Genesis 8-11
Overview of Chapter 8
Noah, his family, and the animals are all still stuck on the ark. The rains stop and the water begins to subside, but no land is in sight. Noah begins sending doves out each week to see if the land is uncovered yet. The first week the dove returns to the ark with nothing, the second week the dove returns with a leaf, and finally the dove does not return at all giving the sailors hope that they will see land again soon.
God finally tells Noah it is ok to leave the ark. When Noah sets his feet on the ground he decides to build an altar and worship God. Thank the Lord that there were seven of every clean animal so a few could be sacrificed without ending that animals existence in history! This pleased God and soothed Him so much that He decides He will never again curse the ground, but He makes it clear that "man's heart is evil."
Overview of Chapter 9
Now that God has Noah and his families attention He gives them some instructions for how to proceed. They are to have lots of babies and fill the earth. They can now eat animals, but to make it fair God gives the animals the instinct to run away when they see humans coming their way.
A new law is instituted, if man is killed by another person then the killer should be killed.
God also establishes a one sided covenant with humanity. He promises to never destroy the earth again with a flood. As a reminder to Himself He puts a rainbow in the clouds that He will see as He looks down at His creation.
Noah goes right to work farming and planting a vineyard. Unfortunately he gets liquored up and strips naked, not exactly something that is good for a guy his age to be doing. Noah's youngest son, Ham, sees his naked dad and tells his two brothers, Shem and Japheth. The two brothers show their father more respect then the younger brother and cover their father so his shame would not be known by any others.
When Noah wakes up He curses Canaan, the offspring of his youngest son Ham.
Noah died.
Overview of Chapter 10
This chapter is primarily a genealogy of Noah's family tree. There are a few things that are important to point out.
As you follow this family tree you will see that it will be divided into separate lands and languages. More detail about this will be given in chapter 11 of Genesis.
You will see some people and city names that will play a prominent role in history. Nimrod, a descendant of Ham, will become the first dictator, and he will build the infamous cities of Babel and Nineveh. We also read that during the time of Peleg "the earth was divided."
Overview of Chapter 11
This does not pick up at the end of the genealogy given in chapter 10, but instead it is about three generations after Noah. At this time everyone in the world was in one place and had one language. They begin to make bricks and build cities. They ignored God's instruction given in chapter 9 to fill the earth and instead decide to stay together so they won't be "scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
The Lord comes down to see the tall tower the people are building and decides that all this working together is causing humans to ignore what they had been told to do by God. The decision is made to confuse their language and scatter them over the face of the earth.
This chapter ends with an extended genealogy of Shem that focuses on one line. This line leads to two people who will play a prominent role in what is going to happen next in history - Abram and his nephew Lot.
Reflection
Do the flood waters and worries of this world make you grow impatient while waiting for God's timing? After God leads you through important events in your life do you take the time to worship Him? Do you allow your sin to leave you "naked" or ashamed before your children? When you catch someone else in sin do you quickly go and tell others or do you "cover" their sin with love (Proverbs 10:12 and 1Peter 4:8)? Have you ever considered praying a blessing over your children in the same way that Noah did for his two oldest sons? Do the group of people around you; friends, family and coworkers; make it easier for you to ignore what God is telling you to do? If so, should you consider "dividing" yourself from them? (Note: this is not advice for teenagers to leave home or spouses to get a divorce - neither of which I would ever try to justify.)
For Further Study
Offerings: Genesis 4:3-4, Psalm 51:16-17, Matthew 5:23-24
Death Penalty: Exodus 21:23-26, Leviticus 23:10-16, Matthew 5:21-22, Romans 6:23
Blessings: Genesis 27, Psalm 109:17, Proverbs 11:11, 1Corinthians 4:12, Hebrews 11:20-21,
Noah, his family, and the animals are all still stuck on the ark. The rains stop and the water begins to subside, but no land is in sight. Noah begins sending doves out each week to see if the land is uncovered yet. The first week the dove returns to the ark with nothing, the second week the dove returns with a leaf, and finally the dove does not return at all giving the sailors hope that they will see land again soon.
God finally tells Noah it is ok to leave the ark. When Noah sets his feet on the ground he decides to build an altar and worship God. Thank the Lord that there were seven of every clean animal so a few could be sacrificed without ending that animals existence in history! This pleased God and soothed Him so much that He decides He will never again curse the ground, but He makes it clear that "man's heart is evil."
Overview of Chapter 9
Now that God has Noah and his families attention He gives them some instructions for how to proceed. They are to have lots of babies and fill the earth. They can now eat animals, but to make it fair God gives the animals the instinct to run away when they see humans coming their way.
A new law is instituted, if man is killed by another person then the killer should be killed.
God also establishes a one sided covenant with humanity. He promises to never destroy the earth again with a flood. As a reminder to Himself He puts a rainbow in the clouds that He will see as He looks down at His creation.
Noah goes right to work farming and planting a vineyard. Unfortunately he gets liquored up and strips naked, not exactly something that is good for a guy his age to be doing. Noah's youngest son, Ham, sees his naked dad and tells his two brothers, Shem and Japheth. The two brothers show their father more respect then the younger brother and cover their father so his shame would not be known by any others.
When Noah wakes up He curses Canaan, the offspring of his youngest son Ham.
Noah died.
Overview of Chapter 10
This chapter is primarily a genealogy of Noah's family tree. There are a few things that are important to point out.
As you follow this family tree you will see that it will be divided into separate lands and languages. More detail about this will be given in chapter 11 of Genesis.
You will see some people and city names that will play a prominent role in history. Nimrod, a descendant of Ham, will become the first dictator, and he will build the infamous cities of Babel and Nineveh. We also read that during the time of Peleg "the earth was divided."
Overview of Chapter 11
This does not pick up at the end of the genealogy given in chapter 10, but instead it is about three generations after Noah. At this time everyone in the world was in one place and had one language. They begin to make bricks and build cities. They ignored God's instruction given in chapter 9 to fill the earth and instead decide to stay together so they won't be "scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
The Lord comes down to see the tall tower the people are building and decides that all this working together is causing humans to ignore what they had been told to do by God. The decision is made to confuse their language and scatter them over the face of the earth.
This chapter ends with an extended genealogy of Shem that focuses on one line. This line leads to two people who will play a prominent role in what is going to happen next in history - Abram and his nephew Lot.
Reflection
Do the flood waters and worries of this world make you grow impatient while waiting for God's timing? After God leads you through important events in your life do you take the time to worship Him? Do you allow your sin to leave you "naked" or ashamed before your children? When you catch someone else in sin do you quickly go and tell others or do you "cover" their sin with love (Proverbs 10:12 and 1Peter 4:8)? Have you ever considered praying a blessing over your children in the same way that Noah did for his two oldest sons? Do the group of people around you; friends, family and coworkers; make it easier for you to ignore what God is telling you to do? If so, should you consider "dividing" yourself from them? (Note: this is not advice for teenagers to leave home or spouses to get a divorce - neither of which I would ever try to justify.)
For Further Study
Offerings: Genesis 4:3-4, Psalm 51:16-17, Matthew 5:23-24
Death Penalty: Exodus 21:23-26, Leviticus 23:10-16, Matthew 5:21-22, Romans 6:23
Blessings: Genesis 27, Psalm 109:17, Proverbs 11:11, 1Corinthians 4:12, Hebrews 11:20-21,
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
1 Comments:
Pastor, I deeply appreciate your reflections on these chapters. They've given me much to consider and to pray over. Thank you!
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