Genesis 7 – God Destroys The World With A Flood
Part 12 in Pastor David Guzik’s in-depth look at the book of Genesis, detailing chapter 7 and the judgement and promise God delivered with the Flood.
Lifeblood
But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. (Genesis 9:4)
When Noah left the ark, God gave him some commands suited to the world after the flood. God gave Noah the same kind of mandate He gave Adam in the beginning of creation, to “be fruitful and multiply,” (Genesis 1:28) because Noah, in a sense, began all over again.
Noah also received specific permission to eat animals, permission Adam was not given (as far we know). The Bible doesn’t tell us why after the flood God told humanity to eat the meat of animals. Perhaps this was because the earth was less productive agriculturally after the flood, considering the ecological changes mentioned in Genesis 9:1-3 and 8:22. Maybe meat was good for humanity after the flood in a way it wasn’t before the flood.
God also commanded that if animals were killed and eaten, there must be proper respect for the blood, which represents the life principle (Leviticus 17:11-14, Deuteronomy 12:23). The respect for blood isn’t based on mysticism or superstition, but because blood represents the life of the being, whether animal or human. When blood is poured out, life is poured out.
The importance of the idea of blood in the Bible is shown by how often the word is used. It is used 424 times in 357 separate verses (New King James Version).
One could say that blood is all over the Bible:
– Blood was the sign of mercy for Israel at the first Passover (Exodus 12:13).
– Blood sealed God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 24:8).
– Blood sanctified the bronze altar for sacrifice (Exodus 29:12).
– Blood set aside the priests, consecrating them for service (Exodus 29:20).
– Blood made atonement for God’s people (Exodus 30:10).
– Blood sealed the new covenant (Matthew 26:28).
– Blood justifies believers (Romans 5:9).
– Blood brings redemption (Ephesians 1:7).
– Blood brings peace with God (Colossians 1:20).
– Blood cleanses believers (Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7).
– Blood gives God’s people entrance to His holy place (Hebrews 10:19).
– Blood sanctifies the Christian (Hebrews 13:12).
– Blood enables believers to overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11).
Some people read all this and think, “God must be a blood-thirsty monster, something from a horror movie.” Not at all. The key is found in two principles.
First, blood is vitally connected to life (Leviticus 17:11). When blood is lost, life can be lost. Poured out blood often means a poured-out life.
Second, this points to the most important giving of life of all: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, when His poured-out life accomplished redemption for the people of God.
Even today, blood should be respected and treated honorably. But of greatest importance is the blood of Christ; His life poured out for means new life for all who trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus and all His saving work at the cross and in His resurrection.
Today, thank God for the preciousness of blood – the blood of Christ.
