Now, God shares with Noah what he had already decided in his heart. He does this in the form of a covenant that is entirely one-sided. The covenant with Noah and his family is all about God’s promises, and there is no expectation of any particular response or behaviour from mankind. Whatever happens, God will keep his word.

Noah and his sons are to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. God gives them new permission to eat any moving thing that lives, although they may not eat meat with blood still in it. Throughout the Bible, blood is the symbol of life, so refraining from eating it is symbolic of respect for the sanctity of life.

God makes special consideration of human life. Humans may take an animal’s life but may not take the life of another human being. God will demand an accounting for the life of a human being. Verse 6 introduces capital punishment as a consequence for taking someone’s life, demonstrating just how important God deems human life to be.

Then comes the covenant. It is the promise of God never again to destroy all life by flood, and it will be marked with the sign of the rainbow. Whatever happens, God will keep his promise. It is unconditional, universal and everlasting. God knows what mankind will become; he knows our weaknesses, our rebellion and our sin; and yet this covenant will remain.

Since this day, God has seen generation after generation of people reject him, sin against him and try to live without him. He has kept his promise. His heart towards us is not to destroy us, but to redeem us, and to restore our relationship with him. He really is a patient God. Next time you see a rainbow, give thanks, not just that God has promised to never flood the earth again, but because of this proof of his loving, faithful nature, and his provision of Jesus for the salvation of all mankind.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH