Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Genesis 6:8 ESV

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah is one of the greatest of Old Testament saints. His character as it is mentioned in Genesis 6:9 is, with one exception, consistent throughout his life. 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.

Where does this character and consistency derive?

Genesis 6:8 is the answer to Noah’s difference from all his generation and his consistency throughout his life. In this verse “found” in the Hebrew is transitive. Therefore it must be understood to mean that Noah was found by grace with found being active. Grace or favor is a further proof of Noah being a recipient rather than a searcher.

“This is a Hebrew phrase, which signifies that God was propitious to him and favored him….” “The commencement, therefore of this favor was gratuitous mercy. Afterwards the Lord, having once embraced him, retained him under His own hand, lest he should perish with the rest of the world.” John Calvin, Genesis, 1554, pg. 250-251.

“Most translations have Noah “finding” favor with Yahweh. A few (eg. NEB) have Noah “winning” favor with Yahweh. There is a significant difference between the two. The former denotes no moral quality on the part of the person who is designated as having found favor. On these grounds Noah’s election would be just that, and no caused relationship should be seen between Noah’s finding favor (vs 8) and his character (vs 9)….

Of course had the order of the two verses been switched, there would have been no doubt that Noah’s righteousness and blamelessness were intended to supply a rationale for election and escape from the flood. If we translate Hebrew “hen” as “grace” instead of “favor” then further support for finding is available. Grace is found or received not won.” NICOT, Victor Hamilton, The Book of Genesis, 1990, pg. 276.

Grace is the parent of Christian character. Grace is God’s election. Grace is Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Grace is the Holy Spirit with us, providing and protecting us until we are conformed fully in the image of Christ.

In Ephesians 2:8, salvation is the gift of God and that of grace. That is grace from eternity past into eternity future. I have found grace in God’s presence.

“Before the throne my surety stands,

my name Is written on His hands.”

It is my hope that you have the same assurance.