Scripture Passage: Genesis 9:8-17

A. The Bow is Always Set Against the Clouds
Lesson: Mankind is helpless to find rest on his own.

B. The Bow is the Symbol of God’s Might and Power
Lesson: When God saves you, you are no longer at war with Him.

C. The Bow Points Upward
Lesson: The favor of God upon man is based on His power and not ours.

The Heart of the Message:

The saving power of God. When we look at Noah as a man of faith, we need to be careful that the lesson isn’t a false one. We do injustice to the story if we arrive at the conclusion that we need to avoid destruction by building something on our own, or by doing good works. We enjoy the grace of God when we count on Him to save us and when we believe in His love for us.

Extra Nugget:

“My looking to Jesus brings me joy and peace, but it is God’s looking to Jesus which secures my salvation and that of all his elect; for it is impossible for our God to look at Christ, our bleeding Surety, and then to be angry with us for sins already punished in him.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Questions:

• How have you misunderstood God’s mercy?

• How does this mercy-filled view of God inspire you to seek a deeper relationship with Him?

• On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being total acceptance, how would you rate your acceptance with God right now?