Genesis Chapter 8 - Lesson 24

Overview

• Focus on Genesis Chapter 8
• Studied passages on the Great Flood, Noah, and the ark
• Parallels between the ark and the church, the flood and the final judgment
• Differences between the flood and final judgment

Recap of the Flood

• Water sources: underground rivers and water vapor envelope
• Total and worldwide destruction
• Environmental phenomena explained by the flood: hurricanes, tidal waves, earthquakes

Results of the Flood

• Genesis 8:1-2: God remembers Noah and stops the flood
• Ways God stopped the flood:
  • Caused wind for evaporation
  • Stopped fountains of the deep
  • Closed floodgates of the sky
• Genesis 8:3-4: Waters receded, new land formations created
• Genesis 8:5-12: Noah sends out birds to test for dry land
  • Raven and dove tests
  • Dove returns with olive leaf signaling dry land
• Genesis 8:13-14: Earth dries up

Physical Changes Post-Flood (Dr. Henry Morris)

• More extensive oceans
• Less habitable land
• Extreme temperatures
• New mountain ranges
• Greater movement of earth's crust
• Fossil records as evidence of the flood

Relationship Between God and Noah Post-Flood

• Genesis 8:15-19: God commands Noah and family to leave the ark
  • Parallel with Jesus' invitation to the church
• Genesis 8:20: First mention of 'altar' in the Bible
  • Noah offers sacrifices, gives one-seventh of his wealth
• Genesis 8:21-22: God promises not to curse the earth again
  • Recognizes man's sinful nature
  • Earth will sustain mankind despite environmental changes

Establishment of Human Government (Genesis 9)

• Genesis 9:1-2: Man charged to multiply, fear of man placed in animals
• Genesis 9:3-4: Authorization to eat meat but not blood
• Genesis 9:5-6: Establishment of capital punishment
  • Life-for-life justice
  • Responsibility given to man

Capital Punishment and the Bible

• Supported by both Old and New Testament
  • Genesis 9:6, Romans 13:1-4
• Warning against executing the innocent (Exodus 23:7)
• Both love and mercy towards murderers in the Bible
  • Examples: David, Paul
• Balanced view: Government can exercise capital punishment or show mercy depending on circumstances

Next Lesson

• Continue study in Genesis focusing on recovery from the great flood