Genesis 9

God gave mankind dominion over the earth, which includes the ability to eat any animal or vegetable. However, eating blood is forbidden. Blood is seen as that which carries life and symbolizes what is sacred. As such, shedding man’s blood is absolutely forbidden, precisely because mankind was made in the image of God, and the death penalty is a result.

Romans 13:3-4 “For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”

I believe that this passage implies we still carry the imprint of God’s image, even though it has been marred by sin. We are like our creator in many ways, but we have lost the holiness that once was ours, which is why we need Christ!

Ephesians 4:20-24 “But you didn’t learn Christ that way, if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.”

The Noahic covenant is more fully explained here, having been revealed in the prior chapter. God would never again destroy the entire earth with a flood, and the rainbow is a symbol of His covenant with mankind.

What was Canaan’s sin that he was so severely punished? What did he do wrong? Some have come up with bizarre speculations, but we don’t need to go beyond what the text says. Honor and shame were big deals in ancient culture, and we can see the beginning of that here. Rather than treating his father with respect and taking care of him, he apparently chose to ridicule him and tried to have his brothers join him in dishonoring their father. To their credit, they refused.

Thought for the day: How do you treat your parents?

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise: ‘that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth’ “ (WEB).