GENESIS CHAPTER 8. Revelation of the Messiah s Covenant of Redemption Grant

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1 GENESIS CHAPTER 8 NOAH TYPE OF MESSIANIC SERVANT Revelation of the Messiah s Covenant of Redemption Grant Noah s covenantal faithfulness to the Covenant of Grace he had with God was rewarded with a covenantal grant of building the ark to keep afloat the people saved from the judgment flood by the gracious mercy of God. In this grant, Noah prefigured the Messiah who was granted a reward. Christ by his work (his active and passive obedience), obtained grace for his people (the church), so that they may be saved. Noah had received that grace of salvation by faith in Christ, and in gratitude was obedient to the stipulations of the Covenant of Grace he had with God. Noah was not saved by his good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Noah typified Christ in his resistance to the seed of Satan and in his obedience to God (Hebrews 11:7, Matthew 4). Abraham, by the grace of God, was granted a reward of a promised kingdom land and a people that were so numerous like the stars in the heavens (Genesis 15:1, 5, 18-21) after his warrior role against the kings of the East (Genesis 14). In Solomon s time, this promise of land was fulfilled and consummated by David s conquest of the nations around Israel. Solomon, the king of Israel and descendant of Abraham had dominion over that geographic area promised to Abraham and his descendants (2 Chronicles 9:26). Abraham prefigured the coming Messiah, who will be a warrior king for his people, to rescue them from Satan and bring them back to eternal life in the paradise, typified by the promised land (Luke 1:73-79, Hebrews 11:8-10). Moses, in the book of Exodus recorded for us the divine warrior king who fought Pharaoh with supernatural historical events to free his people from the oppression of Satan. The Passover lamb revealed to us the Lamb of God who took away the sins of his people. The eschatological Lamb of God redeemed them from their sins and brought them to the promised land of Canaan. John the Baptist recognized Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). God orchestrates history in his sovereignty to reveal his eschatological truths and plans to his people. Moses was granted the reward of being the prophet mediator, prefiguring the eschatological prophet of prophets. David by the gracious power of the Holy Spirit, went on victorious campaigns against God s enemies, captured Zion as the site for God s sanctuary and began plans to build God s house. God revealed to David that his divine descendant Jesus will perpetuate an everlasting dynasty. This was fulfilled in Christ, son of David, who was a warrior against Satan, redeemed his people, established his kingdom and built a spiritual temple for God s name and his throne will be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). David was given a prophecy concerning the Messianic king who will come from him. He was granted the Davidic covenant reward of an everlasting dynasty, possible by the grace of God through his descendant Jesus Christ (2 Samuel 7). This messianic king was NLPCA Escondido (KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY) on GENESIS 8 page 1 of 5

2 fulfilled in Christ, who built his temple consisting of the living stones, (namely, his people), himself being the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5-9). His people are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God s own possession, that they may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. Phinehas, the descendant of Aaron, was graciously granted God s covenant of peace and a covenant of perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants for his stand against idolatry and harlotry (Numbers 25:1-13) because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the sons of Israel. Phinehas prefigured the permanent priesthood of Christ who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. Christ became the guarantee of a better covenant and because of his divinity, holds his priesthood permanently (Hebrews 7:22-28) These Old Testament saints, regenerated, semi-eschatological people living under the Covenant of Grace prefigured the divine Christ in a limited way, in their obedience which was rewarded with exaltation and kingdom glory. They participated in God s historical and sovereign revelation by imperfect men, of Christ s perfect obedience to the Father, which was rewarded with exaltation and kingdom glory (Philippians 2:1ff). Only the incarnate Christ can merit and provide God s redemption to his elect people and is the mediator of the covenant of grace. God has throughout redemptive history unfolded the revelation of the greatest unprecedented event the Incarnation and his salvation plan. NOAH PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING Noah prefigured Christ in his role as: PROPHET: Noah was the prophet to whom God revealed his decree, for he came as a messenger of the heavenly council. He preached righteousness to the people around him and warned them of the judgment that was to come. He was God s authoritative spokesman. God authenticated his word with the miraculous the animals obeyed him. What he said came true. He was regenerated, righteous and blameless for he believed in God s plan of redemption and was justified. His life was a reflection of God s gracious work in his life. He was the administrator and mediator of the covenant. PRIEST: Noah in Hebrew means comfort, rest (Genesis 5:29). Noah was a descendant of Seth who called upon the name of the Lord. He named his oldest son, Shem (Hebrew for name ). He mediated between God and his people, namely his family. As a priest, Noah had to distinguish between the clean and unclean animals (Genesis 8:20). He also built the altar and offered burnt offerings on the altar after the deluge and mediated between God and his family and the creatures and the earth under his care and dominion. (Genesis 8:20-22). He lived up to his name and became a comfort and rest for the recreated world. He was a priest among his people, calling upon the name of the Lord, building an altar and an ark for their sanctuary, and keeping the sanctity of the place that God had placed him. He mediated the reinstated common grace covenant. NLPCA Escondido (KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY) on GENESIS 8 page 2 of 5

