Genesis 6:8: “But Noah found grace [favor] in the eyes of the LORD.”

September 21st, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

We notice that Noah did not earn grace (favor) but found it. Noah did not go out and work to merit this grace. The Holy Spirit carefully worded this so that no one would think Noah was saved because he deserved it. Noah understood God was the God of grace and he humbled himself before Him. As it says in Hebrews:

By faith Noah, being divinely warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (11:7)

Just like every other human in heaven, Noah was saved by grace through faith.

God in His grace showed Noah how to escape immediate death in an ark. God didn’t remove Noah from experiencing the flood, but allowed him to rise above the flood. And from that, Noah learned to trust in God’s grace toward him. Paul the Apostle also learned that when difficulties came, God did not always answer his prayer by removing the difficulty, but He always supplied enough grace for each situation:

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Many years ago a London traffic jam prevented C. S. Lewis from arriving at a certain religious symposium on time. The panel, comprised of the world’s most highly esteemed religious thinkers, began without him. Their first question was “What is unique about Christianity?” A great question, but as the Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, and Taoist all discussed it, they couldn’t arrive at a conclusive answer. In the midst of their debate, C. S. Lewis burst into the room. “Dr. Lewis,” said the moderator, “Tell us what is unique to Christianity.” “That’s easy,” Lewis replied, “it’s grace.” Christianity is the only religion where you don’t earn heaven.

“LORD, please give us more grace this day, in Jesus’ name, amen.”