Grace Poured Out | Bible Class on the Character of Noah (Genesis 6:8-22)
“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v 8). There is an obvious contrast between Noah and the rest of the world. The Lord is sorry He has made man and plans to destroy man from the face of the earth (v 7). However, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
What is biblical grace? English Standard Version: “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen 6:8). The Hebrew term is almost exclusively used of an inferior finding grace in the eyes of a superior. That obviously fits this situation. How did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord?
What are some of the ways God demonstrated His grace toward Noah?
How does God demonstrate grace toward us? How do we find grace in the eyes of the Lord? Does God’s grace any different than in the days of Noah? God saved Noah from a physical disaster (i.e., the Flood), but He no longer does so (God, however, no longer causes physical disaster). Are there ways that God demonstrates His grace even in the midst of disaster?
“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Gen 6:9). The phrase “these are the generations” occurs ten times in Genesis. I’m not sure why the New King James Version did something of a paraphrase and translated this “This is the genealogy of Noah.”
The Hebrew phrase is used to divide the Book of Genesis into smaller sections. The mention here of “These are the generations of Noah” really allows the reader to know that this is a new section of Genesis. Obviously, with the narrative of Noah there is a big break from what has transpired previously.
Noah was a just man. The English Standard Version translates this as “righteous.” That might be the idea, but I don’t think so. I think this refers to Noah’s relation toward his fellow man. I really think there is a contrast between the people of Noah’s day and Noah. And, I think that the phrases “perfect in his generations” and “Noah walked with God” describe his relation with God. Thus, Moses describes Noah’s relation with his fellow man and his relationship with God.
Noah was just, but everyone else was violent (v 13). In other words, he treated his fellow man with respect and fairness.
Why is it important to treat our fellow man with respect? What is the foundation for our treating people with respect? What are some ways that we can show respect to others? Why is it important to treat our fellow man with fairness? What are some ways that we can be fair to others?
Noah was perfect in his generations. Obviously, this does not mean that Noah was perfect, for no one, save Jesus Christ, has ever lived a perfect life (Rom 3:10-18, 23). You understand that “perfect” in Scripture often has the idea of mature or complete. The idea seems to be that Noah is complete—i.e., perfect—in his walk with God. He is mature and wishing to continue to grow. How do we attain maturity in our walk with God?
Notice also that the text says that Noah was “perfect in his generations.” It seems again that Moses is drawing a contrast between the people of Noah’s day and Noah himself. While the people are exceedingly wicked (Gen 6:5), Noah was “perfect in his generations.
Noah walked with God. Like Enoch before him (Gen 5:22, 24). This demonstrates that Noah had a close relationship with God.
The grace God extended to Noah included the instruction to build an ark out of gopherwood. Quite frankly, what gopherwood was/is continues to be a mystery.
- Some suggest it is cypress. The Phoenicians used cypress in building ships. Egyptians used cypress in building sarcophagi.
- Others think it may be pine.
- Some scholars also think it may not have been a specific type of tree. Instead, some process may have made any type of wood “gopherwood.” In this way “gopherwood” might have been something like plywood. Different varieties of wood are used in making plywood.
- If there is some process involved, it’s typically thought that this process had something to do with making wood waterproof.
What, of course, is important is that Noah knew what “gopherwood” meant.
Noah was to cover the ark—“inside and out”—with pitch. The pitch was undoubtedly for water protection.
God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark. I’m told by many folks that these are the best specifications for ships, and that these specifications are still used in ship construction. This all seems to me to be a reminder of God’s wisdom. God knows everything, and God protects His people. Nahum 1:7. Matthew 6:8. What blessings come from knowing that God knows best how to protect His people?
God says that He will bring the floodwaters on the earth (v 17). Why was it important for Noah to know that God was bringing the Flood on the earth? Why was it important for Noah to understand that it was God (and no one else) who was bringing the Flood on the earth?
What was God’s covenant with Noah (v 18)? Why was this covenant so important? Why did God extend the covenant to every kind of animal (vv 19-20)?
Why did Noah need to gather his own food (v 21)? In other words, if God was bringing all the animals to Noah why didn’t He provide all the food, too? Are there blessings to providing for ourselves?
“Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (v 22). Do you believe God would have blessed Noah if he had not obeyed? Why is obedience so important? What attitude should we have as we obey God?
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Dale Ridge church of Christ in Roanoke, Virginia.