God’s Command Restated- Noah (Genesis 9:1)
Sin grew. Cain killed Abel. Seth was born, and the promise of the coming Savior continued through his line to his offspring, Noah. During Noah’s days, man was evil in every way, but God took notice of Noah and counted him righteous. God commanded Noah to build an ark. All of mankind, except Noah and his family, was wiped out in the flood. After the flood, God gave a rainbow as a sign of promise that He would never destroy people in this way again. When the water had drained from the earth and dry land was visible again, God gave Noah the same command He had given Adam and Eve … “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 9:1) At that time, a total of eight people lived on earth: Noah, his wife, his three sons (Ham, Shem, and Japheth), and their wives. God’s promise of a coming Savior (Genesis 3) was passed down through Noah’s son, Shem.
Bible: With your family, read Genesis 6:1-14; 6:19-7:17; 8:1-4; and 8:15-9:17.
Family Activity 1:
Teaching Time: 20 minutes
Materials: sunrise/sunset, blanket, family snack
As a family, make plans to rise early to watch the sunrise and/or stay out late to see the sunset give way to the evening stars. Take a blanket and favorite family snack along with you. While you experience the beginning or ending of the day, talk about how constant the sun and stars are. Has the sun ever failed to rise or set? What would happen if the sun didn’t come up tomorrow? What would happen if the sun always was always shining and nighttime never came? Talk about how the reliability of the sun and stars is a reminder of the truth that God is always faithful.
Discuss:
- Have you ever broken a promise you made? Has anyone ever broken a promise they made to you? How did it make you feel? God’s Word is filled with many promises. He will never break them because faithfulness is part of who He is. How does this truth encourage you?
- Think about a time when you couldn’t see the sun’s rays because of clouds or a storm. Even though you couldn’t see the sun, was it still there? Has it ever seemed like God broke a promise? How does knowing that God is always faithful give us assurance that He has kept His promise even when we may not see how?
Family Activity 2:
Teaching Time: 12 minutes
Materials: large bowl, lots of dried beans or unpopped popcorn, colored marker
Before the activity, color one bean or popcorn kernel with a marker and hide it inside a large bowl of beans/kernels. Have children take turns searching for and finding the one bean/kernel that is different from all the rest. Discuss the state of the world in Noah’s time. Although the entire human race was evil, God knew about Noah and did not overlook him or his family.
Discuss:
- Read Genesis 6:8-9. What did God see in Noah that set him apart from all the people on the earth? Was Noah perfect? Read Genesis 1:28 and 9:1. How did God link Noah to Adam and Eve? * God’s promise of a coming Savior continued through Noah’s family and his descendants.
- Read 2 Chronicles 16:9a and1 Peter 2:9. What kinds of people is God looking for today? If God looks for hearts like Noah’s, hearts that are fully committed to Him, what would He see in our family?
Pray:
Thank God that He is faithful in every generation. Pray that He will cultivate within our family hearts that are fully committed to Him.
