Preaching And Reading The Old Testament Lessons
This passage contains what is known as the Noachic Covenant - God's covenant with Noah. It forms the first of the series of covenants that make up the Priestly history in the Old Testament. The Priestly Writers (P) envisioned Israel's history as proceeding in a series of covenants with God, each covenant characterized by a covenant "sign," and all leading toward the climax of God's dwelling in the midst of his people when his glory descends to the tabernacle on Mount Sinai (Exodus 40:34--38). First, there is this covenant with Noah, accompanied by the sign of the bow in the clouds.
