Genesis 8-9

GENESIS 8-9

The Book of Shem, Ham & Japheth
PART 1: PREPARATION to FLOOD
PART 2: FLOOD to AFTERMATH

God Remembers Noah (8)

1. What do you think the phrase ‘God remembered Noah’ means?
This isn't implying that God had forgotten them, but that His activity in Noah's life was about to change.

2. How was the flood ended? Why?
a. God sent a wind (We need the Spirit to lead us through trials)
b. The waters receded (It takes time to make it through trials)
c. Springs of the deep were closed (We must resolve internal issues)
d. Floodgates of the heavens were closed (We must consider external issues)

3. The duration of the flood events
a. How long did Noah prepare? 120 years
b. How long did it rain? 40 days/nights
c. How long did the waters prevail? 150 days
d. How long were they on the ark? 1 year, 10 days
*Think of the preparation time in comparison to the catastrophe. We will all face trials and tribulation, but the battle is one in the preparation. Today determines your strength tomorrow. Trials don't grow strength, they show strength.

4. Noah sends birds
a. The Raven (never came back to Noah)
b. The Dove (returned with nothing)
c. The Dove a second time (brings olive branch)
d. The Dove a third time (doesn't return)

5. What were people & animals commanded to do?
They were told to be fruitful and multiply, much like Adam/Eve/Animals

6. Why did Noah build an altar & sacrifice burnt offerings?
God had protected him and his family

7. Did God believe the sin problem was solved?
No. He knew humanity was still sinful. Perhaps the most powerful words in this chapter are 'even though'

8. What did God promise never to do again?
Destroy all life via flood

9. What things will endure as long as the earth?
See v. 22


God Blesses Noah (9)

1. How did mankind’s relationship with animals change post-flood?
It was now a relationship of fear. It also seems mankind, for the first time, began to eat animals.

2. What was the penalty for murder?
Death. This may be significant because it places capital punishment before the giving of the Law of Moses.

3. What were the exact details of the covenant God made with life?
Never to destroy the earth by flood again.

4. What sign/symbol was given as a reminder of the covenant?
A rainbow

5. Do all modern nations come from Noah’s family?
Yes

6. What did Ham do wrong?
Dishonored his father Noah by not covering him up

7. Was Canaan already born?
He may have been born just after they left the ark

8. What happened to Noah’s sons?
Shem is the father of middle eastern peoples. Ham is the father of African peoples. Japheth is the father of EuraAsian peoples.

9. Is it possible to know which son of Noah we came from?
Yes. With near certainty I can say I'm a descendant of Japheth.

4 Truths to Remember
1. God’s love provokes Him to act on behalf of His people
2. We should respond to discipline with worship
3. God’s grace is clearly displayed in His patience
4. God places great value on human life

Genesis 6:9b-7

The Book of Shem, Ham & Japheth
PART 1: PREPARATION to FLOOD

PREPARATION (6:9b-7:16)

Who was Noah?
1. He was a righteous man (6:9, Ezekiel 14:14)
2. He was blameless among the people of his time (6:9)
3. He walked with God (6:9)
4. He was a man of Faith (Hebrews 11:7)
5. He was a preacher (2 Peter 2:5)

What was the Problem
1. The world had become extremely corrupt (6:11-13)
2. The world had become extremely violent (6:11-13)

What does the flood tell us about God?
1. God judges wickedness
2. God has a plan

God’s plan

Noah’s Physical Salvation
~Had to cover ark with pitch (6:14)*
~had to enter through the arks 1 door (6:16)
~Saved by a wooden structure (6:14)
~Only those in the ark were saved (7:23)
~Ark was lifted up during wrath (7:17)
*word used for 'pitch' here is, in hebrew, same as 'atonement'

Our Spiritual Salvation
~Must be covered with Christ's blood (Lev. 17:11, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
~Must enter through Christ, who IS the door (John 10:9)
~We're saved by Christ's work on a wooden cross (1 Corinthians 1:18)
~Only those in Christ are saved (Galatians 3:26-29)
~Jesus was lifted up during wrath (John 12:32-33)

THE FLOOD (7:17-24)

Questions about the flood

1. Was it worldwide or local?
In my opinion, the account clearly has a global flood in mind. This is not an issue utterly important to salvation, but it does say a lot about what 'authority' you side with. I believe boldly that Genesis describes a worldwide deluge AND that the geological evidence supports a worldwide deluge.

