Read Genesis 8:20-9:29.

Introduction⤒🔗

In October of 1922, the famous British philosopher and writer, Bertrand Russell, had just finished work on his latest book, The Problem of China. In this book, Russell was seeking to offer “solutions” to the economic and political problems plaguing the vast nation of China. When a colleague of Russell’s, the novelist Joseph Conrad, read the book, he wrote back:

I have never been able to find in any man’s book or any man’s talk anything convincing enough to stand up for a moment against my deep-seated sense of fatality governing this man-inhabited world; the only remedy for Chinamen and for rest of us is the change of hearts.¹

Joseph Conrad was one of the few writers and thinkers of his day (or of any day) to rightly evaluate the human dilemma and to proclaim that what is needed is nothing less than a new heart. The Word of God confronts us with this same truth by means of the history recorded here in Genesis 8-9. Because sin reigns in the human heart, and from there exercises its corrupting influence, we must recognize the need for a new heart.

You Need a New Heart, because a Renewed Environment Cannot Eradicate Sin←⤒🔗

Following the Great Flood, the LORD declares, “the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). Compare this statement with that recorded in Genesis 6:5, which is describing the state of the human race just prior to the flood: “And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every conception of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” What this reveals is that not even a cataclysmic flood could change the nature of man’s heart. As we come to learn from Genesis 9:1-17, not even a renewed environment can eradicate sin from the human heart.

Genesis 9, (as did Genesis 8), is describing a renewed creation, but with some modifications when compared with the original creation:

In Genesis 9:1 we read that God blessed Noah, giving to him and his sons the commandment to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Compare this with Genesis 1:28a, “God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.’”

Genesis 9:2 states that God renewed man’s dominion over all the creatures of the world, but this time it is a dominion by fear, “the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth.” Again, compare this with Genesis 1:28b, where the LORD commands the man to exercise “dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

Genesis 9:3 indicates that the LORD again gave man permission to eat of all the creation, but this time He includes the eating of meat: “Everything that lives and moves shall be food for you. Just as I have given you the green plants, so now I give you all things.” Note how this compares with Genesis 1:29, “God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with seed in it; to you they shall be for food.’”

In conclusion, Genesis 9:7 once more repeats the command to be fruitful and multiply in the earth.

Noah and his family now find themselves the sole inhabitants of a renewed creation, but one that bears the scars of sin. It is now necessary for the LORD to state the prohibition against murder and institute capital punishment as the penalty for violating the prohibition:

⁵And surely for your lifeblood will I require an accounting; from every beast will I require it, and also from man. From each man I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. ⁶Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; because God made man in the image of God.vs. 5-6

The LORD establishes a covenant with Noah and the creation, (Gen. 9:8-17), pledging to preserve it from “premature” universal judgment until the final day—so that the LORD’s work of redemption can be accomplished:

⁸Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, ⁹I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; ¹⁰and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you—all that come out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. ¹¹I establish my covenant with you; never again shall all mortal life be cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth. ¹²And God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature that is with you, a perpetual covenant for all generations to come. ¹³I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴Whenever I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud, ¹⁵and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all mortal life. ¹⁶When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it, and so be reminded of the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is upon the earth. ¹⁷So God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all mortal life that is upon the earth. vs. 8-17

Noah and his family are now living in a renewed creation, but one that needs divine protection: protection from man’s own violence and protection from the outbreak of God’s righteous judgment. Although Noah finds himself in a renewed creation, sin has not been eradicated. On the contrary, it is residing in the human heart and it is exerting its corrupting influence throughout the world. We must honestly recognize the need for a new heart, because a renewed environment cannot eradicate sin.

You Need a New Heart, because the Old Heart is Under the Dominion of Sin ←⤒🔗

Genesis 9:18-19 identifies the sons of Noah as the new progenitors of the human race:

¹⁸Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth. (Ham is the father of Canaan.) ¹⁹These three men were the sons of Noah; and by these three the whole earth was populated.

Now that the apostate line has been eradicated, and it is the men who have a direct connection with the covenant line who are the new progenitors of the race, one might be led to have good hopes for the future.

