A wide green valley after rain at evening, the foot of a rainbow standing on the far hills under a clearing sky.

The Book of

Genesis 9

The waters are gone and a family of eight steps into a washed world. God makes a promise, and hangs a sign in the sky.

29 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, BabelChapter 9
12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
37–50JosephGod meant it for good

The Covenant of the Rainbow

A family of eight, small and seen from behind, standing at the edge of a green valley at dawn as their flocks spread out below them.

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.

0:24

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

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for in His own image God has made mankind

Genesis 9:6

But as for you,

be fruitful and multiply;

spread out across the earth

and multiply upon it.”

Reflect

In His own image

God gives a reason why a human life may not be taken: “for in His own image God has made mankind.” Not some people, but mankind. Think of someone you find it hard to value, or easy to overlook. What would change if you saw God’s image in them first? Write their name down, and one way you could honor them this week.

God

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:

I have set My rainbow 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 rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”

So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

I have set My rainbow in the clouds

Genesis 9:13

Pray

He remembers

God doesn’t need reminding, yet He says of the rainbow, “I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant.” He binds Himself to His word for all generations. Thank God that He keeps His promises. Then bring Him whatever you are afraid of today, and ask Him to help you trust the One who remembers.

God’s covenant with Noah

Whiteboard

God makes this covenant on His own, with no conditions: with Noah, “your descendants after you,” and “every living creature.” He promises, He gives the sign, and He says it is “for all generations to come.”

Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse

The sons of Noah who came 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 them the whole earth was populated.

Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him,

Noah

he said,

“Cursed be Canaan!

A servant of servants

shall he be to his brothers.”

Shem’s Blessing and Noah’s Death

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem!

Genesis 9:26–27

Family line

The end of his days

950 years
lived 350 more · and he died
After the flood
After the flood, Noah lived 350 years. So Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died.

Question

Quick question

After the flood God gave a sign to go with His promise.

What did God set in the clouds as the sign of His covenant?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 9

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A verse to carry with you

I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13

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