2. How could they have fit all those animals in there?
Cartoon renditions of Noah's story often make the ark out to be a tiny craft with animals bursting out the sides, but the reality is very reasonable. First of all, it is probably that only 35,000 species of animals are necessary to account for the wide varieties we see today. Secondly, we must remember that the ark was about 1.5 football fields in length and had 3 decks. It has been estimated that the average size of all animals is roughly the size of a sheep. Given the dimensions of the ark, there would have been room for more than 100,000 well-spaced sheep on Noah's ark.


3. Where did all the water go?
The globe is 2/3's covered with water. It must be remembered that a worldwide deluge would have totally altered the topography of the earth. It is almost certain that there were not high mountains or vast valleys prior to the flood. As the new topography emerged, the water found its home in the deepest valleys. Today we call these oceans.

4. What about dinosaurs?
As stupid as it sounds to the secular mind, I believe dinosaurs were on the ark. As discussed above, there was plenty of room (also, one would imagine God could have sent young/smaller dinosaurs Noah's way. After the flood, dinosaurs probably went extinct quite quickly due to environmental changes.

Genesis 5:1-6:9a

The Book of Noah

Questions about Geneologies

1. Why are we given these lists?
Geneologies ground the Bible in fact and history

2. Why did those guys live so long?
Long life was probably environmental and genetic

3. What is the last word said about these men?
With one exception, each of these men died

4. Why was Enoch taken away?
He had an active relationship with God

5. How much time was there before the flood?
About 1656 years
















Questions about the world before the flood?

1. Can we estimate how many died in the flood?
Rough estimates place the # b/w 2-17 billion

2. Who were the ‘sons of God’
Theory 1: Fallen Angels
Theory 2: God’s People

3. Who were the ‘daughters of men’
Theory 1: Females in general
Theory 2: Wicked Women

4. What does the 120 years mean?
Theory 1: People won’t live past 120
Theory 2: It was 120 years before the flood

5. Who were the ‘Nephilim’?
Theory 1: Giant offspring of angel/human union
Theory 2: The wicked fruit of unholy unions

6. How wicked was the pre-flood world?
Every inclination was only evil all the time

7. How did man’s wickedness affect God?
God was deeply grieved and in pain over mankind

8. How did Noah view his ‘selection’?
Noah viewed his selection as an act of grace

Genesis 4

The Story of Cain

Life After the Fall
1. People long for intimacy
2. People try to obey God
3. People thank God for blessings
4. People struggl to survive
5. People sacrifice to please God

Why did God favor Abel’s offering?
1. Perhaps because Cain’s offering wasn’t a ‘firstfruit’
2. Perhaps because Cain’s offering didn’t include blood
3. Perhaps because Cain’s offering wasn’t by faith
*We must give our BEST, by FAITH, in JESUS’ name

Cain’s Response
1. He was angry with God
2. He was depressed
3. He didn’t respond to God
4. He committed a wicked act
5. He lied to God
6. He failed as a brother

The Results of Cain’s Sin
1. He was now under a curse
a. He would be fruitless
b. He would be restless
c. He would be a wanderer
2. But God still cared for him
a. He protected him by threat
b. He protected him with a mark
c. He provided him with human relationships

Questions to Consider
1. Why do you think God favored Abel’s offering?
2. Are you your brother’s keeper?
3. Where did Cain get his wife?
4. What city did Cain build?
5. Was it wrong for Lamech to marry 2 woman?

Cain’s Descendants (The Knowledge of Good)
1. Jabal Father of cattle herders
2. Jubal Father of music
3. Tubal-Cain Father of metal workers

Cain’s Descendants (The knowledge of Evil)
1. Lamech married 2 women
2. Lamech killed a man
3. Lamech multiplied punishment

A glimmer of hope
1. God provided another son
2. God began a holy line
3. God began to be worshipped again

Genesis 3

Observations from the Fall

What do we learn about Satan from this chapter?
(Rev. 12:9, 20:2)
1. Satan was very crafty (3:1)
2. Satan wanted Eve to question God (3:1)
3. Satan asked a distorted question (3:1)
4. Satan moved from ‘questioning’ to ‘denying’ God’s Word (3:4)
5. Satan misrepresented God’s motives (3:5)

