As we studied in the previous lessons, the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)
The Lord sent a flood and did exactly that, the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. (Genesis 6:19-23)
After 150 days and once the water were dried up from the earth, God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. (Genesis 8:15-19)
God destroyed every living thing from the earth, except for Noah and his family, even though He knew that wickedness and evil would continue, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. No one had to teach us to do wrong, that comes naturally. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but howto perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:18) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,And in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
The flood wasn't about removing all wickedness and evil from the earth. If that were the reason, God would have had to destroy Noah and his family also. The purpose of the flood was to prepare the genealogy, the bloodline for the woman's Seed, Christ Jesus to come. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ... Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. ... Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:8-9, 22)
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. (Genesis 9:1-3 NIV)
The Lord God had told mankind, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”;... (Genesis 1:29-30) Everyone and every animal was given the fruit and the plants for food. Now, God was allowing them to eat everything that lives and moves about.
The issue with eating the meat of the animals isn't so much which animals they should and shouldn't eat, but what to do with the blood of the animal, For the life of the flesh is in the blood,... (Leviticus 17:11) “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Genesis 9:4-7 NIV)
Later the Lord would instruct Moses and the descendants of Noah, the children of Israel on how to handle the blood of an animal. But for now, the Lord just wanted to make sure that mankind realized that the shedding of blood is not to be taken lightly. If you kill an animal, it should only be for food for you; but be sure not to eat it if it has its lifeblood still in it.
But even more important, we are not to kill each other, for in the image of God has God made mankind. God commanded mankind, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) And He reiterated that same commandment to Noah and his family, to "be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
Mankind is the only thing in creation made in God's image. “What is man that You are mindful of him,Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” (Hebrews 2:6-8) His desire is one day to redeem us and return us to a new "Eden", a new heaven and a new earth,... (Revelations 21:1) Therefore, we shouldn't act like the animals, nor treat each other like animals, because we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11 NIV) It won't be water, but fire next time! ...by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (II Peter 3:5-7)
However, in the meantime, 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 the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17 NIV)
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