COVENANT

A man will church we are back in Genesis super excited to dive back in we're to be picking up at the end of chapter 8 as we continue to explore this incredible story this beautiful Narrative of God's grace in creation. And in the Redemption of his creation as we get back in the Genesis, I want to remind you of a couple of things. First of all, I want to remind you that this was written for us but it wasn't written to us in other words. If we want to hear what it is that God is communicating that through this book of Genesis, and we need to try to steer it like the original readers and cures would have heard it. We need to get inside the mind of the author and so we need to to remember That this was written in context is not our context, but it was written in contest at so it took to that and we need to remember this morning. The Genesis was written by Moses to the to the people of Abraham the people of Israel after the great Exodus out of Egypt as they're on their way to the promised land are being formed into this nation into his people. They just entered into Covenant with God on Mount Sinai. He's given them the law is going to Define them as a national people and their there they're trying to figure out their place as God's people in the world. It is in this context that Moses inspired and led by the spirit gathers resources that were at hand other records narrative oral tradition and he writes and shapes for us the store. of Genesis and that's important for us to remember because the narrative is a story that has been shaped. It went when we think about Genesis. It is a historical narrative, but it's an intentional historical narrative all historical narrative choose what to include and what not to include another word for thought in form and shape to the Book of Genesis that we need to learn to see part far too often. We read it like it's just a collection of story rights on Genesis chapter 1. We've got the creation narrative in the chapter 2. We've got the the Garden of Eden story and then chapter 3, we've got the Fall Story and then in chapter 4, we've got the Cain and Abel story and then we get some weird genealogies and then we get to the really weird chapter 6 and the Nephilim in the sons of God and all the stuff is going on there. And then then we have the the flood narrative and now we have the after flood narrative. but what's going on here is story out of all of these stories that's been intentionally shapes and forms to tell us some important thing. When we need to see the connections between the story. In order to understand what Moses is trying to communicate by what he chooses to tell.

So this morning I want to talk about Covenant in our text this morning. We're going to be introduced for the first time in the scripture. So this important word covenant. God is a covenant making and God is a covenant keeping God. What we're going to see in our text this morning is that the text of Genesis has been formed and shape and scripted in such a way as to reveal patterns. We're going to see a repetition. In in Genesis chapter 8 and chapter 9 of what took place in Genesis chapter 1 and 2 and 3 and it's intentionally scripted this way. It's intentionally formed in shape this way. The text uses words and imagery and ideas that make us connect to that which has come before. And give us an understanding of what will come next.

But the patterns going to look a little something like this. Starts with blessing God is a god of blessing of God who gives the gift of Life a God who is for his creation not against his creation. There always comes within the story this idea of sin a Breaking of that went of God's good creation rebellion, and rejection of God's good and rightful King Chef. With the sender always comes a curse or a judgment upon those who sin the fruit of sin is always death. There's always this sense because God is a God of Justice because God is omnipotent all-powerful and omniscient all-knowing because God is not disengage from his Creation The God is immanent and aware of all that is taking place in his creation. There is Judgement. and curse for sin

But we see that the pattern always brings about the grace of God. The grace of God not God turning away and winking at sin. The god actively engaged on behalf of his people to preserve and protect them from sin and leave them out of judgment back into blessing. This is the pattern that we saw in Genesis 1 2 3 and it is the pattern that we're going to see again this morning in Genesis 8 and 9. We're going to pick up in verse 20. It says this then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar when the Lord smelled the pleasing Aroma the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth neither. Will I ever strike down every living creature as I have done? Will the earth remain? Seedtime and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease. After the great Deluge this flood of judgment that God brings Against Humanity because the intent and thoughts and actions of his heart. We're constantly continually evil. God brings judgement upon all of humanity is Noah and his family received it again. This takes us to Genesis. The story of the flood is intimately connected to the story of Genesis chapter 1 and Creation in chapter 1 in creation. We have the spirit of God hovering over the Waters of chaos and out of the water of chaos God speaks order and life. Shapes and creates all that exists out of test. This is how God function And what we saw and I talked about this several weeks ago in the flood narrative is that God once again uses chaos to bring judgment upon the disorder. He uses non order to judge this order so that he can re-establish order. But in doing so he's also re-establishing blessing. This last words for 22 while the Earth remains seedtime and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease God is it's those words intentionally take us back to Genesis chapter 1 and the functional creation narrative that we discover there. The creation of Lights in the separation of light and darkness the separation of land in Earth that creates the ability to Grow Foods all of the connections all of the functional order of the universe time energy, whether all of that that is created in Genesis chapter one that is destroyed in the great Deluge of the flood. Is now guaranteed and promise it is re-established by God. re-establish by him

