- [00:00:00] Joni was just 17 years old, an athletic and adventurous teenager living on the East Coast. One summer, she went with her friends and dove into Cheese Peak Bay, near the Delaware, New York, and New Jersey area. She misjudged the depth of the water and broke her neck. In an instant, she became paralyzed from her neck down. She could not use her hands or her legs, and with that, she felt she lost her whole future. She believed there was no starting over and no way to get her life back. But in those darkest moments, - [00:00:48] Joni cried out to God—not for a better plan, but simply to survive the pain she was enduring. Remarkably, God did not restore her body, but He preserved her life, her faith, and gave her a new purpose. Over time, Journey learned to paint with her mouth, write books, speak around the world, and proclaim a message of hope to people she otherwise would never have known. Joni Eareckson Tada, as she is known by many, summarized her life experience in one beautiful line: - [00:01:38] \"God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.\" Let me repeat that: God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves. - [00:02:23] We are currently in the Book of Genesis, chapter 9. Following the redemptive history of Scripture, after God created man and man’s fall, God pronounced the covenant of grace. Despite this, humanity continued spiraling downwards—murders, sensuality, pride, arrogance—resulting in God almost wiping out the entire world through the flood. These ancient floods are documented in several historical sources, including the Mesopotamian and Babylonian flood stories. Historically, we know such events occurred. - [00:03:07] But here, God picks one family—Noah’s—to restart a new path for humanity. He establishes a covenant once again with Noah and his family. The word \"covenant\" is fundamental to understanding the Bible. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and New Testament, and the word for testament in Greek is *diatic*, and in Hebrew, *berit*. Both translate to the English word “covenant.” This covenant forms the foundation that synthesizes everything we read in Scripture. - [00:03:43] Last week, we saw that God, despite being great, powerful, omnipresent, and omnipotent, distinguishes Himself from other gods and religions by making a covenant with you and me. There was no need for God to make a covenant, yet He does, which shows how personal, enduring, and loving He is. Other religions require us to find our way to God, but the God of the Bible condescends to us and makes a covenant to restore us. - [00:04:24] A theologian once described the covenant beautifully: \"The covenant is the self-motivated promise for an unconditional mercy throughout human history.\" Can we repeat that phrase? The covenant is a self-motivated promise for unconditional mercy. Every covenant in the Bible is an expression of God’s grace showing up in different ways. Today, we focus on the covenant God makes with Noah—a covenant of grace preserving humanity through dark and difficult times. - [00:05:46] We will examine three aspects of God’s preserving grace through His covenant with Noah: the promises of the covenant, the principles of the covenant, and the proclamation of the covenant. - [00:06:29] The promises of the covenant begin in Genesis 9:1: \"And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, \'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.\'\" This sounds familiar because it is the same promise given to Adam at creation. In a sense, God is recreating Adam in different form through Noah. Our God is a God of second chances. He could have wiped out humanity completely because no one was seeking Him, but instead, He chooses one family and gives them the same promise. - [00:07:06] He didn’t pick Noah because he found something great about him or his family. In fact, Noah’s descendants, such as Canaan, became so evil that God had to pronounce judgment on them. God’s grace in choosing Noah’s family is not based on their merit or greatness. This is why all covenants are expressions of God’s grace. He restates the command to be fruitful and multiply but with one difference from Adam’s command: the dominion over animals is not explicitly given now. - [00:08:35] Sin has consequences, and one consequence is that dominion over creation is altered. God does not remove the consequences of sin but preserves us through them and enables us to live godly lives. In the next verses, God says the fear and dread of humans shall be upon every beast, bird, creeping thing, and fish. They are delivered into human hands to be food. God permits humans to eat animals, which was not the case in Eden where there was harmony between man and animals. - [00:09:54] This is significant because it shows a broken relationship between humans and creation. Sometimes, people feel lost trying to figure out their place or purpose in this world, especially regarding their relationship to culture and nature. God’s design now includes this fear so that animals are afraid of humans, which is why sometimes humans are scared of animals when it’s actually the other way around. This hostility will be removed in the new heavens and new earth, where the lion and lamb will lie together peacefully. - [00:12:19] God gives two important commands related to preserving humanity. First, humans may eat animals, but they must not eat flesh with its blood—the life. Second, humans must not kill each other because every human is made in the image of God. This command to preserve human life is crucial. It restrains mankind’s sinfulness from escalating to total destruction through violence and murder. - [00:13:35] We live today in a world filled with wars and conflicts—nations fighting nations, people against people, often for trivial or deeply rooted reasons. God’s grace restrains this evil from completely destroying humanity. If God were to remove His hand of grace, the world would descend into brutal war and annihilation. The covenant with Noah is primarily about preservation—preserving humanity until God’s redemptive plan can unfold. - [00:15:41] Sometimes in life, we face loss—whether health, job, relationships, or other hardships—and feel abandoned by God. But God is a God of second chances. We may suffer due to our own sin, the sin of others, or broken systems, but God is always working to make all things new. The story of Job illustrates this well. Job lost everything—family, wealth, health—through no fault of his own, yet God preserved his life. In the midst of suffering, Job declared, \"I know that my Redeemer lives.