Downloads
A wedding ring. A concert ticket stub. A medal. Each one is a small object that reminds someone of something big. A wedding ring is special, though: it is a sign of a promise. Every time two people look at their rings, they remember what they promised each other.
In the story of Noah, the word covenant appears in the Bible for the very first time. And God gives a sign to go with his promise. You've almost certainly seen it: it's in the sky after rain.
What you'll learn
- Why God sent the flood, and why he rescued Noah
- What God promised in his covenant with Noah, and what the rainbow means
- Why the flood couldn't fix the human heart, and how Jesus can
Why the flood?
By Genesis 6, the world had gone badly wrong. People were full of evil and violence:
"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." (Genesis 6:5–6)
Notice how God feels. He isn't cold or careless. He is grieved; his heart is deeply troubled. The world he made good had been wrecked by evil, and he decided to judge it.
But one man was different. Noah found favour with God (Genesis 6:8). God told Noah to build an ark, and he promised to make his covenant with him (Genesis 6:18). That is the first time the word "covenant" appears in the Bible.
The flood came. God kept Noah, his family and the animals safe in the ark, and when the waters went down they stepped out onto dry ground. Noah's first act was to worship God. And God promised that seasons, day and night would never stop as long as the earth lasts (Genesis 8:22).
(The story of Noah is about one unique moment in history. It doesn't mean that floods or natural disasters today are punishments for the people they affect.)
Here's something to notice. Remember the first promise, that a child of the woman would crush the serpent? By keeping Noah's family safe, God kept that family line going, so the promised child could still come.
The covenant and the rainbow
In Genesis 9, God speaks to Noah and makes his covenant official:
"And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." (Genesis 9:11)
"I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13)
If you read Genesis 9:8–17, listen for how many times you hear the word "covenant" (seven times!) and the words "never again". Here is the covenant at a glance:
| Question | Answer from Genesis 9 |
|---|---|
| Who is the covenant with? | Noah, his descendants and every living creature: the whole earth (vv. 9–10). |
| What does God promise? | Never again to destroy all life with a flood (v. 11). |
| What is the sign? | The rainbow in the clouds (vv. 12–13). |
| Who does the sign remind? | God himself! When he sees the bow, he will remember his covenant (vv. 15–16). |
| What do people have to do? | Nothing. God makes this promise on his own. |
| How long does it last? | It is "everlasting", for all generations (vv. 12, 16). |
God doesn't forget things. When the Bible says God "remembers", it means he acts on his promise. The rainbow says: God is committed.
In the ancient world, a bow was a weapon. Some Bible teachers point out that God hangs his "bow" in the sky, pointing away from the earth, as if he were putting down his weapon. Genesis doesn't spell that out, but it's a helpful picture.
This covenant is for everyone, not only people who believe in God. Every sunrise, every harvest and every rainbow is a reminder that God is keeping his word.
The world was washed, but the heart wasn't fixed
Not long after the flood, Noah got drunk and his family was shamed (Genesis 9:20–23). The flood had washed the world, but sin was still inside people. God had already said as much: the human heart leans towards evil from childhood (Genesis 8:21).
So why does God hold back judgment? Because he is keeping the world going until his rescue plan is finished. A flood couldn't fix human hearts. Jesus can.
"For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)
| Noah | Jesus |
|---|---|
| Judgment fell on the whole world. | Judgment fell on Jesus at the cross. |
| Noah's family was safe inside the ark. | People are safe when they are "in Christ". |
| God promised to hold back judgment. | God is patient, giving people time to turn to him (2 Peter 3:9). |
| The flood couldn't change human hearts. | Jesus gives new hearts. |
The promise chain: link 2
| Who? | What did God promise? | Sign | Fulfilled in Jesus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noah and every living thing | Never again a flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9:11). | The rainbow | God holds back judgment so people can be rescued; Jesus takes the judgment himself. |
Key words
- Covenant: a serious, binding promise God makes to bring people into a relationship with him.
- Ark: the large boat God told Noah to build.
- Judgment: God dealing with evil and putting wrong things right.
- Sign: something you can see that reminds people of a covenant.
How this points to Jesus
In the flood, Noah's family was safe because they were inside the ark when judgment came. The Bible says that at the cross, judgment fell on Jesus himself, and everyone who trusts him is safe "in Christ". God's patience with the world, which the rainbow reminds us of, gives people time to come to him.
Think about it
Why do you think God made this covenant without asking anything of people in return?Show answer
It shows that the promise depends completely on God, not on us. He chose to be patient with the whole world out of his own kindness.
Who does the rainbow remind, and what does that mean?Show answer
Genesis 9 says God sees the rainbow and remembers his covenant. It means God is committed to acting on his promise every time.
Is it good news or bad news that God holds back judgment?Show answer
Mostly good news: it gives people time to turn to God and be rescued. But it also means evil hasn't been fully dealt with yet, which is why the world still needs Jesus.
Take it further
Next time you see a rainbow, stop for a moment. Remember that God made a promise to the whole earth, and he has kept it every single day since. Your worksheet helps you work through the covenant with Noah and add the next link to your promise chain.
If you'd like to, you could pray:
God, thank you for your patience with the world and with me. Thank you for every sunrise, every season and every rainbow that says you keep your word. Thank you that Jesus took the judgment so we could be safe. Amen.