A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

The sign of the Noahic Covenant is the rainbow. God promised, “I set My rainbow in the
cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth” (v. 13). This may or
may not have been the first time a rainbow was seen, but from now on it would have new
meaning. It was a symbol of hope in that it represented a promise by God that He would never
again destroy the world with a flood. In light of this promise of Noah, it is interesting to note that
the North American Indians interpreted the presence of a rainbow in the sky as a sign of dry
weather believing the arch of the bow held back the waters stored behind the vault of the sky.
Tied to the Noahic Covenant was a third distinct era in human history sometimes called
the dispensation of Human Government. God no longer allowed the conscience of individuals to
be the sole basis of human life. The universal Flood punished individuals because God had dealt
with people individually in the earlier period of conscience. Since all men failed, then all were
punished. However, in this new era, God also confirmed elements of the previous covenants, man
was to fill the earth and provide for his necessities (v. 1).
God was under no delusion when He made His new covenant with Noah. He knew “the
imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (8:21). Despite the fact man had already
violated the conditions of two prior covenants, God was prepared to offer yet another opportunity
for man to live in a harmonious relationship with Him. Still, it was not surprising to God when
within a few generations, mankind was again in a state of rebellion to God.
FAILURE UNDER THE NEW ORDER
(Gen. 9:18-29)
One might think spending a year aboard the ark while God destroyed the rest of the human
race for its wickedness might have a life-long effect on Noah, but such was not the case. Rather
than dispersing over the whole earth as directed by the Lord, Noah and his sons appear to have
chosen to live together as an extended family. After the Flood, Noah became a grandfather as his
three sons had sons of their own. Probably at this point, Noah and his sons became ranchers slowly
traveling south with their herds and flocks as they grazed in the open pastures. Perhaps Noah was
beginning to feel old with all his grandchildren running around or maybe he was just tired of the
constant traveling involved in a nomadic lifestyle. For whatever reason, the time came when Noah
settled for a somewhat tranquil lifestyle, and again changed his occupation from being a carpenter.
“And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard” (Gen. 9:20).
The Scriptures record Noah’s farming career in one tragic harvest season. It began when
“he drank of the wine and was drunk” (v. 21). Over the years both Jewish and Christian commentators
have tried to be kind to Noah noting this is the first mention of wine in the Scriptures
and suggesting Noah may not have known the beverage would have an alcoholic content that
produced drunkenness. But in light of the New Testament revelation of drinking in the days of
Noah before the Flood (Matt. 24:38), this excuse hardly holds water. Noah was the patriarch of his
family and as such should have known what Solomon later learned on the knee of Bathsheba: “It is
not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink” (Prov.
31:4). But over the years there had been an apparent change in Noah. He had drifted from God. His
gradual wandering from God may have been imperceptible to the casual observer, but now years
later it was evident that the Noah who raised the wineskin to his lips was not the same Noah who
“was a just man, perfect in his generations” (6:9).
As Noah lay naked in a drunken stupor, “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of
his father, and told his two brothers outside” (9:22). Because Noah later cursed Canaan, it was
probably Canaan who first “saw” Noah and told his father Ham what happened. Just what