Portraits: Noah - Favored of God

What does it say? (Genesis 6:5-14, 22)

5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood...

22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

What does it mean?

Preface (Bible trivia):

Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. 10 generations from Adam to Noah (approximately 1656 years from the garden to the flood).

Adam was the first man, Seth was Adam’s 3rd son (after Cain killed Abel)

Enoch was a righteous man, and based on scripture was taken to heaven without dying.

Methuselah was the longest living man of all time 969 years.

Adam was still alive when Lamech was born and he lived for 56 years afterwards.

Lamech died 5 years before the flood and Methuselah died just before the flood (he outlived his son by 5 years!).

Noah was spared from the flood because, unlike the other wicked inhabitants of earth, he found “favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen 6:8 NIV) and was “found righteous” by God (Gen 7:1 NIV). He is also described as being “righteous” (צַדִּיק, tsaddiq), “blameless” (תָּמִים, tamim), and one who “walked with God” (Gen 6:9 NIV) like his ancestor Enoch (Gen 5:24). Based on Genesis 6:3, Noah may have been aware of the coming flood 120 years before it occurred. In obedience to the Lord, Noah built the ark and gathered the animals and food, doing “everything just as God commanded him” (Gen 6:22).

in 2 Peter, it is recorded that Noah was a herald of righteousness (AKA a preacher of the Truth), which means he was warning folks that a flood was coming WHILE he faithfully built the ark.

How should I respond?

3 points

It’s okay to look different to the world!

The world is full of people that quickly run to the next trend and live in a state of FOMO. Don’t be like them! Strive towards Jesus and His righteousness and just WATCH what He does in you and through you!

Don’t be afraid to preach the truth in all circumstances!

When everyone is running to the cliff in order to throw themselves off, stand in the way! Do everything you can to keep people from running to their own destruction by shining the light of Jesus into the darkness!

Care enough for your friends/families/neighbors to call them out when they are being stupid, by pointing them to the Truth and Love that is found in the scriptures.

Trust God with His calling and His timing.

Noah was HUNDREDS of years old before God told him what’s up, but when He spoke, Noah listened.

God is building you towards your calling with every breath you take and eventually you will know what it is. But our first calling has, and always will be to pursue Jesus.