Week 4: Genesis 8:1-22

Week 4: Genesis 8:1-22

At A Glance:

Author: Moses or A mix of J & P

Form: Ancient Flood Story

Themes: The water recedes.  Waiting upon the Lord.  Leaving the Ark.  Creation made new again. 

Summary:  This pericope ends the destruction of the flood.  The waters begin to recede and Noah must wait until the divine command to leave the ark.  In God's 3rd Divine Address to Noah we hear that this earth that has been washed by the waters is like a new earth.  Echoes from Genesis 1 can be seen throughout the chapter.  The earth has become a new creation through the waters of the flood.

Commentary:

8:1a - As mentioned previously "God remembered Noah" is the center of the flood epic and what follows is the action of God taken on account of his servant Noah.  God did not forget about Noah on the boat, this literary tool tells us that everything that God does after he "remembers" him is done for him, or on his behalf.

8:1b-2 - The word "wind" is the same "ruah" used in Gen 1:2 the "fountains of the deep" and "window of the heavens" are allusions to the separation of the waters from the second day of creation in Genesis 1.  This verse establishes that what follows is a new creation of the earth.  The old corrupt earth has been washed away by the flood, a new earth rises as the waters recede. 

8:3-14 - This is the account of the flood waters receding, many scholars also point to this account as evidence of the multiple source theory of the Pentateuch.  Verses 3-5, and 7 and 13a-19 tend to be considered from the Priestly source by its count the flood began on 17th day of the second month when Noah was 600 years old and he exits the ark on the 27th (some manuscripts read 17th) day of the second month when Noah is 601 years old.  Placing Noah in the ark for a full year, whereas the J source (v6, 8-12, 13b, and 20-22) have Noah entering the ark 7 days before the flood began, it rained for 40 days and afterwards Noah waited on the ark another 14 before exiting the ark having been on board only 61 days.  Here the account is interwoven into a single narrative there are scholars who reconcile the two accounts and suggest that Noah was on the ark for 385 or so days. 

8:15-16 - This begins the 3rd Divine Address: Leave the Ark.  Whether there are two accounts of the flood interwoven together by a master redactor or a single account told with differing emphasis Noah waits for the Lord's command before leaving the ark.  In v4 the boat was already resting on mountainous land, v11 Noah had evidence of fertile land, v13 Noah visibly saw that the earth was dry, but he waited until God's command in v15-16 before leaving the ark.  What was he considering while waiting.  Did he doubt?  Was he worried that God would not come for him?  I would wager that he didn't.  A doubting man would have left the boat rather than waiting for God to command it, after all God did not say "Stay in the boat until I say so."  I read this sensing a giddy excitement in Noah.  He patiently waited for the Lord's command, but he looked and peaked using birds and counting the days like a child who is excited about Christmas and the prospects of presents.

8:17 - God once again commands the wild animals to multiply upon the earth just as he did on the 6th day of creation. 

8:20 - At the first creation of the earth God rested after all was made and he blessed the 7th day making it holy.  Here after completing the New Creation God accepts an offering of worship to him.  This is the first time we hear anyone makes use of an Altar (Abel & Cain both made offerings, presumably on an altar but the text does not make that explicit). 

8:21-22 - God here mentions that he will not destroy the earth again as he did even though "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth".  God acknowledges that humanity has not changed but still promises to refrain from dishing out the just punishment we deserve for our sins.  After all if God were to punish us as often as we deserve a new flood might be sent every day! 

Final Thoughts:

          This section of the flood epic is fraught with theological symbolism.  Through the waters the earth is made new, God resolves to have mercy on the sinfulness of man and that never again shall the earth be destroyed in such a way.  This is clear baptismal imagery.  The waters of baptism wash away our sinfulness (1 Pt 3:21) and we arise from the waters as a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).  God could have cleansed the wickedness in any way he desired, but he chose the image of water.  How can we then doubt the efficaciousness of our own baptism?  God has proven that he can wash away wickedness through water then he promises to wash away my wickedness in my water baptism and the baptism of my children.  Why would I want to wait to receive this promise? 

          The washing away of wickedness is not the end of the story.  Noah must still live out his life and his sons must live out their lives.  As we shall see "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (v21).  Yet God does not send another cleansing flood, reminding us that although we may sin again after being cleansed we are already a new creation and do not need to be re-baptized.  "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over" John 13:10.  We have been bathed in the waters of Christ, there is no other cleansing greater than this.  But when we sin God gives us a way to "wash our feet" so-to-speak.  The sacrament of reconciliation where we renew our broken relationship with God.  What follows in chapter 9 is a renewing of the broken relationship that began with the fall of man in chapter 3.

Please share your thoughts and insights as well….