“God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ’Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, teem on the earth and multiply in it’" (Genesis 9:1-7, ESV).
There is dissatisfaction almost everywhere.
You could be dissatisfied or be discontented with the price of commodities. You could be dissatisfied not only the with cost of electricity, but also of its services, as well as of the internet. You could have that negative feeling toward your job, your business, your studies, your surroundings or toward your leaders, political candidates, friends, even the family.
So, it’s easy for one to criticize, to complain, or to accuse.
But God’s children are told to be thankful at all times.
Could we really do it? Especially so when are enduring many trials, where could we direct our attention to be thankful?
Having a Heavenly Father, who is Sovereign and Loving, we are actually enjoying many blessings. Let’s remember them always. And be thankful. Be thankful, not only for the physical or material favors that even an unbeliever could have.
So, this time let’s define some blessings intended for the elect, as we explore our topic: BLESSINGS TO THANK FOR , as we focus on our text (Gen. 9:1-7).
So, what are God’s blessings that we, as God’s children, could be thankful for?
We learned before that in the early verses of chapter 8, it related that the flood over the earth had abated and God commanded Noah to “Go out from the ark…” (v. 15.) And in verses 20-22, we saw what Noah did as soon as he went out from the ark. He provided the way to worship the God who saved him. He built an altar and offered an offering.
And Noah pleased the Lord. In our text we see that God blessed him. But, could we perceive what picture of blessing displayed in the passage? What are those things we could thank God for?
I – BE THANKFUL FOR HIS COMMAND (vv. 1 & 7).
We read verses 1 & 7, “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’… ‘And you, be fruitful and multiply, teem on the earth and multiply in it.’”
Notice the opening words of verse 1: “… God blessed…” When He blessed Noah and his sons, what did He give? He did not give something tangible.
The verse stated, “God blessed… and said…” God did not give them a house, a horse or anything for their transport. He did not give them extra strength, or life of comfort/convenience. He did not give them supernatural powers.
But, God “said” – He gave them His pronouncement or declaration. What He gave was His Word. And at this point, His words did not even include a promise. What words of blessing that Noah and his sons received? A command!
God said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” In order to stress the importance of the command, it was repeated in verse 7.
Try to recall that when we were going through before in Genesis, we learned that God’s commandment is good. Now, as we realize of its goodness, it is indeed a blessing.
Actually, it was pointed out to be so even in Genesis 1:29. We read, “And God blessed them (referring to Adam and Eve). And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…”
It’s so unfortunate that our first parents did not believe God’s Word. They did not believe that His command was a blessing.
Instead of praising God and thanking Him for it, they desired to become somebody or to have something else. And ever since, human beings have that kind of ungrateful inclination. For they could not see the goodness of God’s command. They could not apprehend and appreciate the blessing of His instruction.
Now, believers and lovers of Jesus, do we believe that God’s command is a blessing? Are we grateful that we are recipient of His instructions?
If so, then, whatever His command, we will follow. We will be careful to obey it. We will strive to learn about it. We will not compromise with what is wrong. We will have the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:1-8 in our heart, as we read in NLT:
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!”
Because God’s command is a blessing, let’s be thankful for it. And like the Psalmist, let’s show our gratitude by living in harmony with it.
What another blessing we could be thankful for?
II – BE THANKFUL FOR HIS DECREE (vv. 2-4).
We read verses 2-4, “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”
The English definition of decree is “a statement of truth that carries the authority of a court order.” In the Bible, it refers to “an official ruling or law” (e.g. Esther 1:20).
Let’s consider the Divine Decree in the passage. God gave man an authority over the animals. No matter how ferocious the animals, they are Sovereignly decreed to fear man. Their normal tendency is to run away from us.
Imagine if God’s decree was for humans to be food for the animals. But by the mercy of God – though we deserve to be eaten even by worms – God’s decree, not only plants but animals could be our food. His decree provides us everything for our sustenance.
But notice that God decreed a limit on what we could eat. In spite of the limitation, the decree was still a blessing. Remember His command to our first parents. They could eat the fruit of every tree in the garden. But they were off limit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Though our sinful nature would reason that it’s good to have no limit, Divine decree is a blessing to remind us of our limitation. Only our Maker is Infinite and has the absolute Sovereignty. Human beings are finite created beings – not only limited in time, but also limited in space, limited in knowledge, limited in what we can do, limited in our patience. It is only in our “appetite” to rebel or commit sin that is without limit.
But in God’s decree, human beings could perceive God’s unlimited blessings we could thank Him for. For no one can limit God to decree His favor to those whom He chooses.
He could decree to bless physically. He could decree to bless spiritually. Without limit.
Believers and lovers of Jesus, would you like to thank God for His decree?
Then, let’s be familiar with His decree of blessing. Let’s study it regularly. Let’s not be content to hear it just once or twice a week. Let’s remind ourselves daily of the Divine statement of truth. For it carries the Divine authority of the Heavenly court order. The order of blessings.
We read in Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
Yes, blessed is the one who proclaims, who reads, who guards and heeds of what is decreed to happen. Let’s be thankful that we know it, as it is written on His Book.
What another blessing we could be thankful for?
III – BE THANKFUL FOR HIS JUDGEMENT (vv. 5-6).
We read verses 5-6, “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
God’s judgement is a display of His Sovereignty, not only to take away human life, but to take it in His way.
It shows also His blessing for His people that they could thank for. Why? For it shows that He would avenge for them. Not only that, but it implies also of God’s protection for them. A man, who would harbor murderous thought, would think twice. He knew that if he would kill another, he would pay for his own life.
But most of all, in His judgement, we could thank God, for He exalts the value of human life. Though man became corrupt, God’s image is still reflected in him.
Normally, human beings want to think about God as Provider, Protector, Healer, Comforter, Giver, Lover… But they avoid to entertain the truth that God is God of Wrath. He is Avenger. The Righteous Judge.
But, David declared in Psalm 7:6, “Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.”
And Jesus Christ Himself said in John 5:26-27, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”
Jesus Christ is not only Savior and Lord. He executes judgment. He is the Righteous Judge. We read Psalm 7:11-13, “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.”
So, one can be thankful for God’s judgment. Wrong doers, not only be punished, but will perish on this earth!
So, believers and lovers of Jesus, are you looking forward when evils will be gone?
Be thankful it will come. Be thankful God’s judgment is coming.
Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering -- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
So, when someone caused or causing you to suffer injustice, maltreatment, false accusations, or whatever emotional, mental or physical pain – do not even think to avenge yourself. Be thankful. There is the Righteous Judge.
CONCLUSION:
When my father resigned from his job, he was so grateful for the words of his employer. The words were typewritten on the letter of his boss to his personal friend, who had a company in Baguio City. His boss related not only what he knew about my father, but what he felt also about my father. It was not just a formal letter of recommendation. It was a personal request to provide a job for my father.
My father opted to work here in Albay, not in Baguio. So, the letter remained with him. But, sometimes, I would see him that he was reading the letter of his boss. He was always grateful for it. He was cherishing the goodness of the words and goodness of the intention of the boss toward my father.
Let us also be thankful for the blessings given to us by God. Be thankful for the Personal Word – Jesus Christ, who suffered and died to pay for all our sins, who lived a perfectly life on earth to cloth us with His righteousness. And He rose from the dead to be our High Priest in Heaven, as our Intercessor.
Be thankful for His written Word, wherein we could read, study and cherish the goodness of His command, the goodness of His decree and the goodness of His Judgment.
