But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. — Genesis 6:8
I once read the story about a man who stood before a judge. He was accused of being part of a crime that had happened. He was at the place the crime happened, he was around the people who committed the crime. He knew the people who were convicted of the crime. Yet, his plea was that he did not know what was happening. He was just there to be around people he knew.
The judge heard his story and knew that the others had confessed to the crime. He decided to have mercy on the man that day. He said that there was little evidence to prove he had committed any act of the crime, but that he had presented enough evidence to show that he was different.
You could say the story is similar to that of Noah. Noah was surrounded by what the Bible says was “wickedness of man” in Genesis 6. So much so that God decided to send judgment on the earth for the sin of man. Verse 8 gives us a unique perspective in that Noah found grace in the eyes of God.
Grace is unmerited divine favor given to someone who is undeserving. God could have easily placed Noah into the same crowd as those around him, punishing him for the wickedness of the world. Instead, God had grace on Noah and his family, sparing them from judgment and destruction.
Just like in Noah’s day, judgment is coming on the sin of our world. God has provided grace in the form of Salvation to save us from the coming judgment. Have you accepted the gift of God’s grace? Have you shared with those around you before it is too late? There is still time to accept God’s gift of grace through faith.