Connections Class 2014-2015
September 28
– In the Beginning
Lesson 06 – A
New Covenant
Genesis 9
Comments and Questions
Genesis 9 relates to us the stories of Noah that took place
after the Flood. God makes a promise, verified with a rainbow, never to destroy
the Earth by flood. This promise is not only made to humankind, but to all life
on the planet.
Some early kosher rules about food
and livestock are also present in this chapter, which furthers the idea that
priests were behind the writing of these foundational stories.
The last part of chapter 9 appears
to come from a different source altogether, as if it is a separate tale which
is related to Noah and his sons. The meaning behind the story of Noah’s
drunkenness is to act as a vehicle for the origins of the peoples in the Middle
East, as well as an explanation of the rivalry between Canaan and Israel.
The first nine chapters of Genesis
have taken us on a journey of faith, giving us an insight into the tribal
processes and story-telling techniques of the ancient peoples. The wonderful
thing to note is how special these stories still are, even in today’s world.
The questions that we have about Creation, Sin, Suffering,
and Purpose will always be with us. For an ancient people living in simpler times,
the use of tribal stories and religious origins contained all that they ever
needed to know in order to be assured of God’s abiding presence and love. The
questions are still being asked in our own generation; where we find the
answers will involve our scientific knowledge, as well as our religious faith.
Questions for discussion
Why did God cause
fear and dread of human beings to fall upon the animal kingdom? Why did He give
us meat and plants for food?
What is the
purpose behind the ‘lifeblood’ instructions of verses 4-7? Where did these
instructions originate?
Why did God make
a covenant with human beings and all living creatures on Earth? What does this
tell us about His grace?
What makes the
rainbow a perfect symbol of God’s promise? Why do we feel this assurance every
time we see one in the sky?
What kind of
covenants has God made with His people over the centuries? How are those
covenants kept among us today?
Why are the sons
of Noah mentioned in the concluding part of this story? What is their purpose?
What do you
think about verses 20-27? Do you think they were an original part of the Flood
story? Why/why not?
Why is Ham
cursed? How is that curse passed down through his family? Is it still operative
today?
What do you
think Noah did for the 350 years of his life after the Flood? Why doesn’t this
longevity continue in today’s world?
How do the
first nine chapters of Genesis define our faith? What has this series of
studies taught you?
How should
the Church work alongside Science in order to evolve a relevant and effective
faith today? What are our tribal stories?
Unison Prayer
O Lord of all life,
we thank You for these foundational scriptures and the Genesis stories that
have shaped our faith. Help us to understand how they still help our beliefs in
today’s world.
Heavenly Father,
keep us mindful of Your promises and covenants that are still operative in our
lives. Help us to embrace Your loving and compassionate spirit of grace, truth,
and love.
Grant us a
deeper faith and help us to share the reality of Your existence with our
families and friends. Grant us opportunities to share Your words of grace,
hope, and love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Further Notes
NEXT WEEK:
A New
Series – The Life, Times, and Revelations of Julian of Norwich.
No comments:
Post a Comment