Promises, Promises
Genesis 6:9-22, 7:24, 8:14-19, 9:8-17
This morning we start where we left off last week – with yet another story about a man and a boat.
All I will ever need to know I learned from Noah. You too may have received these top ten inspirational messages in your inbox, bits of wisdom that have been gleaned from the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark.
All I will ever need to know I learned from Noah.
- Don’t miss the boat.
- Remember that we are all in the same boat.
- Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
- Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old someone may ask you to do something really big.
- Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
- Build your future on high ground.
- Speed isn’t everything; the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
- When you’re stressed, float awhile.
- Remember the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
- No matter what the storm, when you are with God there’s always a rainbow waiting
This morning we are taking a short look at the long story of Noah, the ark, the flood and the rainbow. It is a long story – four full chapters in Genesis are needed to tell this dramatic story from bow to stern.
The story of Noah and the Ark is a well loved and a very cute story and the image of Noah and the Ark has become a popular motif. It has been turned into amusement park rides around the country; nursery schools and veterinary clinics take their business titles from it. The always cute image can be found on clothing from T-shirts to jackets as well as pictures, posters and of course borders that grace themselves around the edges of children’s rooms. Who can’t resist a group of cartoon pastel animals, lined up two by two on the deck of boat, looking out at you with deep wide eyes and friendly smiles? I am particularly fond of the giraffes, with those alert and curious eyes and their heads towering over all the others. It’s just so cute.
But we are selective in our reading and remembering – we have so easily forgotten the wrath of God in this story. A happy ending – maybe? But the story begins with a God who is very angry at the sinfulness of humankind. So grieved is God at the wickedness upon the earth that God’s heart was filled with pain. We hear that in Genesis 6:7
“So the LORD said, "I will wipe humankind whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." And God does what he says. In a few verses, God says to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.” That never makes it on to the nursery room wallpaper.
The story of Noah building the Ark continues, having been given precise instructions about its purpose, materials, dimensions, as well as it’s human and animal contents. Noah and his family member go on board, taking with them clean and unclean animals to be used later for sacrifices, then two of every kind of animal, as well as food for them all. Noah was 600 years old when it began to rain for 40 days and nights.
Genesis 7:21 begins: “Every living thing that moved on the earth perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all of human kind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men, women and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark and the waters flooded the earth for 150 days.” Another part of the story - which never makes it onto those baby shower invitations.
We then read that Noah sent out a raven, followed by a dove who returns empty handed and who when sent out again, finally returns with an olive branch in her beak, indicating that the waters were receding. Eventually Noah tears open the windows and throws up the sash, and they all proceed to leave the Ark where they worship God - by sacrificing the set of clean animals who were brought along for this very purpose.
This is not where our Biblical story ends, however this flood story is a very universal one as there are many other stories with the motif of great sinfulness being wiped out by a massive flood in order for there to be a new beginning. These stories are often called deluge or flood stories and are found in cultures from the Middle East, India, China, Australia, southern Asia, the islands of the Pacific, Europe, Africa and from native North and South Americans.
The most famous of these flood stories is called the Gilgamesh Epic reaching back to 2700 BCE. The flood story within the epic involves a hero similar to Noah – named Utnapishtim who is told by one of the gods to build a large ark, because the earth was too “noisy” and kept them from sleeping. Utnapishtim is told to take his wife and two of every kind of animal and precious metals onto the ark. It rains for seven days and there is a great flood, which wipes everything else out. At the end of the seven days, Utnapishtim sends out a raven and a dove, leaves the ark and offers sacrifices to the gods where he and his wife are granted immortality.
What might it mean that so many civilizations throughout time have formed these deluge or flood stories? Which universal truth or fear is being expressed by all these storytellers? In the majority of the flood stories - but not all - the world or humanity is doing something wrong, evil or sinful – the flood then wipes everything away and there is a new start. I wonder and ponder that maybe - they too had looked out upon the world and found that uneasy fear about the state of things rising up from the pit of their stomachs and not knowing what to do with it. Maybe they too have said: “Boy times are tough. There are earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes. There are endless wars and murders and people are power hungry and do such horrible things. Where has all the love gone? Things just aren’t like they used to be.” I get other email forwards during the week that lament the state of the world - and express those same fears. Maybe it is those fears and that angst – that is universal - even as the desire for a clean and fresh start – is a universal hope.
Our Biblical Story has not ended yet however – and we return to see that the most important part of the story of Noah and the Ark is the end because we are given an unconditional promise or covenant. The promise is that although destruction and natural disaster may come - it does not come from the hand of God.
"As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
There is a promise for us at the end – and we all know how important promises are to our emotional and spiritual well being. We have been on the receiving end of broken promises –promises to others – to ourselves – to God and its lousy place to be. God give us this promise and a sign:
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 8:12-13) This is the promise of the Rainbow – and it is known as an unconditional covenant or the Noahic covenant. God promises us – no “ifs”, “ands” or “buts.”
There are a number of other types of covenants in scripture between God and the people. A covenant establishes a relationship between two parties. Maybe you made a pact with a childhood friend – and pricked your fingers and sealed the promise by pressing your fingers together.
The Mosaic Covenant, found in the Hebrew Scriptures is a conditional covenant between God and the people and involves following the 613 commandments. Exodus 19: 5 says; “Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples.” Parents often make conditional covenants about behavior with their children. They may set up with their children a covenant – that if they get a certain grade on their report card – they will receive the benefit of something else. This always works better if the children are in on the making of the covenant.
There is also the Davidic covenant - an unconditional covenant where God promises that David’s name and his dynasty will last forever. The promise in the Noah story – is also an unconditional promise which is good news for all us to know and realize that God is firm and unwavering in God’s commitment to love and care for us. That’s a promise.
The promise of the cross is also an unconditional covenant or promise. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who triumphed over the power of death and darkness so that we might have life and hope – is unconditional. There is no “ifs” within the promise of Jesus Christ. It is a gift – it is always something that Jesus Christ did –and never something that we do. Every time someone tries to throw in an “if” it lessens the work of Jesus Christ and puts the work of salvation on our shoulders. If we think salvation is something we have to earn - we make it a cheap grace and we diminish the work that Jesus did.
Ephesians 2:8 reminds us; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is all grace - unmerited amazing grace - and something we receive when we are genuinely and lovingly led by the Holy Spirit. And that’s a promise we can count on.
It is this promise - this gift and this grace that we remember and give thanks for as we come together in fellowship to the Lord’s Table to observe the Lord’s supper and celebrate the unconditional promise of God’ love.
The table is set – and there is a place just for you.
Amen.
Rev. Deborah J. Blanchard
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