2. The covenant of the rainbow (8:20-9:17)

The first event that occurs in this new creation is an act of worship (8:20). God is given his rightful place. In response to Noah’s devotion, God resolves to remain with his creation despite humankind’s propensity to sin (v.21). His sustaining the world (cf. Col 1:17) is totally an act of grace. Notice the similarities of the “two” creations. The image of God remains (9:6; cf. 1:27), as does the mandate to be fruitful and multiply (9:1; cf. 1:28).

To guarantee God’s resolve never again (thrice repeated, 8:21; 9:11, 15) to destroy the earth, God establishes a covenant with Noah. It is a unilateral covenant of grace embracing every living creature in its generous scope (9:10, 12). God’s never again is symbolized in the choice of the rainbow as a perpetual sign that he will never forget his promise (vv.13-17).