NOAH FOUND GRACE

Genesis 7:15, 16 Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

God was grieved that he had made man on the earth. Man’s wickedness had grown to such an extent that “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) So God’s heart was filled with pain and he determined to wipe mankind from the face of the earth.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God chose to spare Noah. God decided to pour out grace on Noah and his family while he was pouring out destruction on the rest of mankind. It’s not about Noah. It’s about God. Do we think Noah did something to merit his deliverance? Do we think God was unjust to destroy all the men, women, and children on the face of the earth? Do we dare pass judgment on God? It’s all about God and he is sovereign and free to do as he sees fit! We judge with human judgment and our judgment is corrupted by sin. God alone judges justly.

So God told Noah to build an ark. Noah labored over the massive structure for many, many years. God could have just spoken an ark into existence but he didn’t. He made Noah build it. God brought all the animals to Noah and the animals entered the ark. But God didn’t bring an ark to Noah. Noah had to build it. Why? Noah was participating in the plan of God even though he couldn’t possibly see what his role was. Noah was acting in faith. Noah was being obedient. It is amazing how God chooses to use men to do his will!

But finally, when the rains came, Noah was once again at the mercy of God. He could not close up the ark by himself. God would have to show grace and mercy once again. If God did not intervene, the floodwaters would fill up the ark and all would perish. Even after all the work of Noah, he could not save himself! So God shut Noah up in the ark. Noah built it but Noah couldn’t save himself. This is an act of God’s grace.

No matter how hard I work I cannot save myself. I can do everything God commands me to do and in the end I am saved by God’s grace alone! Nothing I do contributes to my salvation. Sola gratia!