The Noahic Covenant and the Love of Creation

Lent is a season where we contemplate our habits, ways, and practices.  We reflect on our gratitude and appreciation for what GOD has done through the work of Jesus Christ. This Lent, I invite you to reflect on a fuller, comprehensive view of salvation as we continue our Bible study and focus on Genesis 9. 

Genesis 9 narrates what occurs after the Great Flood.  GOD makes a covenant with Noah and his descendants and with all creation.  It is a covenant for Noah and his family, and future generations, and all of creation - the birds of the air, all the animals on the earth, and in the oceans.  

Genesis 9:9-11: “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.” 

This is the first covenant established since the Fall. It reaffirms God’s love for all of creation, including humanity. By including all the living creatures and their descendants, it shows that the reach of salvation extends beyond humanity to all creation. When reading this passage, we can be mistaken in focusing on the protection of humans, or even humanity’s dominance over other creatures; however, this covenant reflects God’s love for all creation. Howard Snyder explains in “Salvation Means Creation Healed” that the redemption of creation is an important theme in God’s covenants throughout the Bible.   

God leaves an important sign of this new covenant, the rainbow, as a reminder of God’s commitment to humanity and creation (Genesis 9:17). Similar to the commandment in Genesis 2, humans are not to be passive nor abusive in their relationship with creation, because of the inclusion of creation in the Noahic covenant. Indigenous theologian Tony Snow teaches that this covenant is not a license to thoughtlessly consume nor to be careless in managing the environment. We respond to God’s Covenant and love by stewarding the Earth. 

Climate change is the latest symptom of how carelessly we have treated God’s Earth even after the Noahic Covenant. At the current pace of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution, we are on track to raise the Earth’s temperature by 3 degrees Celsius.  If we look at the extent of the current damage of 1 degree Celsius of warming - from the climate fires in Western Australia and the Western United States; to the severe hurricanes in Latin America and the Caribbean; to the flooding in Africa; and to the rapid warming of the permafrost layers in Alaska and the Arctic - it is almost unimaginable to think about how 3 degrees will make our current civilization almost impossible.  

To avoid this projected 3 degrees Celsius of warming, scientific information and findings inform us that we need to cut GHG emissions in half by 2030. If we miss that opportunity, our chance of actually keeping to a manageable rate of global warming is slim.  

Churches and Christians can be a part of the change. In 2020, Canadian churches and faith-based organizations launched the “For the Love of Creation” campaign to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The campaign invites people of faith to reduce their own GHG pollution, raise awareness about climate change with their church communities, and to write to their leaders to improve Canada’s progress on climate change and help the most marginalized and vulnerable to climate change impacts.     

I wrote in January’s article that the actions we take in the next few years can have an impact on God’s creation for the next few centuries.  Across the globe, people of faith are sounding the alarm on climate change. We can all do our part to respond to God’s love and covenant by participating in the healing of creation. 

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Go Deeper: Read “Salvation Means Creation Healed” by Howard A. Snyder

Pray: 

GOD, we have been poor stewards of your world and now creation is in peril. We pray for our churches, leaders, governments, business, and society to have the courage to take bold climate action. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Take Action:

• Participate in the Faith-In-Action Lent challenge and reduce your own or your family’s carbon pollution. https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/advocacy/personal-action-pledge/

• Write your local representative (e.g. Congressperson, MP, etc.) and call on them to:

  • Increase your country’s national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction target and invest in a just transition to a fair, inclusive, green economy;

  • Commit equal support for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in the Global South.