Getting Job-ed
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. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 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.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:5-8 ESV
What in the world does Noah have to do anything with Christmas? This passage is extremely important for the true meaning of Christmas. I urge you, resist the temptation to blow over these sections in the Bible just because you’ve heard them since Sunday school as a little kid. Really look at what this section is saying to us.
Grace
This section gives a universal indictment against the whole world: ALL of the world was evil and EVERY intention of the thoughts of mankind was evil (and still is in one sense apart from God’s saving grace). Like nothing good! Sound familiar? Look up Romans 1:18-23 and Romans 3:11-18; 3:21-26. So once again, going back to a prior article, a holy and righteous God should completely wipe out these people (see the article How Can a Holy God…?). But He doesn’t. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8 ESV). This is so incredibly important. Noah didn’t deserve “favor” but actually deserved God’s just wrath, just like everyone else did.
When Scripture says that Noah found “favor” in the eyes of the LORD, the Hebrew word is “hen” or the root word “chen.” “Hen” and “chen” are translated to grace. Noah found unmerited favor in the eyes of the LORD. Noah found unmerited grace in the eyes of the LORD. A couple of verses later it is noted that Noah was a righteous man. But how was He righteous when Scripture gives the universal indictment of the world’s intentions as being evil? Because of God’s grace. Don’t miss that, it’s so incredibly important.
The Story of Noah is a picture of something coming…
Noah, a rebellious human among other rebellious humans, is chosen to lead him and his family through a worldwide disaster in order that mankind will survive the destruction coming. God made a way, by His grace alone, to rescue a people from certain destruction. The story of Noah was a picture of something that was coming; it was pointing forward toward something.
Jesus comes and rescues a people for Himself from certain destruction. A rebellious people that God could certainly wipe out and be completely justified. But by His grace alone, they are rescued and saved through faith in Christ alone. The story of Noah is pointing forward to Christmas. All of Scripture is pointing toward Christ.
-Austin
