But With Thee Will I Establish My Covenant.

Genesis 6:18 - 7:12

Summary

Meeting Purpose

To discuss the biblical account of Noah's Ark and the covenant God made with Noah, exploring theological implications and practical applications.

Key Takeaways

· The Noahic covenant is a "royal grant" type, where God unilaterally promises to preserve Noah and his family

· Noah's 120-year construction of the Ark demonstrates remarkable faith, obedience, and perseverance

· God's covenant with Noah sets a precedent for His faithfulness throughout scripture, reinforcing trust in His promises

· The story highlights the balance between divine intervention and human effort in carrying out God's plans

Topics

· Covenant Types in the Old Testament

o Two main types: parity (between equals) and suzerainty (ruler to subject)

o Noahic covenant closer to "royal grant" - God bestowing benefits/gifts

o Similar to Abrahamic and Davidic covenants - promissory charters to individuals and descendants

o Unlike Mosaic covenant, no obligations placed on recipient

· Noah's Ark Construction Challenges

o 120-year project with numerous obstacles and opportunities for delay

o Required dedication, ingenuity, and increasing skill/intuition over time

o God's covenant promise encouraged Noah to persevere despite difficulties

o Demonstrates faith in action - Noah obeying without fully understanding outcomes

· Clean vs. Unclean Animals

o Distinction predates Mosaic law, implying earlier understanding

o Likely based on physical characteristics (e.g., cloven hooves, chewing cud)

o Varied between cultures, later codified for Israelites

o New Testament teachings (Jesus, Paul) remove these distinctions for Christians

· God's Faithfulness and Trust-building

o Noah's story showcases God's reliability in keeping His word

o Contrasts with human unreliability in keeping promises

o Builds foundation for trusting God's character and promises throughout scripture

o Personal faith grows as believers experience God's faithfulness over time

· Divine Intervention vs. Human Effort

o God miraculously brought animals to the Ark but required Noah to build it

o Illustrates partnership between divine assistance and human obedience/work

o Applies to modern Christian life - salvation by grace, sanctification through effort

o Work as part of human nature since creation, finding fulfillment in purposeful labor

Next Steps

· Continue discussion next week, potentially exploring:

· Historical/cultural references to flood narratives in other traditions

· Deeper analysis of covenant theology and its implications for Christian life

· Practical applications of Noah's perseverance to modern challenges of faith

Application Questions

✤What do you think of the “royal grant” form of covenant where God alone is under compulsion by oath to uphold his promise to the favored party?

✤When doing new work, do you find yourself increasing in skill the more you do the work; and that “intuition” grows as familiarity with the tools and techniques allows greater insight into the working process?

✤So much detail is left out of the ark building and provisioning that it is difficult to imagine that it all came together, especially for anyone familiar with the voyages of exploration and the difficulties of staying alive for months at sea (without a zoo to feed either!). The difference is that God is making it all work, not man, right?