On Prayer (Gen 9:1)

"Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." - Gen 9:1

In almost all western homes, special occasions like Thanksgiving are celebrated with a family meal.  In some Christian families, the patriarch of the family rises after the meal and lays his hands on the shoulders of each family member, saying a prayer of blessing over and for them.   The words used are meaningful and significant, not just because the patriarch loves and knows each one exceedingly well, but because as head of the family he has the spiritual authority to pray into their lives with impact.

But that kind of blessing, as significant as it is, pales in comparison to the blessing Noah heard God speak over him and his sons.  For there is no higher head of any family then the creator of all, the head of all, the Sovereign of all.  There is no higher authority than God Most High.  Can you imagine the impact of His personal blessing?  Imagine having God lay His hand on Your shoulder and saying a blessing over you!  What a blessing that would be, for the words are not only absolute truth, but have all the weight of certainty!

Of interest to us is the fact that the words the Lord used to bless Noah are almost exactly the same words He used to bless Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28-29.  From that we can understand that Noah is an Old-testament type of the 'new Adam'.  The original Adam fell from fellowship with God.  The new Adam has fellowship with God restored, just like us. 

Like us, Noah heard God’s Voice directing him to the way of salvation.

Like us, Noah found salvation in obedience to God’s Voice and entering the way of salvation.

Like us, Noah is carried through the destruction of the world by God's providence and favor.  Like us, Noah inherits a new earth, wiped clean of evil-doers. 

Like us, Noah is saved. 

Like us, Noah has a new covenant with God. 

Like us, Noah continues to hear God as he walks in obedience.

Like us, Noah is blessed of God.

There is yet one more way that Noah is like us, and we like him.  We are given the blessing of relationship with God and are expected to take that blessing to others (Matt 28:19-20).  Likewise, Noah is not to try to hoard the blessing of his salvation - the new earth and relationship with God is to also come to others – and that through him.   Perhaps – for Scripture does not tell us - perhaps he started that process by pronouncing the same blessing he was given over his sons and their wives.  Certainly food for thought – and it must be noted that it fell to Noah to restore the earth to it’s original purpose, which was not to leave it alone, but rather fill it with God’s people.

May the Lord grant that we would likewise hear His Voice, and likewise hear His blessing over our lives, and likewise bring the blessing of relationship with Him to all those who now fill the earth.  May we be faithful – even more faithful – than Noah was.