God's Covenant with Noah

After the Great Deluge, Noah emerged from the ark. God blessed him and his family with a blessing similar to that given to the first family.
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1)
It should be noted that these survivors were old according to our standard. Noah was 601 and his sons more than 100 (Genesis 5:32). Yet, through these old men, the new humanity arose. People in modern societies do not pay enough respect to the aged. They should reflect more on this message from the Bible. Respect the aged!
From then onward, men were no longer vegetarians. They were allowed to eat meat, but not with its blood. Here, some legalistic elements creep into the text.
For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man's brother I will require the life of man.
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image (Genesis 9:5-6).
Murder is forbidden because man was made in the image of God and whoever murders would be murdered. God requires this but God would not kill. He allows man to handle the killings. Man is given more and graver responsibilities now. Indeed, in previous chapters, men seemed like the pets of God. Now, they had become more autonomous, thus carrying more obligations. They were prepared to enter into another level of relationship with God.
The Christian Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word "Testament" appears in the KJV translation, meaning Covenant. It appears only in the New Testament, whereas the word "Covenant" appears in both. Noah was the first man with whom God established a covenant (Genesis 6:18, 9:9).
Covenants are agreements between tribes and between nations. It is never meant to be personal, to be one on one. Noah was a survivor of the Great Deluge. He was a representative of humanity. Therefore, this covenant was between God and men, including those born in the future.
When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,
I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."
God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Genesis 9:14-17)
Covenants carry obligations and rights. Both parties must do something. The rights of one party are the obligations of the other party. However, in this first covenant with God, men did not have to do anything. God made a promise not to destroy the world again with flood. In other words, God promised NOT to do something. At most, God's action was to remember! So, in a way, this covenant was rather rudimentary. Both parties did not do anything concrete. I wonder whether this "covenant" can even be called a covenant at all.
Scholars would concur that this story is an etymology. It explains the origin of the rainbow. However, this story is wrapped in a covenant language. It is a very serious matter and cannot simply be a legend to explain a physical phenomenon to children.
I think the story indicates a new stage of human evolution where man has reached a certain degree of autonomy and morality. God was giving man greater autonomy and responsibilities to help him mature morally. Eating of meat (protein) strengthens men physically. His brain activities are enhanced. Man can be more destructive now. He needs a stronger morality to counteract this destructiveness. God taught him with a series of covenants. More covenants were on the pipeline.

Dear Lord, for our benefits You establish covenants with us. We are not worthy to participate in these covenants. May we grow healthily and morally in them. Amen.