while the Earth remains seedtime and harvest cold in summer heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease. We continue on a chapter 9 and God bless Noah and his sons and said to them. And multiply and fill the Earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens and upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea into your hands. They are delivered every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants I give you every thing but you shall not eat flesh with its life. That is the blood this blessing that is given to Noah and his family. He's a restatement of what we discovered in Genesis chapter 1 be fruitful and multiply the blessing and the provision of God for his image bearers. He's a Mago de his imagers it it did not stop. Just as God created and blessed Adam to be fruitful and multiply now. God takes Noah and his family and gives them the same blessing in the same mandate. But there are changes. It's not what it was in the fullness. When will Attack at Genesis 1:28 it says they've God bless them. Said to them be fruitful and multiply feel the Earth. Subdue it have dominion over the fish of the sea in over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said behold. I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the Earth and every tree with Seasons fruit. You shall have them for food. And every beast of the earth and every bird of the heavens and everything that creeps on the earth everything that has the breath of life. I've given every green plant for food and it was so

injustice gods pronouncement in Genesis chapter 3 made it clear that despite the fall. The blessing was still intact hear the text makes clear that despite the flood. The blessing is still largely intact after the fall the ground would not be cooperative in Genesis 1:28. I'm going to give you all the vegetation to eat of it after the fall of Genesis chapter 3 cursed is the ground Because of You by toil and sweat by the sweat of your face by the sweat of your bald head. You will eat the fruit of the ground. The blessing is still there, but now it has become compromised by the sin and rebellion of Adam and Eve in the garden now in the same way at the end of the flood in the blessings still there be fruitful and multiply.

But now rather than enjoying a peaceful harmonious existence with creation Now, there's going to be a great fear between man and animal there's going to be distance is going to bring this is going to be the reality of death on a regular basis. Disgrace in that God is providing them not only the fruit of the ground, but they're allowed to eat of the Flesh of the animals now. But in the midst of that God gives them this. Interesting and in profound warning says we need when you eat of it just don't eat eat it with the blood in it because the blood is life.

We continue in verse 5 of Genesis chapter 9. He says blood I will require a reckoning. And from every piece that will require it and from man from his fellow man. I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of Man by man. Shall his blood be shed fur. God made man in his own image and you be fruitful and multiply increase greatly on the earth and X in it.

Is is laying the groundwork once again for order and blessing? God is giving them Direction and Mandy to be his image bearers. This is absolutely vital important for us to remember God create mankind unique in all of creation as his imagers. This is a functional role to be the Imago Dei the image of God is to do God's work in the world. It is not just ontological being but it is practical and pragmatic it is how we image God in this world. One of the most important lessons that we can take from this after the flood narrative in Genesis 8 and 9 is the reality that the Imago Dei the image of God. The vocation of mankind has not been lost either in the fall or in the flood. God doesn't have a plan B for his Imago Dei. We are still his images even though we're radically simple.

God's still is committed. The working with in partnership with mankind as his images in this world. But now we're introduced to one of the first laws or prohibitions or commands that we find in all the scriptures and it has to do with the view of human life because were made in the Imago Dei because we are Gods images and God is the source and father and author of life in full course in everything but in humanity in a distinct and profound way. God tells them. You need to be very careful with each other. You need to guard one another's lives. Because if someone takes another's life. that life will be required of a human life because of the image of God remains in the protection of God, but now accountability to God for preserving human life. Is put into humans hands does instituting blood Vengeance in the ancient world in capital punishment in modern society. This simple concept life is of infinite and in unimaginable value. I meant to take that life from someone else is as grevious as soon as can be imagined. And it cannot go unpunished. or unjudged But God sets in this text. I'm not going to do this anymore. What we saw in the fault was God taking responsibility as the violence and the wickedness of mankind Rose to such a threshold God steps in and brings that judgment. Now. God says I'm not going to do that anymore now. It's up to you.

