Creation Lesson # 15
Changes after the Flood (Genesis 8:20-9:19)
In this lesson we are going to look at how things changed when Noah got off the ark. Now this is important when studying creation because things on earth changed as a result of the flood. For instance you will not see this specifically in Genesis 9 but when studying the ages of men they lived shorter life spans after the flood. They also started having children at a much younger age.
The changes in the atmosphere pressure, that took place during the flood, were probably one of the greatest causes of the changes that we see after the flood. Think about how the atmospheric pressure changed during the flood when the sea level increased to a little over 29000 feet. Having that much water on the earth could have also caused catastrophic changes to the earth.
Getting ahead for a minute we see that there is no mention of a husbandman or any one being drunk before the flood. It is possible that before the flood the atmosphere would not allow the fermentation process, but after the flood with a different atmosphere grapes could now ferment and liquor was made (Genesis 9:20-21). Either way, it is for sure the atmosphere changed which could also account for the shorter life span of humans.
Genesis 8:20-22 :
Here we see that Noah built an altar unto the Lord and offered a sacrifice with the clean beast and fowl. After what Noah and his family had just been through it is no wonder that they offered a sacrifice to God.
This is the 1st mention of an altar and after the law comes into effect they cannot build them in high places.
Notice that it says that “the LORD smelled a sweet savour” cross references that with
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 .
God said that he would not curse the ground again as he did with Adam. But remember the ground was still under the curse from when Adam sinned.
Another change we see after the flood is we see the seasons. Genesis 8:22
Seed time Harvest time Cold Heat Summer Winter
If the seed time and harvest time represented spring and fall then even though they are 6 here it would not contradict what we call four seasons today.
Genesis 9:1-7 :
These verses show us changes that will affect both man and the animals.
- Notice in verse 1 that God blesses all 3 of Noah sons. This is why Canaan was cursed instead of Ham for his sin. (Genesis 9:25)
- Notice in verse 1 that Noah and his sons were given the same command as Adam and Eve. “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.”
- In verses 2-4 something changes with the animals. They are now going to dread man. And the reason is obvious because now man is allowed to eat meat. Remember in Genesis 1:29-30 that both man and beast was to eat the green herb. Now man can eat meat but he cannot eat it with blood in it.
- Now this is important because 3 times in the Bible man is told to stay away from blood. Before the Law(Genesis 9:2-4) ; Under the Law(Leviticus 17:14) ; After the Law(Acts 15:19-20)
- Now why do you think that Satan worship and demonic practices and rituals are always centered on blood and drinking blood? Because Satan will always seek to directly oppose the word of God.
- In verses 5-6 we see capital punishment instituted. Many say that Jesus did away with capital punishment in Matthew 5:38-39. But this passage in Matthew is not doctrinally aimed at the church age. It is for the millennium. To prove this Paul said in Acts 25:11 that if he was guilty of something worth death that he would not refuse to die. So clearly Paul believed in the death penalty after the church age began.
- That makes 3 times that the death penalty can be found in the Bible. Before the Law(Genesis 9:5-6) ; Under the Law(Numbers 35:30-31) ; After the Law(Acts 25:11)
- Now someone might ask the question is the executioner committing murder when he kills someone who has been condemned to death? The answer is no. This matter is discussed in (Romans 13:1-7) and he is referred to as the minister of God in verse 4.
- Now someone might ask about the commandment that says “thou shalt not kill”. Jesus clarifies this for us in Matthew19:18. Jesus says murder instead of kill when he quotes the commandment because self defense killings are justified in the Bible (Number 35:11-12) and so is armed combat (Deuteronomy 20:15-18 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)
Genesis 9:9-19 :
Here we see God’s promise to never again destroy the entire earth with a flood and he also establishes a covenant with Noah and his seed after him.
The token of the covenant is God’s Bow (verse 13). Note that God calls it his bow. Now there is a rainbow around the throne of God in Revelation 4:3. This is interesting because we are told that a rainbow is formed when the light from the sun passes through the moisture in the air which acts like a prism and parts the light into the colors of the spectrum. But remember that God is light (1 John 1:5) and God knows about parting light also (Job 38:34) so why would he not have a rainbow around his throne.
Now once again in this passage we see the proof that the flood of Noah was a universal flood, because if it was only a local flood why would God have to promise to never flood the entire earth again!
Creation Lesson #15 : Handout
Changes after the Flood (Genesis 8:20-9:19)
1) What is the most likely reason that people did not live as long after the flood.
2) What is a good cross reference for the sweet savour in Genesis 8:21?
3) List the seasons found in Genesis 8:22.
4) What is the change concerning the animals and man?
5) What part of the animal can man not eat?
6) Give three times in the Bible that man is told to stay away from blood?
7) What is the change in regards to man and mankind?
8) Give three times in the Bible that we see the death penalty.
9) Give a verse showing that the executioner is not committing murder when he kills someone who is condemned to death.
10) Give a reference showing that self defense is not murder.
11) Give a reference showing that armed warfare is not murder.
12) What is the token of the covenant that God made with Noah in regards to never flooding the earth again?