\" - [00:17:09] God promises to restore what has been lost. Though God commands that no human life be taken, He Himself sent His Son, Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on the cross. God did not stop the shedding of His Son’s blood because through that sacrifice, the brokenness in our hearts and lives can be redeemed. This is the everlasting covenant, established through Jesus’ blood, offering humanity second chances and preserving us for a higher purpose. - [00:18:44] The covenantal God who preserves us through suffering also promises sanctification and blamelessness at the coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Since God was willing to sacrifice His Son for us, forgiveness is possible. - [00:19:24] Two applications arise from this truth: 1. If you have lost something—health, relationships, opportunities—remember that it is not the end. God is preserving your life and will give you strength to endure. It is not over until God says so. 2. If you have received God’s forgiveness, do you extend that same grace to others? When someone hurts you—in marriage, work, or family—do you offer no second chances, or do you seek restoration and reconciliation? Our lives will be richer for the forgiveness and relationships we maintain over time, not for material success. - [00:22:03] Moving on to the principles of the covenant, Genesis 9:8 says, \"Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you.\" This introduces the principle of representation: though the covenant is made with Noah, it includes his descendants as co-parties, even those not yet born. This covenant is unilateral—it is God’s promise to Noah and his family. - [00:22:39] This principle is crucial for families and parents. God is a multigenerational God. Our children are covenant children whom God entrusts to us to raise and lead to discover Him. We have a huge responsibility to nurture their faith and spiritual growth. This highlights the importance of the roles of fathers and mothers, which society often undervalues. Being a parent is not a secondary identity but foundational for spiritual leadership and generational influence. - [00:25:28] The second element is the sign of the covenant—a visible token that symbolizes God’s promise. God declares the rainbow as the sign of the covenant: \"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.\" The rainbow represents God’s promise never again to destroy the earth by flood. - [00:26:38] Every covenant in Scripture has a sign reflecting the grace it represents: - Abraham’s covenant includes circumcision, marking God’s people as separate. - The Mosaic covenant has the Sabbath as a sign of rest. - The New Covenant has baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. - [00:27:58] A covenant sign is a visible reminder of God’s invisible word of grace. The rainbow symbolizes protection from total destruction. Its beauty and varied colors remind us of God’s goodness and the beauty of His covenant bond with the world. - [00:28:42] France Dill eloquently describes the rainbow: \"As it shines forth against a dark background which but shortly before flashed with lightnings, it symbolizes the victory of bright, gentle love over the darkly luminous wrath. It proclaims peace between God and man. Reaching as it does beyond the range of vision, it declares that God’s covenant of grace is all-embracing.\" - [00:29:21] The word “remember” is repeated multiple times regarding the sign. God says, \"When I see the bow in the clouds, I will remember my covenant.\" Does God forget? No—the rainbow is not for God to remember but for us to remember His grace. - [00:30:08] A modern illustration helps us understand this: In 1945, the US Navy ship Indianapolis was torpedoed and sank quickly. Nearly 900 sailors were stranded in the ocean with no immediate rescue. After four days, a patrol plane appeared, spotted the survivors, and initiated their rescue. For the sailors, that plane was a sign of hope and rescue—“You are seen; rescue is coming.” - [00:31:46] Similarly, every time we see a rainbow, it is a sign that we are not forgotten and that rescue is coming. But there is an even greater sign God looks at—the person of Jesus Christ, who bore the full wrath of sin and offers salvation. - [00:32:34] Do we live with gratitude for this forgiveness, or do we try to earn it? The bread and wine remind us to remember Christ, repent, receive forgiveness, and live holy lives. As covenant heads of our households, we must extend grace to our children and lead them to Christ, investing in their spiritual growth. Fathers, your children look up to you—live honorably for their sake. - [00:34:06] Finally, the proclamation of the covenant: Only eight people were saved from the flood—Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. From these eight came millions of descendants, including the Jewish nation. God works through small beginnings for great purposes. - [00:35:38] The Bible repeatedly shows God using small, ordinary people or numbers to accomplish His plans. God does not need the majority or the extraordinary, just the faithful remnant. This continues today in discipleship and ministry—starting with a few and expanding over time. - [00:36:22] The next judgment God promises is not by flood but by fire. For Noah’s generation to be saved, they had to enter the ark. Today, Jesus Christ is the greater \"ark\" who saves many more. Noah was saved through the ark, but Jesus was not spared from God’s wrath; He bore it for us. In Him, we are saved for eternity. - [00:37:39] Our lives here matter for kingdom purposes and eternal significance. It does not matter who gets promotions, wealth, or status. God calls us to be salt and light in the world, living purposeful lives with a kingdom mindset. This starts small—investing in a few people and trusting God to multiply the impact. - [00:38:19] In closing, to those who are weary or have lost something, remember: it is not over until God says it is over. Your life is being preserved for His purposes. Whether in Silicon Valley or anywhere else, God is bigger than any disruption or challenge. - [00:39:02] For those in strained relationships, if God has forgiven you at such a cost, will you offer that forgiveness to others? Grace received must become grace extended, or it is no grace at all. - [00:39:49] Lastly, families should remember that God works through generations. Parents, your faith shapes the spiritual memory and legacy of your children. This is not about grades or worldly success but about faith and character. - [00:40:46] For those touched by God’s grace, invest in faithful disciples. Trust God to accomplish His purposes through you. Remember, God uses small beginnings for big purposes. The rainbow promises the storm will not destroy all, and the cross declares that judgment has fallen. Noah was preserved by the ark; we are preserved by Christ. Rest in Him, receive His forgiveness, and live faithfully, for our covenant-keeping God is not finished with us yet.