It's up to you. I'm putting the responsibility for maintaining the Dignity of human life in the hands of humanity.

What's this idea of?

the value of life being represented in blood you can eat the animals just don't eat them with blood in it. Don't kill or take the blood of another human life or blood will be required of you is this deep and profound understanding that blood is a source of life. But I did go something like this when you when you take an animal to eat.

You drain it of its blood as an offering as an offering of gratitude and respect to the one who gave it life in the first place. Into the life that you're taking so that you might have life. Much in the same way that we might pray before we eat a meal. We don't have to slaughter our meet most of us.

But as much as we would offer a prayer of Thanksgiving before it would eat a meal when somebody would take an animal now and and take its life. They would drain it of its blood as an active memorializing and remembering an offering it back to the one who gave it life in the first place in the blood is a profound one. We see it instituted in the Mosaic Covenant in a law itself we go to Leviticus chapter 17 verse 10. Says this if any one of the House of Israel or the strangers host who sojourn among them eat any blood I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will Tutt him off from among his people. unbelievably severe and profound statement from God not just about diet. It's not it's not it's not about the health ramifications of eating blood or any of that. It's about the significance.

And never mind the God is the author of life life is found in the blood. This is such a profound and important reality. It's found in the Mosaic Covenant, but it's in Genesis 8. It's pre-law. But the beautiful thing is that we actually find it in the New Covenant. We find this reality embedded into the New Covenant reality for us in the book of Acts in Acts. 15. Remember, this is the Jerusalem Council that the early church has come together the leaders the apostles the elders to decide what is the reality of of the work of the Kingdom has been instituted by 10 Jesus and what is its relationship to culture. Do I have to be a Jew and keep the law to have to be circumcised do I have to follow the strictures of mandates and commands of the old Covenant in order to receive the blessings of the New Covenant? And after much prayer and dialogue and seek in the scriptures and being led by the spirit, the early church says, no absolutely not you don't have to be a Jew because the gospel and salvation is both for the Jew and the Gentile by faith in Jesus Christ.

So they say no you don't have to be circumcised. No, you don't have to keep that. You don't have to eat clean. You don't have to follow the the rituals that you can if you're Jewish and you want to keep doing that, but you don't have to Put an interest in Acts 15. Sorry. If this is in the proclamation at the end of it says therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. We shouldn't trouble them. We shouldn't overwhelm them. We shouldn't put a burden upon them that Jesus didn't put upon them. This but we should write to them. Let's ask them to abstain from the things polluted by idols.

Why because mankind is God's image? Idolatry is at the core the greatest violation and the in the heart of all sin is idolatry. Stay away from things polluted by Idols from sexual immorality, which if you remember in the story of Genesis chapter 6 is deeply entrenched with Rebellion against sky and from what has been strangled and from blood But even in the New Covenant in the new reality instituted by Jesus and the birth of the new church, if they listen you don't have to keep the law of Moses. We're asking if this is the free Moses, this is bigger than anything. We're asking you to stay away from idolatry. Stay away from sexual immorality and stay away from blood. Because it represents life.

Go back to Genesis 9.

Starting a bursitis. It's then then God said to Noah. And his sons with him the whole I establish my Covenant with you and your Offspring after you. Again, this is the first time in the scriptures that that word covenant shows us. It is a profound where it's a deep and Powerful agreements. Sometimes it's unilateral. In other words one person makes a covenant to another and nothing is required from the other person. That's actually what's going on here at some level and other times. They're their bilateral. I make a covenant with somebody. Here's my responsibilities. Here's your responsibility.

