Friday, September 23, 2005
Genesis 6
Genesis 6
“Favor in the Eyes of the LORD”
We left off last chapter talking about what God had to say about the rebellion of Humanity. “Every inclination of their heart is only evil all the time” says the LORD.
It is a sad and desperate place of hopelessness that we find our early historical fathers in.
Vs. 8 “But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the LORD”
This word is the turning point for humanity. Favor in this passage is the Hebrew word “khane” (OT 2580) meaning grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. God showed great favor to Noah. So, why Noah? Most will tell you that Noah was a righteous man, in fact it says so in verse 9. The problem with that is that it isn’t true. Noah was not righteous until God gave Noah grace! It is by God’s grace that Noah is seen as righteous. Noah gets the gift of salvation from God Almighty.
Vs. 9
Then Noah becomes a righteous man. The result of God’s grace interacting in our life is righteousness. Not perfection, but righteousness. The difference is our own guilt being paid for. Then the next words of the verse ring a familiar tune from the last chapter. Noah then “walked with God”. Noah continued on in his life with the Creator of the Earth. It goes down in the annals of history as Noah, a man who walked with God.
Vs. 11-21
“Now the Earth was corrupt”, says the text, “and full of violence”. God has allowed life to walk so far away from Him, that He even grieved creating the whole of Humanity. So God calls Noah to build an ark. Noah, through the grace of God, will be the salvation of his family. Eight people will survive the flood, because Noah walked with God.
Vs. 22
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him”
That is what walking with God looks like. Obedience. That is our charge. God will only tolerate disobedience for a time. We don’t ever know how long, or when it will end, but we can know that we are safe. We do this by receiving God’s grace, and then walking with God.
What a legacy to leave to the children of Noah. He left them the legacy of life. He walked with God, and they were able to live.
“Favor in the Eyes of the LORD”
We left off last chapter talking about what God had to say about the rebellion of Humanity. “Every inclination of their heart is only evil all the time” says the LORD.
It is a sad and desperate place of hopelessness that we find our early historical fathers in.
Vs. 8 “But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the LORD”
This word is the turning point for humanity. Favor in this passage is the Hebrew word “khane” (OT 2580) meaning grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. God showed great favor to Noah. So, why Noah? Most will tell you that Noah was a righteous man, in fact it says so in verse 9. The problem with that is that it isn’t true. Noah was not righteous until God gave Noah grace! It is by God’s grace that Noah is seen as righteous. Noah gets the gift of salvation from God Almighty.
Vs. 9
Then Noah becomes a righteous man. The result of God’s grace interacting in our life is righteousness. Not perfection, but righteousness. The difference is our own guilt being paid for. Then the next words of the verse ring a familiar tune from the last chapter. Noah then “walked with God”. Noah continued on in his life with the Creator of the Earth. It goes down in the annals of history as Noah, a man who walked with God.
Vs. 11-21
“Now the Earth was corrupt”, says the text, “and full of violence”. God has allowed life to walk so far away from Him, that He even grieved creating the whole of Humanity. So God calls Noah to build an ark. Noah, through the grace of God, will be the salvation of his family. Eight people will survive the flood, because Noah walked with God.
Vs. 22
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him”
That is what walking with God looks like. Obedience. That is our charge. God will only tolerate disobedience for a time. We don’t ever know how long, or when it will end, but we can know that we are safe. We do this by receiving God’s grace, and then walking with God.
What a legacy to leave to the children of Noah. He left them the legacy of life. He walked with God, and they were able to live.
