GENESIS
Chapter 10
NOAH – A PICTURE OF GRACE
Genesis 6:1-22
As we read the sixth chapter of Genesis, several things are obvious. First, we see sin increasing (vv. 1-5). Nine generations had now descended from Adam. We have no way of knowing how many millions of people there were upon the earth; but there were so many that they covered the face of the earth. And wherever men and women were found, sin was evident. The one thing all men had in common in those days, as now, was sin. Polygamy, which began with Lamech (4:19) was now commonly practiced (6:1). The number of wives men took was limited only by the lusts they could fulfil.
"The sons of God," the sons of Seth, "began to marry the daughters of men," the daughters of Cain. Those who professed to be and had a name to be the sons of God, sacrificed their principles upon the altar of their lusts and married beautiful, but godless, daughters of Cain (6:2). And "there were giants in the earth in those days" (v. 4). The word "giants" simply means "violent, oppressive, fallen men." They had the name of Seth, but the nature of Cain. They laid claim to God's name and his promises, because their fathers were "the sons of God." But they were the sons of Cain, fallen, cursed, violent, wicked men. Godless religious men have always been the most violent,cruel, and wicked of all men.
"God saw that...every imagination of the thoughts of (men's) heart was only evil continually" (v. 5). Sin had reached its utmost depths. Sin was everywhere. Sin was the only appetite, desire, and work of the entire human race, until it "repented the Lord that he had made man." Man, who was created in the image and likeness of God, had become repugnant to his holy Creator.
Second, we see the Holy Spirit striving with men (v. 3). The Apostle Peter helps us to understand the meaning of this verse (1 Pet. 3:20). The Spirit's striving with men is the longsuffering of God, calling sinners to repentance by the preaching of the gospel and granting them space for repentance. What mercy! God calls sinners who deserve his immediate wrath to repentance. God gives sinners opportunity to repent. But he will not always call. The day is coming when God will shut the door of mercy. When that happens, when God leaves men and women to themselves, they cannot be saved (Prov. 1:23-33; Hos. 4:17; Lk. 13:24-25).
Third, we see God repenting (v. 6). The first time repentance is mentioned in the Bible, the Person repenting is God himself. Understand what this verse says and you will understand what repentance is. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of attitude, a change of direction, and a change of action.
Obviously, this is an anthropomorphic expression. We know that because we know that God does not change, nor can he be changed. God is immutable (Mal. 3:6; heb. 13:8). He never changes his mind, or alters his purpose (Job 23:13). Yet, the Lord God does sometimes alter his course of action in providence. Israel, a nation once so greatly blessed of God, is now a nation cursed. As a potter who forms a vessel that does not please him, breaks it in pieces, may be said to repent of his work, so God, to show his aversion to man's wickedness resolved to destroy him. True repentance, then, is a change of direction in a man's heart, in his life, in his desires and in his behavior.
Fourth, we see justice threatening (v. 7). "The soul that sinneth, it must die!" Justice demands it. A holy, righteous and just God must punish sin. Just as God once flooded this world in a storm of wrath, he will one day consume this world and all who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in vengeful, flaming fire. He will punish the wicked with everlasting destruction (Psa. 11:6; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). Yet, there is hope. God is just; but he is gracious too. He is "a just God and a Savior!"
Fifth, we see grace intervening (v. 8). "Grace" - What a blessed word! This is the first time grace is mentioned in the Bible. "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord!" Salvation is by grace alone. The cause of Noah's salvation was God's free and sovereign grace. Our text does not say, "God found grace in the eyes of Noah." It says, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord!" It is never the other way around. Salvation does not begin with man. It begins with God. Grace is not the result of something man does. Grace is God's work. Grace is God's gift. Grace is God's intervention.
Because God from eternity had set his heart upon Noah, and was determined to be gracious to him, the Lord found a way to save him, though he was resolved to destroy the world. It was grace in God, not goodness in Noah, that saved this man fromthe flood of God's wrath.
Grace is here mentioned for the first time by divine purpose. Grace first appears when the sin of man had reached its climax, as if to teach us from the beginning that there is nothing in man which causes God to bestow his grace. Grace is free. Grace is sovereign. Grace is unconditional. The world was lost; "but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." The world was condemned; "but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." The world perished; "but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." God always has a remnant to whom he will be gracious. Noah alone was God's remnant in that day (Rom. 11:5). Noah's family was blessed, because of their association with him. However, there is no indication in the Scriptures that, at thistime, any of them knew God. It appears that only Noah believed God, that the Lord revealed himself to no one else.
