Noah Found Grace

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…Noah was a just man and perfect…Noah walked with God…this did Noah according to all that God commanded him.” Genesis 6v8,9,22

If anyone had a right to feel all alone in serving the Lord it was Noah. Look how the Bible describes Noah’s day - “God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the hearts was only evil continually.”

Things were bad in Noah’s day. God makes that abundantly clear - every imagination of the hearts was only evil continually. It some ways that sounds like today doesn’t it? Pick up your newspaper, watch the news, or visit your favourite news source on the internet. As I read an Irish paper this week I found at least two amazing stories on one double page spread. One story was about the bodies of dead babies being discovered in an attic in England. The other involved a man in Germany who had cannibalised a man he had lured into his home for homosexual activities. This was not an unusual day for the news. It does seem at times today that every imagination of the hearts of men is only evil continually.

God appears ready to wipe out His Creation. Then we come to verse 8 – “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Noah was different from all the rest. He was just and fair in his actions, he was morally upright and lived a life that no one could criticise. He was not perfect in the sense that we think of the word, but there was nothing that anyone could point out in his life. He was also obedient to God. We know that because at the end of the chapter we find that he did all that God commanded him.

We certainly live in a day that needs some Noahs. We complain that it is so hard to live for the Lord in such a wicked and perverse generation. Those who stand for right and for God today are often mocked and attacked for their stand. It may be difficult to stand for God today.

There is a way through this mess – “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Those who are saved today have already been recipients of God’s grace in salvation. We live by the very grace of God today. We too have found grace in the eyes of the Lord! His grace will enable us to stand even if these days so much like Noah’s day.

The hymn writer put it this way – “Through many dangers toils and snares, I have already come. Tis grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

Thank you Father that your children have found grace in your sight. Strengthen us to live like Noah in our own day of great wickedness.