But several troubling truths very quickly become apparent. First, it becomes apparent that not all who are identified with the covenant line are a part of the covenant, (as is the case with Ham). Thus, if there is to be deliverance from the sinful nature and all of its consequences, there is the need for regeneration—a man must be spiritually born again by the gracious working of God’s Holy Spirit.

Second, it becomes apparent that even those who truly belong to the covenant of God are not without sin, (as is the case with Noah). In the lives of those who have been spiritually reborn, there is the need for sanctification—the need for the new nature to permeate the whole life, replacing the remnants of the sinful nature that still exist in the life of God’s redeemed people.

The lives of Noah’s sons demonstrate the dominion of sin and the need for a new heart. But they also demonstrate the power of God to create a new heart and counteract and overcome the dominion of sin. The need for regeneration, and God’s willingness to provide that regeneration, are the focus of this present passage of Scripture.

In the case of Ham, there is evidenced the inheritance of the sinful nature and the natural heart under the dominion of sin. Ham names his son “Canaan,” (from the Hebrew כָּנַע, meaning, “to bow down, to be subdued, to submit”). In so naming his son, there is revealed Ham’s desire for ungodly dominion. We are called to exercise a holy dominion over the creation (cp. Gen. 1:28), but here in Ham is evidenced the desire to exercise an ungodly dominion over one’s fellow man. As we shall see, the penalty will be subjection under the dominion of God and His redeemed: “[The LORD] said, Cursed be Canaan. The lowliest of servants shall he be to his brothers” (vs. 25).

Furthermore, Ham is not only not repelled by the sight of his father’s lewdness, he has a desire to exploit it. He informs his brothers, in the evil spirit of inviting them to come and see: “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers who were outside” (vs. 22). Here is the spirit of the devil, not only indulging the sinful desires, but also tempting others to do so as well. Far from honoring his father and seeking to restore his father’s honor, Ham indulges his perverse desires at his father’s expense.

The whole episode involving Noah, Ham and Canaan emphasizes the fact that the sinful nature is passed on from generation to generation and the natural heart is under the dominion of sin. The sinful nature continues to reside in the heart of each succeeding generation unless there is conversion.

Note: The curse falling upon Ham's son is in keeping with the principle enunciated in Exodus 20:5, which declares that the LORD punishes “the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” The reason being the fact that the sins of the fathers are perpetuated in their offspring, note that it is the third and fourth generation of "those who hate me."Then, too, in the case of Noah and Ham, since it is a son who grieves his father’s heart by indulging in sin, that son, as a father, will suffer the grief of witnessing the consequence of his sin experienced by his own son, (as well as by himself).

In the case of Shem, there is the evidence of a new heart, recreated by God and no longer under the dominion of sin. Shem resists the temptation to entertain any lewd and perverse passion and to further dishonor his father. Shem takes the initiative (“Shem and Japheth”) in covering his father. In so doing, the brothers are undertaking a God-like activity: the LORD covered the shame and nakedness of Adam and Eve: “the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). Shem is identified with the LORD (“the LORD, the God of Shem”) as one who has been regenerated and brought into the covenant of redemption.

In the case of Japheth, there is evidence given of the promise that the LORD will renew the hearts of His chosen people. In his prophecy, Noah declares that Japheth shall dwell in the tents of Shem and share in Shem’s dominion over Canaan: "[Noah] said, May God increase Japheth’s possessions, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem. And let Canaan be his servant" (vs. 27).

Here is the promise that Japheth will be brought into God’s covenant people (note Jn. 10:16, printed below) and share in Christ’s final dominion (note Psalm 149:7,9, printed below):

Jesus said,

¹⁶I have other sheep that are not a part of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too shall listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock, [with] one shepherd. Jn. 10:16

⁷To execute vengeance upon the nations ⁹to execute upon them the judgment written; this honor has all his saints [i.e. all the LORD’s redeemed people]. Praise the LORD. Psl. 149:7,9

We must honestly recognize the need for a new heart, because the old heart, apart from the saving work of God, is under the dominion of sin. We must appreciate the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 15:19-20, “out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are the things that defile the man.”

