Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord

Genesis 6:8

INTRODUCTION

1. In Gen 6:5-7, we read of God’s displeasure with the world and its

wickedness

2. But as God pronounces judgment upon the world, and prepares to destroy it with a flood, we find encouraging words concerning one man:

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." - Gen 6:8

3. This simply means that Noah found favor in God’s sight, and we know

the result of that favor: escape for him and his family from the

flood!

a. But why Noah?

b. Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord?

c. And how might we apply this to our situation today?

[Well, notice first...]

I. WHY NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

A. HE WAS "A JUST MAN" - Gen 6:9

1. Some translations say "righteous"

2. This likely refers to his moral relation to God (Keil &

Delitzsch)

B. HE WAS "PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS" - Gen 6:9

1. Other translations (NASV, NIV) use the word "blameless"

2. Not that he was sinless, but that there were no blatant faults

3. He was a man of moral integrity among the people

C. HE "WALKED WITH GOD" - Gen 6:9

1. This is how he manifested his righteousness and integrity

(Keil & Delitzsch)

2. In walking with God, he imitated the example of Enoch, his

great-grandfather - Gen 5:24

3. Walking with God in Noah’s case likely involved...

a. Calling upon the name of the Lord (which began in the days

of Seth - Gen 4:26)

b. Offering sacrifices to God (which began in the days of Cain

& Abel - Gen 4:3-4)

D. HE "DID ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED HIM"

1. Twice this is emphasized in the Scriptures - Gen 6:22; 7:5

2. We learn from the writer of Hebrews that this obedience of

Noah came from faith - He 11:7

E. HE WAS "A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" - 2 Pe 2:5

1. He not only "lived" a righteous life

2. But he also "proclaimed" the need for righteousness, even though

he lived in a very ungodly world

[Noah certainly was an unusual man, but perhaps we see well why only he

and his family "found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

What about ourselves? Is there a need for us to "find grace in the

eyes of the Lord" today? Yes!]

II. WHY WE NEED TO FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

A. NOT BECAUSE WE FACE THE THREAT OF A WORLDWIDE FLOOD...

1. After Noah and his family were saved from the flood, God

promised He would never again destroy the world in such a

manner - Gen 9:8-11

2. The rainbow is a constant reminder of God’s promise - Gen 9:

12-17

B. BUT BECAUSE WE FACE THE PROMISE OF THE END OF THE WORLD!

1. Peter reminds us that just as the world was once destroyed by

water, so it shall be destroyed by fire when Jesus returns!

- 2 Pe 3:3-13

2. In view of this promise, Peter calls upon us to "be diligent

to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless"

- 2 Pe 3:14

a. Just as Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord"...

b. So we need to "found by Him in peace, without spot and

blameless"

3. Is this not simply another way of saying that we, like Noah,

need to find grace in the eyes of the Lord?

[Indeed, it is! When the end of the world comes, we had better be in a

condition where we too find grace in the eyes of the Lord! Otherwise,

we will be like those left outside of the ark when the floods came!

Using Noah as an example, then, consider...]

III. HOW WE CAN FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

A. WE MUST BE "JUST" IN HIS SIGHT...

1. Fortunately, the good news of the gospel is that God sent

Christ in order to make us "just" (righteous, forgiven) in His

sight! - Ro 5:8-9

2. This blessing is available to all who demonstrate true faith

in Jesus - Ro 3:24-26

3. Being justified, we can have peace with God (concerning which

Peter wrote) - Ro 5:1; cf. 2 Pe 3:14

B. WE MUST BE "PERFECT" IN OUR GENERATION...

1. That is, to be complete, mature, to be everything God desires

of us

2. Again, the good news of the gospel of Christ is that God has

provided the necessary elements for us to be "perfect"!

a. The blood of Christ, to cleanse us of our sins - 1 Jn 1:7-9

b. The Word of God, to guide us to completion - 2 Ti 3:16-17

c. The strength of the Spirit, to help us in our struggles -