Commentary: Noah found grace

Ralph Fudge

We read in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The Bible also tells us that Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation, and walked with God (Genesis 6:9). This was not because Noah was very different originally from all other men. Noah too was a sinner, before and even after the flood. Every man who has ever lived on earth, except for Jesus of Nazareth, has been a sinner.

Throughout history, God has chosen individuals to love and serve Him. Noah was one of them. Other sinners God chose include Moses, Abram, David, and many others. Though God referred to David as “a man after My own heart,” David was both an adulterer and murderer. Moses was also a murderer. I believe part of the reason for God’s choosing such men is to encourage us. If God could use such men as these, He certainly can use anyone willing to serve Him.

Probably every man whom God called to ministry has asked, “Why me?” The answer is simply that sinful men are all that are available. I taught a young lady who told me her church had asked her dad to become a deacon, and he refused. The reason was that he did not feel worthy. Someone has suggested that a man who does feel worthy is not qualified. Such a man is not what God is looking for.

We don’t know a lot about Noah’s early life. But we know from the Bible that he was “perfect” and “walked with God.” Those are rather good credentials. Obviously, at some point God chose Noah to be the man He wanted to build the ark. At some point, God changed Noah, as He still changes men and women who trust Christ as personal Savior. However, man is never made perfect until, if saved, he is glorified after earthly death.

Even righteous Noah was still a sinner after the ark experience. The Bible tells us that Noah sinned by getting drunk on wine and lying naked in his tent (Genesis 9:21). Again, we see that all men are sinners, so that God has only sinners from which to choose His servants.

Man has not changed much throughout history. Today we see a lot of the same evil in the world that existed in Noah’s day. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:37-39, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be.”

It is sad and tragic that man did not learn his lesson after God destroyed all but eight individuals in Noah’s family. This shows the weakness of flesh and the power of Satan. The devil opposes and tries to suppress anything that Christians try to do in service to God. But God knows how to encourage us because of men like Noah, whom God used in spite of their sinfulness. Praise God for His wonderful love of His creation, especially man.

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Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.