What can we learn about Temptation from this chapter?
(1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 2:16)
1. Eve knew the freedom she had in Christ (3:2)
2. Eve’s quote was longer than God’s (3:3)
3. First the woman ‘saw’ (3:6)
4. Second the woman ‘took’ (3:6)
5. Third the woman ‘ate’ (3:6)
6. Fourth the woman ‘gave’ (3:6)

What happens when we give in to temptation?
(James 1:13-15)
1. The benefit was very short lived (3:7)
2. Sin brought shame (3:7-8)
3. Sin created a broken relationship b/w God and mankind (3:9-10)

How did they play the blame game?
1. Man blamed woman (3:11-12)
2. Woman blamed Satan (3:13)

What were the consequences of the fall?
1. The serpents punishment was physical (3:14)
2. Satan’s punishment was spiritual (3:15)
3. The woman’s punishment was pain and submission (3:16)
4. The man’s punishment was pain and difficulty (3:17-19)
5. Eternal life was no longer an option (3:22)
6. Eden was no longer their home (3:23)
7. Man could no longer enter Eden (3:24)

Glimmers of Hope
(1 John 3:8, Romans 6:20)
1. All men came from Adam/Eve (3:20) Rom. 5:12-14 & 1 John 3:8
2. God clothed Adam & Eve for life after the fall (3:21)
3. God had a plan (3:15)

Verses to Ponder
2 Corinthians 11:3 with Genesis 3:11
John 3:8, Romans 6:20 with Genesis 3:15
Romans 8:20-22 with Genesis 3:17
Romans 5:12-14 with Genesis 3:20
Romans 3:23, Rev. 22:2, 14, 19 with Genesis 3:22

Question to Consider
How important is it to know God’s Word?
How does Satan deceive people?
What are the stages of temptation?
What are the consequences of sin?
How does God reach out to fallen people?

Genesis 2

Who wrote Genesis?
1. Moses was told what to write by direct revelation
2. Moses knew what to write using the oral tradition
3. Moses compiled Genesis using written documents

What Written Documents did He compile?
2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth
5:1 This is the written account of Adam's line.
6:9 This is the account of Noah.
10:1 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth
11:10 This is the account of Shem
11:27 This is the account of Terah
25:12 This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael
25:19 This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac
36:1 This is the account of Esau
36:9 This is the account of Esau
37:2 This is the account of Jacob

The Book of Adam’s History
Part 1 The Garden
Part 2 The Fall
Part 3 The Children

Lessons from the Garden of Eden
1. God had prepared a place for Adam & Eve (2:8)
2. The place God prepared was good and pleasing (2:9)
3. The tree of life was freely given (2:9+16)
4. Evil was an unknown reality (2:9+17)
5. Water was an important component of paradise (2:10-14)
6. Work and stewardship existed before the fall (2:15)
7. Disobedience would lead to death (2:17)
8. The absence of fellowship was ‘not good’ (2:18)
9. Adam was shown that his ‘other half’ was missing (2:19-20)
10. Marriage was ordained by God (2:21-24)
11. Innocense was bliss (2:25)

How to Answer Tough Questions
1. Why should I trust Moses if he wasn’t an eye-witness?
2. How could a loving God create such a messed up world?
3. Don’t Genesis 1 & 2 contradict eachother?
4. Why was there evil before the fall?
5. Who gets to define marriage?

Question to Consider
1. Do you think Heaven will be like Eden?
2. Why did God create the tree of knowledge?
3. Do you think work/stewardship will exist in Heaven?
4. How important is human fellowship?
5. Is ignorance bliss?

Genesis 1

Before the Creation of the World…
God existed in trinity (John 17:24, Hebrews 9:11)
The Son was chosen to be sent (1 Peter 1:20)
We were chosen to be in Christ (Ephesians 1:4)

I believe the account of creation in Genesis 1 has spiritual parallels in the 'new creation'. Check out the NT passages that seem to reflect on Genesis 1 language.

DAY #1
Heaven’s & Earth created (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)
They were formless & void (1 Peter 1:18)
Water & Darkness (Colossians 1:13)
Spirit of God hovering (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
Light begins (2 Cor. 4:6, John 1:5)
Light seperated from darkness (2 Cor. 6:14, Ephesians 4:18)

DAY #2 Expanse b/w waters above & below (John 8:23, Col. 2:13, 3:2, James 3)

DAY #3 Land produces vegetation (Galatians 5:22)

DAY #4 Lights created in the sky (Matthew 5:14-16)

DAY #5 Living creatures (Proverbs 30:24-31)

DAY #6 Man created in God’s image (Colossians 1:15)

DAY #7 God was finished with His work (Hebrews 4:1+9)

*These are the best parallels I know of so far.

