Theme: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
DAY 17, Read Genesis 6:8, 13-22
GRACE FOR UNCOMMON SUCCESS
Key Text: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of God” (Genesis 6:8).
One example of how grace operates upon a man’s life is seen in Noah (Gen.6:8). In a generation that was full of evil and wickedness, Noah found grace in the sight of God. God choose him for a special task; to preserve a remnant of creation. Noah did not possess all the skills and expertise for the task given to him, yet he forged ahead to execute the task, and he eventually succeeded.
He did not study animal science and husbandry to know how to preserve and keep animals. He did not read veterinary medicine to know the medical conditions of the animals, but the circumstances of the period made him a veterinary doctor. He was not an agriculturist to know what kind of plant that would survive the flood. He was not an architect to know how to design an ark, yet he designed one. He was not a carpenter to know how to build an ark, yet he built one. He was not a psychologist, to know how to read the mood of the people and the animals that were in the ark with him. He was not a meteorologist to know about the weather, but he studied and interpreted the changing patterns of the weather. He did not study project management to know how to co-ordinate a project, but God gave him the wisdom to accomplish the project. Despite Noah’s shortcomings, he forged ahead in faith to please God.
Under a prevailing atmosphere of judgment, God’s grace on Noah was demonstrated in the following ways:
God chose him and bestowed grace on him (Genesis 6: 8).
God protected him and his family from the vagaries of his environment (Genesis 7:1,2).
God preserved him and his family from adversities and the flood (Genesis 7:23).
God remembered him in times of judgment, and sent a wind to make the waters to recede (Genesis 8:1).
God blessed Noah after the flood to begin a process of regenerating creation (Genesis 9:1).
God gave Noah authority over the animals and over the entire creation (Genesis 9:2,3).
God established a covenant of life with Noah after the flood (Genesis 9: 8-17).
God gave Noah uncommon wisdom to do extraordinary things. That is the evidence of grace. In Noah, we see the power of grace at work in a man’s life. Noah demonstrates to us that grace is not a New Testament phenomenon but had always existed from the Old Testament. These three; Noah, Abraham (Genesis 19:19) and Moses (Exodus 33:12-17) experienced grace in their generation.
Noah’s life is a clear challenge to us in our generation. Despite the adversities and limitations he faced he was able to carry out the task given to him by God.
PRAYER: Lord give me uncommon wisdom to do uncommon things for Your kingdom and glory
