What Command Did God Give Noah and His Sons?

After the floodwaters receded and Noah and his family emerged from the ark, God gave them specific commands to guide the renewed life of humanity on the restored earth. These instructions, recorded in Genesis 9:1–7, are pivotal, as they establish humanity’s role, responsibilities, and the moral framework for life after the flood.

Biblical Account

In Genesis 9:1–7, God spoke to Noah and his sons, saying:

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all creatures, and they will be subject to you. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting… Be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

From this passage, several clear commands and principles emerge.

Key Commands God Gave Noah and His Sons

1. Be Fruitful and Multiply:

   • God instructed Noah and his family to repopulate the earth.

   • After the flood, humanity had been reduced to Noah’s family alone, making this command essential for the continuation of human life.

   • This emphasizes God’s intention for humanity to thrive and steward the earth.

2. Fill the Earth:

   • Beyond mere multiplication, God commanded them to spread across the earth.

   • This signifies human responsibility for the stewardship of all creation, ensuring that the restored earth would be inhabited and nurtured.

3. Dominion Over Animals:

   • God granted humanity authority over living creatures: “The fear and dread of you will fall on all creatures, and they will be subject to you.”

   • This command establishes a hierarchy in creation, assigning humans a leadership role while also implying accountability for the treatment of animals.

4. Permission to Eat Animals (with Restrictions):

   • God allowed Noah and his descendants to eat animals for sustenance: “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.”

   • However, He commanded that blood must not be consumed, emphasizing the sanctity of life: “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.”

   • This instruction introduces moral and ethical considerations regarding the treatment of animals and respect for life.

5. Accountability for Life:

   • God warned that He would demand an accounting for the shedding of human blood, underscoring the sacredness of human life: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed.”

   • This principle lays the foundation for justice and the moral order among humans.

Theological and Symbolic Significance

1. Human Responsibility:

   • These commands reflect humanity’s role as stewards of creation, responsible for life, reproduction, and ethical treatment of animals and fellow humans.

2. Sanctity of Life:

   • God’s instructions regarding blood and accountability for murder underscore the value of human and animal life, linking obedience with moral and spiritual responsibility.

3. Divine Blessing and Covenant:

   • These commands are intertwined with God’s covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8–17), which includes the promise never again to destroy the earth with a flood.

   • By following God’s commands, humanity participates in this covenant and receives divine blessing.

4. Foundation for Civilization:

   • The instructions to multiply, fill the earth, and respect life establish the moral, social, and ecological foundations necessary for rebuilding human society after the flood.

Practical Lessons

1. Obedience to God:

   • Noah’s compliance with God’s commands demonstrates faithfulness and sets an example for future generations.

2. Stewardship of the Earth:

   • Humans are entrusted with caring for the environment and the creatures within it.

3. Ethical Responsibility:

   • Respect for life, moral accountability, and justice are core principles established through God’s commands.

Conclusion

God’s commands to Noah and his sons—to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, exercise dominion responsibly, and respect the sanctity of life—establish the foundation for life after the flood. These directives underscore human responsibility, ethical conduct, and stewardship in a restored world. By following these commands, Noah and his descendants were called to participate in God’s plan for creation, ensuring the continuation of life and the establishment of moral and spiritual order on the earth.

What promise did God make about the ground after the Flood?