The Holy Martyr Codratus and those with him: Cyprian, Nika, Halyna, and others.
Day 23 of the Great Fast.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 25:1-9; Vespers – Genesis 9:8-17; Proverbs 12:8-22.
Read Genesis 9:8-17
The Old Testament often mentions “covenants.” In modern times, we instead usually speak in terms of “contracts.” However, a covenant and a contract are not the same thing. A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two parties involving an exchange of value where if one party fails to do its part, the contract is breached and may result in legal consequences. A covenant, however, forms a relationship and includes stipulations, consequences for obedience or disobedience, witnesses, and generally a ceremony to ratify it. God did not sign a contract with Noah and his descendants (which include us); God established a new relationship!
Noah was faithful and obedient to God, having constructed an ark and filling it with all the animals according to God’s instructions. By building the ark, Noah was saved from the floodwaters that destroyed all life upon the earth. After the floodwaters dissipated, Noah left the ark and immediately built an altar to make sacrifices to God. His first act after the flood was to worship God! God established a covenant with Noah and his descendants, promising never to destroy all life on earth by flood again. As a sign of this promise, God says to see the rainbow. The rainbow will be a reminder to us of God’s faithfulness to us and this relationship we have with Him.
The story of Noah once again shows us how the consequence of sin is death. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, the consequence was death. When Cain’s offering was rejected by God and he harbored anger in his heart, he murdered his brother Abel, resulting in death. When all life on earth was evil and wicked, the floodwaters destroyed it all. Even though the consequence of sin is death, God did not will for death to be victorious over us. God Himself became man, suffered death at the hands of His creation, and then rose victoriously from the dead! This week as we continue to reflect on the cross, let us remember that God Himself willed to suffer death out of His great love for us. He suffered death in order to save us from death, just as He saved faithful Noah and his family on the ark.