Covenant is is an agreement and a definition of relationship and responsibilities and expectations that come with that relationship. God after judging the world with the flood takes Noah and his family and he says, you know what? I'm going to establish my Covenant with you and your Offspring after you

he says and with every living creature that is with you the birds livestock every beast of the Earth with you as many as came out of the Ark it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my Covenant with you that never again shall All Flesh be cut off By the Waters of the flood and never again, shall there be a flood to destroy the Earth. Got interest into this promise this agreement not only with Noah and his offspring but with all the other animals all the other beats all the rest of his creation that never again will God use the Waters of chaos to flood and judge his creation. I will not do that. Again. Said this is the sign of the Covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for all future Generations. I've set my bow in the cloud. Referring to a rainbow Hebrew the same word is used for a rainbow as is used for an actual bow and arrow. It's all God says I'm setting my bow in the sky as a sign for you by going on right? I'm laying down my bow. I'm not going to use that the strike down the Earth with a flood anymore. I'm going to place my bow now in the heavens. So when you see it, you will be reminded that I have covenanted with you. I have promised that I will not destroy the world by flood again.

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds. I will remember my Covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flash in the waters will never again become a flood to destroy. a flashlight the fact that there's so much repetition in these few versus is there to alert us to the importance and significance of what is being said and communicated. Over and over and over again to send I'm making Covenant. I'll remember my Covenant. I'll keep my Covenant. I will not destroy the world with a flood again. I will not do it.

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it. Remember the Everlasting Covenant. The nature of this Covenant is Everlasting. I will remember this Everlasting Covenant between God and every living creature of All Flesh. That is on the earth. God said to know this is the sign of the Covenant that I've established between me and All Flesh that is on the Earth. if we follow the tracking of Genesis 1 2 3 the Covenant here stands in parallel to the Garden of Eden there to the Genesis 2 Did the flood had in in a in a real way under the blessing the result of being fruitful and multiplying was undone when the population was wiped out? Food was destroy the Covenant re-establishes the functionality of the blessing in the same way that the functionality of the cosmos has been re-established. God is setting up through this Covenant and through his imagers a functional Kingdom. When mankind will partner with him. And bringing God's order and blessing and life to the rest of the world. What we saw in Genesis 1 2 3 The Narrative of Adam and Eve. We see repeated in Genesis 6 tonight in the flood narrative with Noah and his descendants this same God of blessing. The same type of sin and Rebellion the same response to sin and Rebellion by curse and judgment and the same Grace is reveal. The structure the literary connection the vocabulary is intentionally shaped informed and written to draw us from one there to to the other to see this pattern emerging and evolving if you keep reading not only Genesis, but the rest of the scriptures you're going to see this pattern happen not only on a macro level 2 on micro levels over and over and over and over again. God continues to bless because that is who God is and Mankind continues to sin because that is who we have become.

It is not just something we do it has infected us. It has broken off and so over and over and over again. We see that's in judge. We see the reality of the curse. We see this order non order and death replacing life in order.

And your time and time and time and time again? We're confronted with a guy who refuses to give up on his creation. We should Grace. We could Grace at the end of Genesis chapter 3 when God removes them from the garden. What does he do 50 kills an animal?

So that he might make garments for them to cover their nakedness. He said the blood of an animal they might be covered and without shame. What do we see in the flood narrative what we see the ark and God's provision in his grace as he protects and rescues and saves Noah and his offspring. But not only know his offspring but he preserves and protects animals in the are that are going to continue God's vision. a creation in Kenya Lucy Grace all throughout the store now in the Covenant that's made. Once again. We see God grace. I'm never going to do it again.

I'm going to protect you protect my creation. blessing send curse Grace blessing sin curse Grace pattern goes on and on and on.

Till we get to Jesus.

Is Jesus the pattern is brought to completion in a different way? Go back to Leviticus 17. This is the prohibition against eating blood that we find in the Mosaic law. Assembly Rivers, continue to verse 11 does if any one of the House of Israel or the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people for the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. No roots in the provision of the Mosaic Covenant of the law, which required sacrifices ritually and regularly for the forgiveness of sin. God says this is why you got to protect and honor the life that is in the Bloods because the the life is in the blood is what allows you to experience the ongoing grace of God. Every time you offer the blood of those animals in ritual sacrifice, it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. That is in Black.

