto me through it and brought me back to Him. ❤️
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Welcome to SRT, Gabriella! ☺️
Hello Gabriella! So glad to have you with us! I get so excited when I see the young adults on fire for Jesus at my church and always think HOW amazing in the world we live where it seems they depart in their 20’s often!! You go girl…best choice in your life!!
WE welcome you Gabriella! So glad you’re here with us!
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Welcome Gabriella! Praise God for your excitement and “on fire” feelings for the things of God. It is such an encouragement to me, to hear of young adults loving God and living for Him. May you always walk with Him and seek His will. ❤️
Welcome! SRT is a great place to learn and grow in your personal walk with the Lord. We’re glad you are here
Welcome Gabriella! My daughter is 20 also and NOT following the Lord. I pray for young people like you to surround her:)
Welcome Gabriella! Wishing you a blessed day! ❤
Glad you are here Gabriella! ❤
Welcome Gabriella! Truly you have found a safe space where you can grow in your walk with the Lord!