Grace of God Series (Part 8)
Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of God - Genesis 6:5-8

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and
that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
{6} And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was
grieved in His heart. {7} And the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I
have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping
things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
{8} But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

We read of God's displeasure with the world and its wickedness. But as
God pronounces judgment upon the world, and prepares to destroy it with a
flood, we find encouraging words concerning one man...this simply means
that Noah found favor in God's sight, and we know the result of that
favor: escape for him and his family from the flood!

But why Noah? Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord? And how
might we ap-ply this to our situation today?

· HE WAS "A RIGHTEOUS MAN" - "These are the records of the generations of
Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with
God." (Genesis 6:9). This likely refers to his moral relation to God.
· HE WAS "BLAMELESS IN HIS GENERATIONS" -- Not that he was sinless, but
that there were no blatant faults. He was a man of moral integrity among
the peo-ple.
· HE "WALKED WITH GOD" This is how he manifested his righteousness and
in-tegrity. In walking with God, he imitated the example of Enoch, his
great-grandfather - (Gen. 5:24).

Walking with God in Noah's case likely involved...
· Calling upon the name of the Lord (which began in the days of Seth -
Gen 4:26)
· Offering sacrifices to God (which began in the days of Cain & Abel -
Gen 4:3-4)

HE "DID ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED HIM"
Twice this is emphasized in the Scriptures - Genesis 6:22: "Thus Noah
did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did."

Genesis 7:5: "And Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded
him."

We learn from the writer of Hebrews that this obedience of Noah came
from faith:
Hebrews 11:7: "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet
seen, in rever-ence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household,
by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith."

HE WAS "A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
2 Peter 2:5: "....and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved
Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a
flood upon the world of the un-godly..." He not only "lived" a righteous
life. He also proclaimed the need for righteous-ness, even though he
lived in a very ungodly world.

WHY WE NEED TO FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
NOT BECAUSE WE FACE THE THREAT OF A WORLDWIDE FLOOD...
After Noah and his family were saved from the flood, God promised He
would never again destroy the world in such a manner - Gen 9:8-11. The
rainbow is a constant re-minder of God's promise - Gen 9:12-17.

BUT BECAUSE WE FACE THE PROMISE OF THE END OF THE WORLD!
(2 Peter 3:3-14 NASB) "Know this first of all, that in the last days
mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
{4} and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the
fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of
creation." {5} For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that
by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed
out of water and by water, {6} through which the world at that time was
destroyed, being flooded with water. {7} But the present heavens and
earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of
judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
{11} Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort
of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, {12} looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the
heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with
intense heat! {13} But according to His promise we are looking for new
heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. {14} Therefore,
beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him
in peace, spotless and blameless,"

HOW WE CAN FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
1. WE MUST BE "JUST" IN HIS SIGHT - We can be justified and have peace
with God.
2. WE MUST BE "PERFECT" IN OUR GENERATION - That is, to be complete,
mature, to be everything God desires of us. Again, the good news of the
gospel of Christ is that God has provided the necessary elements for us
to be "perfect"!
3. WE MUST "WALK WITH GOD" -- Of course, this would mean that we can "no
longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk..."
a. "Walk in love" - Ep 5:2
b. "Walk as children of light", exposing the sins of darkness Ep
5:8-11
c. "Walk as wise", with an understanding of what the Lord's will is - Ep
5:15-17
4. WE MUST "DO ALL THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED"
5. WE MUST BE "PREACHERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
It is God's will that we "proclaim the praises of Him", which would
include His right-eousness - 1 Peter 2:9.

CONCLUSION
(1 Peter 3:20-21 NASB) "who once were disobedient, when the patience of
God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark,
in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the
water. {21} And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good
conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
· Just as God used the element of water to save Noah from a wicked
world...
· so in His grace God utilizes water in our salvation through the blood
of Jesus!

Last modified: April 18, 2006