Genesis‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

This short verse really captivated me this morning. The scripture tells us that while the law came via Moses ( Old Testament), grace and truth came through Jesus Christ ( I John 1:17). So while many of us think of grace as a New Testament doctrine, we see that even before the law of Moses was established, God found grace in Noah! So the doctrine of Grace threaded, woven throughout the Bible. It is foundational.

This brief verse comes after a passage detailing the deep corruption and sin of man and God’s resulting displeasure and desire to wipe them out. Yet, in the midst of His displeasure, Noah stood out in God’s sight! Something in Noah made God pause and reconsider His plan. Noah found grace with God, because God saw Noah’s devotion, trust and faith in His word. He desired to honor God even in the midst of great evil, and was leading his family in righteousness. Noah risked ridicule and ostracism to follow what God had spoken in his heart.

This grace that God found in Noah is referenced extensively throughout the New Testament. It is the character of God. God is willing to spare His wrath, delay judgement, provide escape from destruction when He detects ONE heart willing to believe and trust in Him,even in the midst of vast corruption or persecution. In the Old Testament, we also see Abraham, petitioning God to spare Lot, delaying destruction of Sodom so Lot could escape. That was grace in action. God is a merciful and just God. He is looking for hearts turned toward Him to pour out His grace – In this case, God’s grace spared the utter destruction of the world to preserve and prepare his covenant with man. He truly is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Great is Your faithfulness to us, O’ God!