Why was Noah and his family rescued by God – the first quarantined family (hey, its 2020)? If we are not careful in our reading, our answer may sound something like this:

The world was full of wicked people, whose intentions and thoughts were continually evil. God, being righteous and just, needed to bring judgment upon human sin. In contrast, Noah was different, he was a righteous man who lived for God. Seeing his good behaviour, God rewarded Noah and preserved his family. We might even close with a warning to others: “Even if everyone around you is sinning, be good so that God will protect you from his righteous judgment.”

Such an understanding places the emphasis upon our actions rather than God’s. I believe the key verse in the story of Noah is the verse we gave to our toddlers to memorize: “But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. (Gen. 6:8)” Long before Noah walked the earth and stood apart from his wicked generation, God favoured Noah. We could say he graced Noah. The bible is consistent from front to back that God initiates the rescue of his children, and the nature of his rescue is gracious. As Paul taught: “None is righteous, no, not one. (Rom. 3:10)” Noah’s notable works of righteousness in his generation were a response to God’s empowering grace, not something self-generated that obligated God to reward.

Why did God rescue Noah? The same reason he rescued you!

Something to Praise:

None of us deserves eternal life with Christ. And yet, our eternity with him is settled and sure! Praise God!

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”