Theme

The heart of God as he sees human rebellion

Questions

• In Genesis 6:6-7 God is described as grieved (sometimes translated ‘regretted’) and hid heart is pained (sometimes translated ‘troubled’). What causes such deep feeling in God? Do you think people continue to grieve and pain God?
• God decides to destroy his creation. Does this action seem extreme to you? Why/why not?
• Despite his decision to destroy what he has made, God still makes provision for restoration through Noah and his family. Why?
• In Genesis 6:9 Noah is described as someone who “walked with God”
  • Do you know people who you could describe this way? What qualities do they have?
  • Look at some of the other places the Bible talks about walking with God – Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Micah 6:6-8, 1 John 2:3-6- are there things you need to work on to walk more closely with God?
• In several places in the Bible Noah is described as a righteous man (Genesis 6:9 & 7:1; Ezekiel 14:14; 2 Peter 2:5), but Genesis 9:20-27 describes an event when Noah gets drunk and curses part of his family. How can Noah still be described as righteous after the events of Genesis 9?
• Compare what God says to Noah in Genesis 9:1-3, with what he says to Adam & Eve in Genesis 1:28-30.
  • What are the differences and similarities? Why do you think God gives these instructions to Noah?
  • How do these passages help us understand the responsibilities humanity has for creation? How seriously do you take this responsibility, personally and collectively?
• Look at the covenant promise God makes (Genesis 9:8-11).
  • Who is the covenant with? Why do you think this is significant?
  • If God promises never to flood the earth again does this mean that humanity has ‘improved’ as a result of the flood [compare Genesis 6:5 (before the flood) & Genesis 8:21 (after the flood)]? Or does it mean that God takes sin less seriously? … or does it mean something else?
• Why do you think God makes this covenant promise (look at what he says in Isaiah 54:9-10)?
• The rainbow is the sign of the covenant.
  • Some Christians argue that it has been ‘hijacked’ by other groups and movements. Do you agree or disagree with that? Why?
  • According to Genesis 9:16 who is the rainbow, primarily for?

• Does the story of Noah cause you to rethink what you know about God?

• If you could ask Noah one question, what would it be? (what do you think the answer would be?)