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Joseph Conrad was one of the few writers and thinkers of his day (or of any day) to rightly evaluate the human dilemma and recognize that what is needed is nothing less than a new heart. But after making that evaluation, Joseph Conrad was left in despair; he went on to write:

The only remedy for Chinamen and for the rest of us is the change of hearts. But looking at the history of the last 2,000 years there is not much reason to expect that thing, even if man has taken to flying.²

Joseph Conrad saw that men need new hearts, and he also recognized that there was no way in the world that men could transform their own hearts. For Joseph Conrad this proved to be a dilemma that led to despair, because Joseph Conrad never looked to God. As the Lord Jesus teaches us in Mark 10:27, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

The message of the Scriptures, as presented here in Genesis 8:20-9:29, is not only do we need a new heart, but also, God is able to provide us with a new heart. That is the promise He makes:

²⁶A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26

Availing ourselves of that divine promise, let us offer up the prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psl. 51:10).

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. Compare the LORD’s evaluation of mankind after the Great Flood (Gen. 8:21), with His evaluation of mankind prior to the Flood (Gen. 6:5). What does this tell us about man’s heart and nature? See Matt. 15:19-20 How does the LORD’s assessment of man compare with man’s own assessment of himself? As you honestly look at your life, must you agree with the LORD’s assessment, or do you seek to defend man’s assessment?

²¹And the LORD smelled the sweet aroma and said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again destroy every living creature, as I have done. Gen. 8:21

⁵And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every conception of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 6:5

^19b...out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are the things that defile the man. Matt. 15:19b-20

2. A comparison of Genesis 9:1-3,7 with Genesis 1, indicates that, after the Flood, Noah and his family found themselves living in a renewed creation. But in contrast to the creation in which Adam and Eve originally lived, what prohibition does the LORD find necessary to institute in this renewed creation? See Gen. 9:5-6 In light of this passage, how should the Christian view capital punishment? Why did the LORD institute it? Was it for deterrence, or for justice?

¹Then God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth. ²The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens. All the creatures with which the land teems, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. ³Everything that lives and moves shall be food for you. Just as I have given you the green plants, so now I give you all things.... ⁷As for you, be fruitful, and multiply; increase abundantly on the earth, and multiply upon it. Gen. 9:1-3, 7

⁵And surely for your lifeblood will I require an accounting; from every beast will I require it, and also from man. From each man I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. ⁶Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; because God made man in the image of God. Gen. 9 :5-6

3. What covenant does the LORD make with Noah? See Gen. 9:8-17 With whom else and what else does He establish this covenant? Why does He establish it? See Gen. 9:14-16,

⁸Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, ⁹I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; ¹⁰and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you—all that come out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. ¹¹I establish my covenant with you; never again shall all mortal life be cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth. ¹²And God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature that is with you, a perpetual covenant for all generations to come. ¹³I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴Whenever I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud, ¹⁵and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all mortal life. ¹⁶When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it, and so be reminded of the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is upon the earth.¹⁷So God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all mortal life that is upon the earth. Gen. 9:8-17

4. Genesis 9:18-19 identifies the sons of Noah as the progenitors of the human race. What do we learn about the state of Ham’s heart? See Gen. 9:22 Is it just for Noah to pronounce the curse upon Ham’s son, Canaan? See Ex. 20:5 Of what are Ham and his descendants representative? Can you thank God for sovereignly redeeming you from that state and that ultimate fate? Have you experienced the gracious work of God spoken of in Ezek. 36:26?

²²Then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers who were outside.Gen. 9:22

⁵...I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me... Ex. 20:5

²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26

5. What do we learn about Shem? See Gen. 9:23 If you have been born again (regenerated) by the Holy Spirit, how should that regeneration express itself in your life? Do you see in your life any of the spiritual traits that characterized Shem’s life?

²³And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon their shoulders, and walking with their backs toward their father, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. Gen. 9:23