8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 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. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 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. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Genesis 8:20-9:17
Genesis 6 The wickedness of the earth was great, but Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, a perfect man in his day. Noah walked with God.
Noah witnessed the judgment with the flood, and he feared God! God saved Noah and his family, and Noah made burning sacrifices from his grateful heart! He offered all kinds of clean animals and birds.
Noah saw God execute judgment on sin, and the flood destroyed the whole world! Noah chose to offer sacrifices before God. Like Abel, he understood God’s redemption. The sacrifices represented the sacrifice of Christ! His understanding of God and his faith please God again!
God took the initiative to establish a covenant with Noah and his descendants, and used the rainbow as a sign to make an eternal covenant!
Did you see it? In fact, many people offer sacrifices before God in legalism, and sacrifices can be turned into religious rules and rituals. But God was very pleased with Noah’s burnt offerings because of his faith and understanding of God’s heart! God blessed Noah and his sons abundantly, gave them all kinds of food, gave them a protection order from others, and made them multiply and prosper on the earth! God also made a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant!
When we come to God, do we pray in legalism, like submitting homework in praising God?
Or do we focus on God like Noah, understand God’s will, and express gratitude by offering sacrifices? Be a person who pleases God! The burnt offering to draw near to God is to rely on Christ Jesus (the true sacrifice) to draw near to Him. Do you have the faith to see God delighting in you as He delighted in Noah!?
In fact, God is passionate and loves to reward those who seek him! Our God rejoices over us!
The Love Song of Father’s heart
- My dear child do you know how joyous I am for you
Your countenance and your every move
Shines like a precious stone, Dazzling, lovely - My dear child, do you know How content I’m with you?
Now and fore’er nothing in this world
Can ever replace you in My heart - The days ahead are joyous, come fully enjoy my all
You can freely lean on my bosom,
I ‘ll give you eternal, greatest blessings.
Chorus:
I love to embrace you. Tis my pleasure and joy
For you I dance and sing. The love song of my heart
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 