Genesis 6 - 9 - Noah & The Flood

Genesis 6 - 9 relates the story of Noah and the flood, a pretty familiar story to most. Genesis 6, as recounted earlier tells of how God chose Noah because he was righteous and relates some of the instructions. Genesis 7 gives an account again of how Noah is to bring the animals into the ark and tells of how God brought the flood upon earth, destroying every living creature who was not on board. Genesis 8 relates how God remembered Noah and his family aboard the ark and tells of how Noah, his family and the animals rescued by Noah emerge from the ark in the post-flood world. Genesis 9, up until verse 17 tells of God's covenant with Noah. In this little bit of the Bible we see a number of interesting things and stuff that raises some questions.

First, Noah is found righteous. What had Noah done to be found righteous in the first place. What set Noah apart from the other men of his age? Is it that Noah did all that God commanded of him or was there some preexisting righteousness in Noah not mentioned in the Genesis account?

Second, what are we to do with Noah's age? The Biblical account has him at 600 years old at the time of the flood? Are we to take that as a literal? Some of these questions about the ages have been raised before in our journey and we still need to research into them to find answers, if that is at all possible.

Third, in the text we have God commanding Noah to take two of every unclean animal but seven of every clean one. When did God give this demarcation? When did God call some animals clean and others unclean?

In Genesis 8 Noah builds an altar and sacrifices some of the clean animals to God as an offering. What prompts this offering and sacrifice?

In Genesis 9 God blesses Noah and his sons. Why is the "fear of dread" that the God places in the animals of Noah and his offspring a blessing? Also in this little passage God gives Noah and his offspring the animals as He had given the green plants of the earth to Adam. Is this an explicit allowing of men to eat the flesh of animals?

In Genesis 9:6 we see reference again to the Imago Dei. "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." This is a pretty strong ethical statement and ties into the image of God research we hope to continue on this blog. I don't know what yet to make of it, but since it seems to be a topic we've chosen to focus on here early in this journey it's worth mentioning to come back to at a later time.

There's a lot in the text here, but these questions will suffice for now. Hopefully, I'll be a bit more faithful in my studying in the near future and develop a bit more of a routine to continue my research.