Genesis 9:16

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."  Genesis 9:16

Here he is pointing out that this promise from God is everlasting.  He didn't say "I won't destroy all life by flood for the next 10 years or even for the next millennia," but he promised that he would never again destroy all life by flood.

When God says "I will see it," the Qbible translates this as "I will look at it."  So he's not going to just notice it out of the corner of his eye as an after thought, but he's going to actively look at the rainbow and remember his promise.  God will actively remember and keep his promises.

Genesis 9:14-15

"Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.  Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."  Genesis 9:14-15

In the previous verses God told Noah that he was making a promise to mankind and all the creatures and all the future generations, and now he is telling what that pledge is - he will never again destroy all living creatures and people with flood waters.  The rainbow in the sky reminds both us and God of his promise.  And this is a promise he has kept, no matter how displeasing we are or how much our world rejects him, God has not brought forth another flood.

Genesis 9:12-13

 "And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.'"  Genesis 9:12-13

Now that God has made his pledge to Noah and his descendants and all the living land creatures, not to destroy the whole world by flood again, he is putting up a sign as a reminder.  Every time we see a rainbow, we know that God promised us.  And he has kept that promise - never since then has there been a global flood that wiped out all life on the land.

Genesis 9:11

 "I establish my covenant with you:  Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."  Genesis 9:11

God is promising this to all the creatures of the earth and all the future creatures to come.  There will never be another flood that will destroy all life on the land.  God did not just make this promise to Noah and his family, but to all the animals too!  Even though they were not made in his image like man was, he still loves and cares for each animal.  No matter how bad mankind might get again, he's promising the animals that he won't wipe the earth clean with another global flood.

Genesis 9:8-10

 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:  "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living creature on earth."  Genesis 9:8-10

The first seven verses of the chapter started as God giving a blessing to Noah and his sons.  Now in verse 8, God is speaking to them and establishing his covenant with them and all the living creatures on the earth.  So the first seven verses were just for mankind and now this covenant is for all creatures on the earth, not just the men.

Genesis 9:7

"As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."  Genesis 9:7

Here, God is echoing the same instructions he gave Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 when he first created mankind and blessed them with life.  He wants humans to thrive and expand.  Despite his earlier punishment, God still loves mankind and wants good for us.

BibleRef points out that this is following God's harsh stance against killing.  Not only are humans made in his image (as reiterated in verse 6), but he wants to stop the kinds of violence that ruined the world before the flood.

He's not still holding a grudge, saying "Okay, you survived my punishment, but lets see if you make the final cut."  No, God is telling them that they have a fresh start, the world's slate has been wiped clean, now go forth and live.  In the same way, we make mistakes and sin.  Then we repent and ask for forgiveness and God (through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross), gives us that forgiveness.  Our slate is wiped clean, now go forth and live.

Genesis 9:6

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”  Genesis 9:6

God has granted men the right to kill and eat from the animals in verse 5, but now here in verse 6 he's commanding that people not kill other people.  The reason is because in someway we were made in his image.  Does that mean physically?  Or is that more about spiritually or mentally?  Or maybe it is a combination of all of the above?  Whatever the case, there is something different about us then all the other creatures on this planet with us - something that makes us resemble God.

Lord, God, may I be a worthy likeness of you.  Amen.