September 3: The Rainbow (Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17)

To begin the session:

Have the members of your group answer one or more of the following ice-breaker questions.

1. What is the worst flood you have experienced?
2. How have you felt as you tuned into news accounts about the hurricane and flooding in Texas?
3. Do you know anyone who lives in that area?

Spend time praying for the residents and responders who have been impacted by the storm.

To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:

From the Standard Lesson Commentary (SLC): The biblical account of the great flood is detailed in giving specifics for the beginning of the flood, the length of time the rain fell, how long the floodwaters covered the earth, and how long it took for the waters to recede. The total amount of time adds up to a little more than a year (Genesis 7:11; 8:14).

Today’s lesson passage picks up right after Noah and his family and all the animals came out of the ark.

Have your group read Genesis 8:20-22 and discuss the following questions.

1. Why do you think Noah’s first action was to build an altar to the Lord and offer sacrifices on it?
2. What made this an especially costly sacrifice?

Point out that Noah took only seven pairs of each kind of clean animal. Rather than hold back because of his limited number of animals, Noah freely offered up some of each kind of clean animal in thanksgiving and worship to the Lord.

3. In what sense should we take the Lord’s response to Noah’s offering literally, and in what sense should we take it figuratively?

From the SLC: The writer (Moses) uses figurative language to describe God’s response to the sacrifice. Since “God is spirit” (John 4:24), we need not assume that God smells things the same way we do or has a literal, physical heart. Nevertheless, we understand such language. The point being made is that God accepts the offering.

4. What was the good news following the flood? How do we see God’s grace involved?

Genesis 9:1-7 (not in today’s text) begins with God’s instruction for Noah and his family to increase the population. Humanity is to multiply anew over the face of the earth.

Have your group read Genesis 9:8-17 and discuss the following questions.

5. What covenant does God establish, and who does he make it with?
6. Who is responsible for keeping this covenant?
7. How can we reconcile this covenant with the reality of terribly destructive floods, like we just witnessed in Texas?

From the SLC: As important as what the covenant promises is what it does not promise. It does not promise there will never be another flood of any magnitude, nor does it promise that there will never again be loss of life by means of flooding. Floods have occurred many times since the days of Noah. The covenant promises instead not to repeat a flood like the one just experienced. From now on, floods will never be so severe as to leave only eight survivors (1 Peter 3:20).

8. Why is the rainbow an appropriate sign of this covenant?
9. In the days following the flood, how do you think Noah and his family felt when a rainstorm moved in? How do you think they felt when the rainstorm was accompanied by a rainbow?
10. What did the Lord mean when he said, “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind” (Genesis 9:14, 15)?

From the SLC: We may find it odd that the all-knowing God needs to be reminded of anything. Once again the text uses figurative language. While we need reminders, God does not; but we understand that a reminder is assurance that something important will not be forgotten. God is giving assurance that he will not forget or forsake his covenant. And in that regard the rainbow is a symbol for us as well.