January 6, 2022: Day 4 – Genesis 8-11 and John 6-7
January 6, 2022We find ourselves at the end of the story of Noah and God creating a new covenant with Noah which has as its sign the rainbow. This is where we find the sign of the rainbow representing the covenant that God will never destroy his people again. He commands the sons of Noah to be fruitful and multiply just like he had commanded Adam and Eve. You need to pay attention to Noah’s son Shem from whom Abraham is to come. It is through Abraham that we find the nation and the people of Israel evolve.
But before we get there we find this interesting story of the Tower of Babel where God confuses the languages of the people so that they would not understand each other which would prevent them from doing the impossible, which was possible. Once we see that story we find ourselves beginning to see Abram and his story which we will follow as it takes us to the beginning of the people that God chose to be his people.
In John we have what we would call very high sacramental language. Look at chapter 6 and you will find Jesus describing the bread and the wine as the body and blood of Jesus as the redeemer of the sins of all humanity. It is very clear language and it is matched with a sacramental feast of the child bringing the bread and the fish which were used to feed the five thousand. Notice what Jesus does before he feeds the five thousand. Look at vs.11 where he 1) takes the loaves, 2) gives thanks, 3) distributes. This is the same process that is used in Matthew at the last supper as Jesus feeds his disciples that sacramental meal.
We also find many of Jesus’ disciples abandoning him because of this sacramental language. But the twelve remain faithful. The chapters end with the unbelief of the religious leaders including a defense by Nicodemus which puts him on the edge of the leadership and almost accused of treason.
Only Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark were protected from destruction by the “old covenant” (Gen 6:18). The “new covenant” protects Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures (Gen 8:9-11) forever.
These protections are of physical life. The new covenant in Christ must grant a different sort of protection.
About Noah’s curse on Ham: Text used by US slaveholders (and other racists) to justify slavery and other subjugation of black and brown people?
Are there different sources for Genesis 10 and 11 or parts of the chapters, some much earlier than others?
The descendants of Shem “enter the land of Canaan” (Gen 11:31), the land of Noah’s cursed son Ham (Gen 9:22)?
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Grace?
John 6:65 “…no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.” Grace?
Great catch on the covenants that God has created with humankind. The new covenant in Christ is one of eternal life which is provided by the redemption of sin through the blood of Christ. Yes, very different, in fact, Christ tells his followers to expect persecution, even physical hardships, if we want to be his follower. Yes, some have used this text in Genesis to justify slavery, completely out of context and completely interpreted for an agenda that was of Satan. Some think that there are other sources and that Genesis in fact is a composition of oral sources that were written down over a span of centuries. Yes, this is to justify the continued conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanites which some say continues today. We do believe that it is God who chooses and that is grace. The choice of God is for all of humanity to come to him and accept and believe in him. Again, both of those verses reflect a grace where we know from John 3:16 that God loved the world, not only a select group of people