3 KING: Noah was a typological representation of the messianic king and kingdom. He withstood the enemies of God s people and with God s help, delivered his people from their enemies because of his obedience to his covenant Lord. He was the vassal king of the re-created microcosm of the creation and became the federal head of the new world. Like Christ, the royal victor who raised up the sanctuary house of God, Noah prepared an ark to the saving of his house (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:22). When they disembarked from the ark, the Lord blessed Noah and his sons with dominion over the beasts, birds, everything that creeps on the ground and the fish of the sea. The cultural mandate of being fruitful and multiply to fill the earth is reiterated. They are to rule, and to develop their dominion. God provided instructions for kingdom living 1 COVENANT OF CREATION BETWEEN GOD AND ADAM Creator s covenant of works with Adam characterized by: o Probation a mission to accomplish by Adam o Eschatological Reward Confirmation and Consummation Glory COVENANT OF REDEMPTION - TRINITARIAN Heavenly Father s covenant of works with the Son (the second Adam) o Messianic Mission Passive obedience, the Son dies for the elect Active obedience, the Son merits righteousness for elect. o Eschatological Reward Covenant of Grace and Conferment of the Kingdom for the elect (Luke 22:29-30). The reward of the covenant begins to be showered upon man by the Holy Spirit even starting at Genesis 3:15 and throughout redemptive history COVENANT OF GRACE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH The Son s covenant of grace with the Church, the Elect o Messianic - Accomplished Mission of Death and Resurrection and perfect obedience for the atonement of sin and the imputation of righteousness for the elect. o Eschatological Reward Merited by the Lord and bestowed by grace upon the elect. 2 1 Kline Theological Seminary, 1986], Meredith G., Kingdom Prologue, [OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2006]. pp Horton, Michael, God of Promise [MI: Baker Books] 2006, pp NLPCA Escondido (KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY) on GENESIS 8 page 3 of 5

4 GENESIS CHAPTER 8 GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Think about the implications of being semi-eschatological people who are like Noah, Abraham, Phinehas and David. What made these men different from the men of the world around them? How can we too be different from the world in the time that we live in? 2. How do you relate to the God with whom you have a covenant with? What kind of obligations does he have towards you? What kind of obligations do you have towards him? What kind of earthly relationship would you liken it to? Can you share some examples of life situations that illustrate how this relationship would operate? 3. Do you feel that Christianity is more about being than doing or vice versa? 4. It seems to be a very long period of time that God had been revealing his unfolding plan to the people that he created. How does his sovereignty of historical events impact you? Does it comfort you or scare you? NLPCA Escondido (KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY) on GENESIS 8 page 4 of 5

5 GENESIS CHAPTER 9 PREP QUESTIONS 1. Please read through Genesis chapters 1 through 8 to review all that we have done so far in this book. 2. Read Genesis Chapter 9:1-17 a. What was the first thing Noah did after they disembarked from the ark? (Genesis 8:20) b. What was God s response (Genesis 8:21-22)? c. What was God s blessing on Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:1-7) d. Did God establish/confirm a covenant in Genesis 9:9 and 9:11? Who did he establish a covenant with in Genesis 9:9 and Genesis 9:11? e. Was there a sign provided for the covenant? 3. Read Genesis 9:18-29 a. How many sons did Noah have? Were they the only people besides their parents at this time? b. What kind of industry did Noah have? c. What did Ham do that remind you of what happened in Genesis 3? d. What was Noah s reaction when he discovered how his 3 sons had behaved toward him? e. How long did Noah lived (Genesis 8:13 & 9:28, 29) NLPCA Escondido (KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY) on GENESIS 8 page 5 of 5

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