We think about Jesus.

We think about that pattern blessing send curse. Grace

we think about the reality of blood. And a life that is in the block. We think about the story of the flood where God judges all of mankind. But preserves one and his family.

All all of that reality when we bring that to the story that we just came out of an Easter. Jesus willfully choosing to go to the cross in obedience to the father offering himself offering his blood offering his life.

For all of humanity, we see the we see the Fulfillment and completion. in Jesus in the flood God judges, everybody and preserves one in Jesus got judges one, so that all might be

How does he do if he doesn't through the shedding of blood this is what Jesus instituted in communion. This is why when the soldier speared him in the side on the cross and blood and water flowed.

the blood the life of Jesus shed for our life water Water of Life we drink on and never thirst again. In Jesus, we find this incredible fulfillment and the end of the pattern in Jesus sin is atone for in Jesus. The curse is broken in Jesus judgment is fulfilled and in Jesus the grace of God overcomes the power of sin and death and blessing. And only blessing.

Jesus come and lives and dies and rises again so that in the power of his life. We might have life. Jesus comes as the new Adam Jesus comes as the new Noah. He's not just the new Adam and the new Noah. He's the better Adam and the better Noah. He's the one that completes with a only partially experience. Jesus forms

Well, maybe better said this way Jesus reforms Humanity. to the original Imago Dei In Jesus by the shedding of his blood by the offering of his life. We are made new we are as a scripture says born again. Not of the will of man or the will of the flesh but by the will of God if anyone is in Christ Jesus he or she is a new creation. Jesus has come to renew that which was lost in the flood. Jesus has come to redeem that which was judged in the flood.

Jesus comes to make a new Humanity. This is why I finished last week sermon on Matthew 28. I'm going to do it again this morning Matthew 28 what we call the Great Commission. At the end of Matthew's gospel. Recording all the Jesus did in his life obviously but recording what happened in his life and his death in his resurrection. It ends this way. Jesus came to them. Sad all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me. therefore As You Go, Make Disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold I Am With You Always even to the End of the Age

if you're paying any attention. This is a repetition a renewal a Redemption of the original mandate given in Genesis 1:28. That is read given in Genesis a tonight to be fruitful and multiply to be the Imago Dei. This is what Jesus is saying because of who I am and because of what I've done all authority in the heavens on the Earth has now been given to me and if you're in me that changes everything for you, so because we're a part of this new or renewed thing called the kingdom of God that Jesus has initiated and inaugurated and instituted and invited us into because of the reality of the Kingdom now you get to be human again. Human, you have to go back to doing what you were created for you get to be God's imager until the blessing and the location is brought back to fulfillment in Jesus. So now you because of who Jesus is now you go and you made disciple be fruitful and multiply. Make disciples not just of your people not just of your tribe of all tribes of every people of all Nations. This is universal in its toe. You going to make the cycles of everyone everywhere? Because of the reality of King Jesus you teach them to obey you have them baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the spirit and you know that no matter where you go or what you experienced King Jesus is there with you because we were created to partner with God from the beginning. Same way that Adam and Eve Walked In the Garden in the cool of the day. They enjoyed intimate presents and fellowship now because of Jesus the spirit himself dwells within our mortal bodies. There is never a time or a place when we are separated from King Jesus. We live in the reality of on interrupted presence. With God himself because Jesus has given us of the spear.

You look at the stories in Genesis. And they're written and shaped to remind. the reality of this world and the reality of God and the reality of Who We Are

They all serve. They all sir not in every jot and Tittle not in every exact word or verse and phrase in their wholeness. They serve to point us to Jesus. We see in the scriptures the pattern so that we might see how Jesus fulfills. pattern

God will not destroy the Earth with a flood anymore. He won't judge and destroy the entirety of humanity and only preserve one. No in Jesus. God destroys the one. at the mini my fine life Church's I said last week? Jesus is Worthy. Have your Allegiance? Jesus is the only one worthy of your absolute Allegiance and obedience. He is the king of kings and the Lord of lords. He is God's gracious Covenants. to us