The Noahic Covenant: Humanity’s Path to Redemption
Greetings, saints of the Most High. Welcome to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I’m Rod Thomas, coming to you on a beautiful Shabbat in the DFW area. I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well and blessed.
Today, we delve into the Noahic Covenant, the second rung on Yehovah’s ladder leading to our redemption. This covenant, established after the Great Flood, is foundational to our understanding of redemption and renewal.
Our Torah Reading for this week is contained in Genesis 8.15-9.17, with the haftarah reading to be found in Isaiah 42.7-21, and the apostolic in 2 Timothy 2.8-19. I’ve chosen to entitle this post: “From Flood to Faith—The Enduring Promise of the Noahic Covenant – My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 7.”
Key Concepts:
- Covenant (Brit): Yehovah’s plan to redeem humanity.
- Renewal: The command to repopulate the Earth and renew the original Edenic/Adamic Covenant.
- Burnt Offerings: Noah’s offerings on a rebuilt altar, leading Yehovah to resolve never to curse the ground or destroy all living creatures again.
Yehovah acknowledges humanity’s inherent evil but blesses Noah and his sons, reasserting human dominion over creation and lifting the prohibition against consuming animals for food. However, the consumption of blood and murder are strictly prohibited, with severe consequences for violators.
The Noahic Covenant is a unilateral covenant, with Yehovah doing the heavy lifting to restore the broken relationship between Him and humanity. This covenant lays the groundwork for humanity to develop a “yetzer tov” (good inclination) and fulfill its purpose as Yehovah’s image bearers on Earth.
Significance of the Covenant:
- Unconditional Blessings: Despite humanity’s shortcomings, Yehovah honors His covenant promises, symbolized by the rainbow.
- Foundation for Redemption: The Noahic Covenant is crucial for humanity’s full redemption, reaffirming our inherent value as Yehovah’s imagers and paving the way for future covenants.
In conclusion, the Noahic Covenant is a testament to Yehovah’s grace and commitment to humanity’s redemption. As we reflect on this covenant, let us strive to overcome our “yetzer ra” (evil inclination) and walk in righteousness, fulfilling our purpose as Yehovah’s image bearers.
Shabbat Shalom.
Faithfully submitted,
Rod Thomas, The Messianic Torah Observer
Deuteronomy-A Rehashing and Retelling of Torah to a New Generation-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 126
This week's Torah Reading, contained in Deuteronomy 1.1-46, is the 126th portion of our 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. I’ve entitled this teaching: “Deuteronomy – A Rehashing and Retelling of Torah to a New Generation.” Deuteronomy is where we will be...
Explaining the Current Calendar Confusion Among Observational Calendar Keepers
Explaining the Current Calendar Confusion Among Observational Calendar Keepers Greetings Saints of the Most High. Trusting that this special post finds you, your families, and fellowships are well and blessed at the start of this new week. As I am...
The Torah of the Cities of Refuge–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 125
Shabbat Shalom. This week's Torah Reading, contained in Numbers 35:9-36:13, is the 125th portion of our 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. And for our discussion today, we will focus only on verses 9 through 34 of chapter 35. This is, by the way, the final...
Shabbat HaChodesh and Guarding the Month of the Aviv Thoughts and Reflections
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah. I pray that this post finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed on this hurried but expectant Preparation Day. 12 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Mitsrayim, saying, 2“This new...
The High Expectations for God’s People to Fulfill His Will and Purpose — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 122
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah. This week's Torah Reading is the 122nd reading of our 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Our reading is found in Numbers 32:1-42. I’ve entitled this teaching: The High Expectations for God's People to Fulfill...
What God Expects From Us When We Make Vows — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 121
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah. This week's Torah Reading is the 121th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 30:1-31:54 contains this week's Torah Reading. I’ve entitled this teaching: What God Expects from us When We Make Vows...
Worshiping God Throughout the Year — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 120
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah This week's Torah Reading is the 120th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 28.1-29.40 contains this week's Torah Reading. I’ve entitled this teaching: Worshiping God Throughout the Year — Thoughts and...
The Generational Inheritance Covenant Realized — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 119
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah. This week's Torah Reading is the 119th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 26:52-27:23 contains this week's Torah Reading. In last week's reading, Abba instructed Moshe to conduct a census of...
Learning to Fear God and Receive His Peace — Israel’s Inextricable Link to Our Salvation Part 4
After Paul’s conversion to the Way Faith, the Nazarene assemblies that were strewn throughout the Judean region, including the Galilee and Samaria, enjoyed a season of relative peace and unity. (Act 9:31) Those coming into the Way Movement, a movement that many...
The Call For God’s People to be Jealous with His Jealousy — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 118
And greetings elect of the Most High. Welcome back to the Messianic Torah Observer. I’m Rod Thomas, coming to you on Preparation Day, the 21st day of the 11th month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. That translates into 2/2/2024 on the pagan Roman Calendar....