As the flood waters receded and the ground dried, the Ark has rested on Mount Ararat and Noah, along with his family and all the animals, step out of the ark for the first time to what could only be a devastating scene of water-borne destruction mixed with the sense of starting over.

In the silence of the moment, one might expect the Lord to put humans on probation, give a stern warning, or even a robust, "let's do better this time". Instead, we hear something totally different. We hear God speak of covenant.

In the first six verses God reaches all the way back to Genesis 1 and the Garden of Eden to reinstitute the Cultural Mandate to 'be fruitful and multiply'. He places all creatures on the earth under the authority of mankind to subdue and rule over and offers some simple and direct instructions regarding their conduct and the shedding of blood. Once again, they are reminded of their vocation, to bear the image of God throughout the earth.

It's interesting to note who does the talking as the covenant with Noah unfolds. God doesn't setup a self-improvement plan for humanity to follow in order to climb back into His favor. No, He binds Himself to them with the words, "I establish my covenant." The direction of the promise flows downward, from God to man, not the other way around. He places the rainbow in the sky, not as a symbol of our resolve to make this new opportunity work out, but as a symbol to once again remind of us His gracious restraint.

In the ancient world, the bow was a weapon of war, but here, it is hung in the clouds by way of consolation, not threat. The great Judge pledges mercy in a world He knows is still broken. Sin hasn't vanished and the human heart is not fully healed. Yet, He institutes this new proclamation of mercy and kindness.

In week 8 we saw the grief of God over the rebellion of His family. Now, we see His resolve and commitment to creation, bringing it back to His intended purpose. Thankfully, this covenant doesn't rest on man's flawless obedience, but rests squarely on the shoulders of God's impeccable character.

This is how our fresh start began. We didn't receive a do-over because we had finally behaved well enough to earn His favor, but we were given new hope on the horizon because He remained committed and bound to us.

As believer, every time we repent of some sin, we find ourselves on a new path towards righteousness. It's easy for us to think the strength of our own "do-over" is built on our ability to just try a little harder this time instead of leaning further on Him in trust and faith.

When you see God binding Himself to us in covenant promise rather than demanding performance first, how does it change or impact your understanding of how He views you when you seek Him in repentance?

Father, thank you that my future isn't secured by my own consistency and ability, but by the work you've done for me. Teach me to see your mercy and remind me of your faithfulness when the flood waters of my life seem to rise. Anchor my hope in your faithfulness. In Jesus name, Amen.