GLEANINGS - GenesisSample

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:8

The word “grace” appears for the first time in the Bible in this verse. The Hebrew word translated “grace” is chen and means to show favor and mercy. There was a contrast between Noah and the people of his day. Noah lived in the midst of the most heinously evil society the world had known, but because he had found grace, God favored him with personal instruction about the coming flood judgment and the details for a new beginning on earth.

“Found” is a simple active perfect verb, not a passive one. Thus, Noah found favor—grace—in God’s eyes because he was actively looking for it. A look at other passages where this word is used will help us to understand this better.

Adam found no helpmate from among the animals that was suitable for him (Genesis 2:20), and Noah’s dove did not find rest for the sole of her foot (Genesis 8:9). Laban did not find his household images that Rachel had stolen and hidden (Genesis 31:35), and Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses (2 Chronicles 34:14-15). God could have used a passive verb in reference to Noah, but He did not.

This implies that Noah searched. It tells us something about Noah and his attitude and his walk in this wicked world. There was a longing, there was a seeking, there was searching, there was a desire to look into God’s eyes to see if there was favor and love and goodness toward him. Noah found what he sought. As he communed with God, he received this revelation: You have found grace in My eyes.

Can you put your name in that sentence? Can you put your personal name in there—I have found grace in the eyes of the Lord. I looked into His eyes and I see, in Christ Jesus, His favor, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His deliverance for me.

The Bible says that Noah was one of only two men in all of history who “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). The other is Enoch, who may be more well-known since he was taken up into God’s presence without dying (Genesis 5:24). Do you walk with God?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

1.“Noah did everything just as God commanded him” Genesis 6:22. Rate your obedience level on a scale of 1-10

2. Noah didn’t walk alone. He walked with God. Being a Christian means knowing the people with whom you mustn’t walk, but you must also know with whom you should walk. How is your walk with God? With whom should you disassociate from walking?

QUOTE:

God's grace - His unconditionally loving, unmerited favor - is sometimes difficult for people to grasp, even though each one of us is in desperate need of it. Dr. Charles F. Stanley

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you for Noah, who stood out with his family in the midst of a wicked world. I thank You that he found grace from You. Help me to find grace each day for all that I go through in this world. Amen