New and Old – Genesis 9

For in the image of God He made man.
As for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”

Noah was spared, but God determined that things would be different. Mankind would be the same, and he reminds us that we are created in the image of God, and our purpose would be the same, to be fruitful and multiply.

This is the sign of the covenant
which I have established between Me
and all flesh that is on the earth.”

The creation of the rainbow was the sign of the first covenant between God and mankind. He would never destroy the earth through flood again. Can you imagine their wonder as they saw the first rainbow – it’s brilliant color floating above the earth, so real but so imagined? Roger and I still pull off the road when we see a beautiful rainbow, amazed at this floating, ethereal creation.

But then, by the end of the chapter, we’re back to the old: sin. It doesn’t seem like much, giggling about someone’s nakedness, especially after the sin of the culture that drowned a generation before. But that’s how sin starts, a giggle here and a selfishness there. It was enough to get God’s immediate attention. Noah knew his children needed to be reprimanded and took the lead of a father in disciplining his children. 

Noah knew how devasting sin could be, and how he never wanted anyone to go through judgement again.

Nor should we.

What’s New?

It’s hard to leave the old, the comfortable, in search of something new, even if we are excited about the new.

That’s how many of us are feeling about this new year. 2020 was a miserable year, a disruptive year, in so many ways I don’t want to depress myself recounting them!

But we did find a way to be comfortable in the midst, to even find “joy.” Joy came in the form of a kale and lettuce garden, drives in the mountains, spending time with one or two “safe” family and friends. Joy came in making masks, quilting Christmas gifts, doing audio editing for her.BIBLE – a million little things that made me feel I was connecting with the world “out there” with our leaving “here.”

And it was a joy to study Job and Philemon together. It’s hard for me to leave Philemon – like leaving a Covid friend! He’s become dear to my heart, and I will never forget him.

But it looks like we are entering, although slowly, into “new.” With the immunization coming, we can venture out into the world. I imagine there will be will be a return to some of the old, taking some new with us, entering into a world we’re still not sure we can trust. I wonder how much of this last year we will take with us?

So what’s next?

For me, I’m getting a hip replacement (yeah!) this Thursday (so please be in prayer). That will be something new – being able to walk without pain, I trust.

For a study, I was thinking about an overview of Genesis? “In the beginning,” everything was made new. And some people embark on Bible reading programs that begin in Genesis. I’ve been audio editing Genesis, so you can listen to it on her.BIBLE soon. If not, maybe I can cheat and give you little previews of what is to come.

What say ye? Will I see you in the New Year?