2/4 Genesis 9

Genesis 9 “Fruitfulness”

“Be fruitful and multiply” (Vs1,7)

The “fruit” of man is offspring; the fruit of a tree is its particular production. If it’s a peach tree, the fruit is peaches; if an apple tree, then it bears apples; each tree “after it’s kind.” Following this same line, a dog bears dogs; a cat bears kittens; one cannot bear fruit after anothers’ kind, it is God’s law. Since this is true, we must, as Christians, realize that we too are to bear “after our kind.” Too many of us divide more than we multiply! We are to multiply! What is “fruit” for Christians? Other Christians! We must be soul winners! We are to “replenish the earth” with the Gospel, it is our God-given duty, and ought to be our greatest joy.

In the last chapter we saw that God does not forget. He spends time in ten verses remembering His covenant with man not to destroy the earth again with a flood. He set His “bow” in the sky (the rainbow), as a constant reminder to us and to Him. Just as the rainbow is a thing of beauty, hovering between Heaven and the earth, as a reminder to us, so Calvary suspended our Saviour between Heaven and earth as a reminder of our redemption, and as a thing of beauty to us. Yes, Calvary, as a beautiful “bow” adorns our hearts with God’s love and sweet grace. The least we could do is “be fruitful and multiply” Him, and His kingdom before others.

We know too, that fruitfulness is actually of the Lord, and not our doing! No couple could have a family, but by the grace of God. Our “fruit” as Christians is other Christians, converts, given by the grace of God, for His honor and glory, through the Word of God and the testimony of His saints. We need to plant the seed of the Gospel into the hearts of others. “Is the seed still in the barn?”(Haggai 2:19). If so, it cannot produce. No soul winner can truly win a soul until the Spirit of God moves in him; God gives the fruit, and not we ourselves. We spread the seed, and God gives the increase as He sees fit.