The Book of Genesis
Part 16
As we study the Divine reaction in regard to the Deluge, we must not only emphasize Divine holiness, revulsion, sorrow, and punishment, but also Divine grace. We have already noticed the severity and grace of God in Eden. In severity He pronounced a curse upon the earth, and expelled man from the Garden; in grace He provided coats, through sacrifice, for guilty man. Similarly, God manifests His severity in the Deluge, but there are in like manner, several details here which reveal His grace, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8).
Divine Patience:
“Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3). While it appears certain that God’s primary intention here was to shorten human life, for why should he prolong the means and the opportunities by which man only deepened his guilt and hardened his heart, it is obvious that He also set a period of probation. During this period, a respite of 120 years, ample time was given to that sinful generation to repent and to seek after God.
Divine Righteousness:
“Noah … a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5). While there is no statement in the records of the Book of Genesis that Noah preached during the period of probation, it is generally implied. This simple statement by the Apostle Peter leaves no doubt but that Noah warned his contemporaries of God’s righteousness in Divine punishment of human sin. In all probability he also proclaimed that God could save only on the basis of righteousness.
Divine Scrutiny:
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Gen. 6:5). “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). Amidst total corruption one exception was discovered. God said to Noah, “Thee have I seen righteous before Me” (Gen. 7:1). Solomon wrote, “One man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found” (Ecc. 8:28). Noah in this regard was not only unusual; he was unique. What a picture of our blessed Lord Jesus, “Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26).
Divine Design:
“Noah being warned of God … prepared an ark” (Heb. 11:7). “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him” (Gen. 6:22). Many centuries later the true Antitype of Noah, our blessed Lord Jesus, could say, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4).