The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-02-06

|. Verses Sill. AT the conclusion of
the lesson of last week Noah was en-
barked in the ark and the flood was
over the earth. Between that time
and the time of this lesson Noah
made three attempt to ascertain If the
time had arrived for him to leave the
Ark. At last God gave him com
mand (S:15, 16) to 'go FORTH" but he
did not go empty handed. Noah had
taken his all in the ark and it proved
to be a most profitable investment.
Though shut up so days GEO, God
must have been in the hearts of that
little company as they stepped forth
upon the dry land. What an over
powering sense of Gods gracious
mercy. What recollection of Gods
awful wrath. What a trembling least
there be repetition of this disaster
And what an amazement in contem-
plating the mighty work of founding
a new race.
Noah's Offering.
The first act on Noah's part upon
leaving the ark was to build an altar
unto God and to offer a burnt offering
1920 Thus we see that Gods COW
enant with Noah was based upon the
ground of shed blood (Heb. 9:15-22),
and as such 1t was an acceptable Of
fering. "a sweet smelling sacrifice
(S:2D, because it was an expression
of entire conservation to God, Phil.
4:18 This offering is of course, a
type of Christ who is the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world" AS
Noahs offering, see 1921, averted
rightful penalty, even so the offering
of Christ redeems us from the curse
of sin which is our just due, Gal. 3:13
AS they look about upon the
cleansed earth, for there is no sin
present except that of their own
hearts, they are to us type of that
new life into which we enter through
Jesus Christ see l. Peter 3:20, 81
study of covenants and of coven-
ant making ceremonies is always in
tensely interesting. In the Biblical
meaning a covenant is compact or
agreement between two parties, %
between God and man, (2)- between
man and man. In this covenant God
bestowed the benefit of an assurance,
though Noah had had certain condi-
tions imposed upon him, the fulfilling
of which brought him to this place
where he might receive this assur-
ance.
Gods covenant with Noah was one
of eight great covenants. Cd the one
made in Eden, Gen 1:2S; (2) the
Adamic, Gen. 3:15; (3) this with
Noah, Gen 1921, %; (4) one with
Abraham, Gen. 1918; 60 that with
Moses. Elk. 1925; (6) one with the
Israelites, Deut. 36:3; CD that with
David, 2 Sam. 7:16; 81 the new Gov
enant, Heb. S:8. The main elements
of this covenant are, (a) the removal
of the curse, S:21; (b) the assurance
of returning harvests and regular sea
son, 1922; (c) the promise of an
abundant progeny, 81; I'D the domi
nation of animal life, 9:2; (e) provi
sion for food, both flesh and herd, 9:
8; (f) provision for sacrifice and wor
ship, ga; (g) the safety of human
life. 9:5; CHI the administration oi
justice, 9:6.
Gods Promise.
Noah's life of obedience before he
entered the ark had ELECTED Gods
promise that he would establish a
covenant with him, see Eph. 6:1S;
and so God today holds before al
men the promise of new and better
covenant into. which they also may
enter if they will, Heb. S:S. God has
frequently used this covenant as an
illustration of his love and his faith
fulness towards his people, lisa. 5:
8, 10, and this covenant included Gods
care for the beasts as we'll as man
verses 10, Is, 16, see also Ps, 36:5, 6;
Jonah All This is a good thought
to emphasize with'the younger pupils
H. Verses 12-17. AS though Je
hovah would make assurance doubly
secure, he not only made covenant
but appointed a token, sign, of thai
covenant, whereby the covenant is tC
be remembered, read Gen. 17:11; Elk
1918, 2:12; Matt, 26;23-2S; /. Cor
II: 1925 We must beware of read
ing into this passage any suggestion
that this is the first appearance of &
rainbow upon the earth; there is nj
such suggestion in the text, but rath
er God took the rainbow Whlch was
set in the cloud and made Of it &
token of the covenant he had made
with Noah. Whenever we behold {
rainbow we ought to remember tha
his covenant was not alone to Noah
bu to us, his seed.
The rainbow was formed of tha
same rain which had produced thu
flood. !"After the appearance of al
entire rainbow. as a rule. no rain o
long duration follows" The rainbow
is proof that the rain is partial anC
that the sun of Gods mercy is nhin
ing 1t lights up what had just beer
dark and fateful. Rainbows can bC
seen in all parts of the earth, so II
his mercy all embracing. A rainbow
is beautiful and attractive, and 80 II
Jesus the chief among ten Thousand