Noah is truly a picture of grace. He was the grandson of Methuselah, the great grandson of Enoch, who "walked with God and was not, for God took him." His father was Lamech. His name, Noah, means "comfort, or rest." The Scripture seems to indicate that his father also was a man of faith (5:28-29). Lamech had many, many sons and daughters. But the only one who knew God was Noah. Grace does not run in bloodlines. Only Noah believed his father's God. Noah believed the report of his father (Gen. 5:28-29), who both acknowledged God's curse upon the earth and prophesied that God would work deliverance by Noah. I Genesis 6:9 and Hebrews 11:7, the Holy Spirit tells us ten things about this man, Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
1. He was "just." Here again is a word mentioned for the first time. This word does not refer to Noah's character, but to his standing before God. It is true, he behaved justly; but that is mentioned in the next line. This word, "just" here, refers to Noah's justification by grace upon the grounds of Christ's obedience, justification received by faith. As with all believers, it was not Noah's faith that justified him, but Christ, the object of his faith.
2. Noah was "perfect in his generation." Perfect means, "sincere and upright." Noah was unblemished in his conduct, unspotted by the world, and unaffected by all the generations in which he lived.
3. "And Noah walked with God." Like Enoch before him and Abraham after him, Noah lived in the awareness of God's immediate presence. He walked with God by faith, trusting him, believing his Word, doing his will, in sweet, blessed communion. Hebrews 11:7 describes Noah's faith.
4. The basis of Noah's faith was the Word of God. He was "warned of God of things not seen as yet." Faith must have a foundation. And the foundation of all true faith is the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). Noah believed because God spoke; and he believed what God spoke, though it was contrary to reason, experience, and science. God warned him of things not yet seen. His faith truly was remarkable. Noah believed God was about to send a universal flood, with waters covering the entire earth, though it had never rained. He built an ark, though no one had ever seen a boat, by which he, his family, and all the creatures of the earth were saved from destruction. His faith in God condemned all who would not enter the ark, all who believed not God.
6. The evidence of Noah's faith was obedience. Being moved with fear, (he) prepared an ark." Immediately, without delay, before the first raindrops fell, Noah began building an ark, following the pattern God had given him precisely. Faith is more than a creed. It is more than embracing historical facts and religious dogma. Faith acts upon God's revelation. Faith is belief in action (James 2:14).
7. The result of Noah's faith was the salvation of his house. He "prepared an ark to the saving of his house." God always honors faith. We know that there is no such thing as "salvation by proxy." Yet, God does honor faith. Noah believed God; and God saved his family. Abraham believed God; and God gave his seed the land of promise. Rahab believed God; and God saved her household. The Canaanite woman believed God; and Christ healed her daughter. Because four men believed God, Christ healed their paralyzed friend (Matt. 8:2). The word of promise is yet to be believed - "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house!" (Acts 16:31).
8. The faith of Noah was a publicly confessed faith. By his faith in and by his obedience to the Lord God, Noah "condemned the world." He warned the men and women of his generation of God's judgment and impending wrath. He called them to faith. He, by the Word of God he preached, condemned them for their unbelief.
9. The reward of Noah's faith is everlasting. He "became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." He was made an heir of righteousness of Christ, and a heir of that which righteousness deserves – eternal glory.
10. The means of Noah's salvation was an ark (Gen. 6:13-18). Noah and his family were saved by an ark, a ship which God commanded him to build. That ark was a picture of Christ.
There are three arks mentioned in the Word of God. Each was a place of refuge, shelter, and safety, typical of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God's salvation in and by him. The ark which Noah built secured those who were in it from the vengeance and violent wrath of an angry God. That is Christ our Substitute. The ark of bulrushes protected God's chosen one, Moses, from the murderous designs of a wicked ruler, Pharoah. That ark is Christ, into whom chosen sinners were placed by our loving Father from eternity. The ark of the covenant sheltered the two tables of God's holy law, and being covered with blood, was the place of atonement, mercy, and acceptance with God for sinners. That ark is Christ our Mercy-seat. From the beginning there has been but one place of refuge for sinners, only one way of salvation. That refuge, that way, that salvation is Christ! If we would be saved, we must be robed in Christ's righteousness and washed in his blood. We must be in Christ by faith. Only Christ can bear our souls above the flood of God's wrath. Only Christ can save us.