And don't forget John 1...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Theories of Origins Description
There is a lot of debate about origins. I have read much on these issues. The following 5 theories are most common. In my opinion, the further down the list, the better the theory.

1. Secular Evolution No explanation for beginning
2. Theistic Evolution God initiated and let evolution continue
3. Gap- Theory Huge gap b/w 1:1 & 1:2
4. Day-Age Theory Each day represents millions of years
5. Young Earth 24 hour days & accurate geneologies

Theories of Interpretation

Methods to Truth-Finding
Reason
Experience
Scripture
Tradition

Methods of Interpretation
Literal Interpretation
Illumination of the Holy Spirit
Grammatical Principles
Historical Context
Teaching Ministry
Scriptural Harmony

Interpretations of Genesis 1

Gap Theory Substantial chronological gap between 1:1 & 1:2
What is the state and doctrine of this theory?
1. This is a theory popularized in the 19th century, but is fading with time
2. It attempts to reconcile ‘old-earth’ with a ‘literal’ creation week
3. It theorizes that there is an enormous chronological gap b/w 1:1 & 1:2
4. It theorizes that there was an inhabited earth prior to the creation week
5. It theorizes that ‘Lucifer’ fell during this time and was judged via flood
6. It theorizes that this ‘flood’ explains pop-geology & the fossil record
7. It is based on Genesis 1:1-2, 1:28 (kjv), Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28
What are the 3 key problems with this theory?
1. It is based on faulty understandings of multiple Hebrew words
2. It fails the ‘Teaching Ministry’ & ‘Scriptural Harmony’ tests
3. It creates doctrinal dilemmas w/o accomplishing it’s scientific goal

Theistic Evolution God created & used evolution as His mechanism
What is the state and doctrine of this theory?
1. It was popularized in the 19th century, and is gaining momentum
2. It combines popular scientific theories with allegorical interpretation
3. It’s adherents range from doctrines of ‘deism’ to ‘immanence’
What are the 3 key problems with this theory?
1. It stands or falls on the merits of pop-science (Darwinian Evolution)
2. It seems to fail the Literal, Teaching & Scriptural Harmony tests
3. It creates a multitude of doctrinal issues (death before the Fall, etc)

Day-Age Theory Each ‘day’ of Genesis 1 represents an ‘age’
What is the state and doctrine of this theory?
1. It was popularized in the 19th century, and is holding it’s own
2. It combines non-Darwinian pop-science with biblical creationism
3. It suggests that the creations days were actually millions of years
What are the 3 key problems with this theory?
1. It seems to fail the grammatical, teaching & Scriptural harmony tests
2. It creates doctrinal dilemmas (death & ‘man’ before fall, local flood)
3. It generally fails to accomplish it’s goal of appealing to the secular mind

Allegorical Theory Creation Week is not a ‘Literal’ Account
What is the state and doctrine of this theory?
1. It has been growing in popularity during the 20th & 21st centuries
2. It suggests that Genesis 1 is a religious creed establishing the Sabbath
3. Adherents find the ‘gap’ & ‘day-age’ theories inadequate
What are the 3 key problems with this theory?
1. It seems to fail the literal & teaching tests
2. It leaves us with a lack of details about the origin of the universe
3. It is quite possibly a true application w/o being a primary meaning

Young Earth Theory God created the world in six 24-hour days
What is the state and doctrine of this theory?
1. It has been growing in popularity during the 20th & 21st centuries
2. It suggests that Genesis be interpreted as a chronological narrative
3. It, alone, suggests that the earth is less than 10,000 years old
4. It, alone, suggests that Noah’s flood was a worldwide deluge
5. It, alone, suggests that no death occurred prior to the fall
6. Adherents find alternative theories to ‘compromise’ Scriptural authority
What are the 3 key problems with this theory?
1. It fails to match up with popular secular-science in numerous fields
2. Some claim it treats Scripture like a scientific text-book
3. Some reference apparent contradictions if Genesis 1 is taken literally