3/1/18 – Genesis 4:17-26, Genesis 5, Genesis 6 – Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 3 – Psalm 3:1-8
Gen 6: 5-8 – The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.
Why was Noah saved? Out of all the people in the world – why Noah and his family? Often we get the wrong impression – that Noah was a shining light amongst the rest of men and God saved him because Noah deserved saving. I don’t get that from this chapter. The wickedness of man was great on the earth… every thought of man’s heart was evil. How often? All the time – continually. Nobody spoke up for Noah – there’s no “have you considered my servant Noah”, there’s no sense that there’s one good man in the midst of this. No, it doesn’t say Noah was good – but that he found favour in God’s eyes. How do any of us find God’s favour? Is it through deserving it? No – it’s through grace. Noah is only described as righteous and blameless AFTER he finds favour with God. It’s after that, Noah walked with God. Noah was spared – because God is gracious and wanted to save mankind. And he chose Noah through grace to do it. And it changed Noah’s life.
And it’s the same for us. We don’t deserve saving because we are so good. It’s an act of grace. But when we’ve received that grace, we can walk blameless and righteous. And we can become shining lights to God in a dark world.
Gen 5:15 – This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
I can’t go on and not remark on this. God saved Noah through a very specific set of instructions. He gave Noah a blueprint for the greatest technological leap… Noah created a cruise ship in a world without boats. God can and does use technology to benefit and save us. He will even advance that technology if it doesn’t exist. He even told Noah what wood and pitch to use. Anyway… I like that thought….
Matt 2:22-23 – But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Isn’t it amazing? Jospeh made a decision in fear – that led to prophecy being fulfilled. God is so amazing – that in His perfect plan, he even accounts for our mistakes and failings to see His will completed.
Matt 3: 11 – “I baptise you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
Don’t get too high on your own importance. One thing we always need to be very careful of is getting full of ourselves. If we are full of ourselves, there’s no room for God to fit in. And He is the one who should be taking up all the space. If you are doing well… that’s good. But don’t make it about you. John had plenty of reasons to be pleased with his work – Jesus actually commends him in a few chapters time (Matt 11) and saying there’s no one risen who is greater than John – but John knew enough to admit, compared to Jesus that’s nothing. Success often doesn’t lead to humility. But real success should.
