We see from Genesis 6-8 that Noah obeys God, building an ark to save his family from the waters. Afterward in Genesis 9, God makes a covenant with Noah. Like all covenants, this one comes after a great deliverance. God's grace comes first, then the covenant with its obligations. It is always grace first followed by law. The great promise of the Noachic covenant is that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood. God seals that promise with the sign of a rainbow.
The law of the covenant renews the mandate for man to have dominion over the earth. Noah's family is to rule over all lower forms of life: the beasts, birds and fish. Now God is explicit in giving human beings meat as well as plants for their food. Man's diet will require the shedding of animal blood. But anybody who sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image (Genesis 9:5).
Genesis 9:6 reminds us that each human being is wonderfully precious in God's sight. We are not to divide the human race into some who bear God's image and some who don't, be it in races, nationalities, whether rich or poor, male or female, bond or free, even those so disabled that they cannot care for themselves, the unborn, those near death. The bible never excludes anyone from the dignity that goes with being in the image of God. It has enormous implications for the way we treat other people.
Nevertheless, after the fall, our image is not the same as its original. Ethically, we have marred and distorted the image. We try to be God, putting ourselves on the throne and even that image reflects God in an ironic way. Only a very special kind of creature can sin. But even as fallen creatures, we continue to bear God's image.
Who can saves us from our sin and remake us back into this image? Reflect on Romans 8:29-30 and give praise to God for the image of Christ that we are constantly being remade and renewed in, who Himself is the very image of God (Colossians 1:15), replacing Adam as the head of the human race (Romans 5:12-21).
And in that, we see that God desires to reconcile with us deeply, completely, that He desires to share meals with us. So after the great flood, God provided food for Noah and his family, inviting them to eat the flesh of animals as well as the fruits of the garden. The ultimate anticipation, the great meal in heaven, the messianic banquet, the wedding supper of the Lamb, in which celebrate the consummation of redemption and joy.
References:
John Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord
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