2019.03.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 6:6-12

Read Genesis 6:6-12

Questions for Littles: Who is “sorry” in Genesis 6:6? What is He sorry about? How else does verse 6 say He was sorry? What does the Lord say in Genesis 6:7? What did Noah find in Genesis 6:8? Where did he find this grace? What does Genesis 6:9 say was begotten of Noah—what kind of man was he? What was he “in his generations”? What did he do? What does Genesis 6:10 say was begotten of Noah? Before whom was the earth corrupt (Genesis 6:11)? With what was it filled? Who looked upon the earth (Genesis 6:12)? What did He see? Who had corrupted their way on the earth? 

In the Scripture for this week’s sermon, we find something strange. Yahweh is sorry and grieved in His heart. Now, we know that the Lord doesn’t have a body and doesn’t change His mind. Even stranger, in Genesis 6:7, the Lord says that He will destroy man and that He is “sorry” that He made man. To whom is He speaking? Just like when we saw the Lord “rest” on the seventh day, or “walk” in the cool of the evening, we know that this is a manner of speaking for our benefit. He is teaching us that He responds in a perfectly holy and righteous way to our sin.

Now, when we think about it, these may be a strange-sounding way of telling us about it, but what the passage is telling us so far is not that strange. The holy and righteous God should destroy all sinners! That makes Genesis 6:8-9 the truly strange verses in this passage. How could Noah find grace in Yahweh’s eyes? And how can it be that Noah was a just man? That he was perfect in his generations? That he walked with God?

Ultimately, the answer has already been revealed in Genesis. God has promised that there will be offspring of the woman. In fact, He has promised that there will be one specific Seed who crushes the serpent’s head.

So, on the one hand, Noah has to survive, because from him, Jesus must descend.

And, on the other hand, Noah can in fact survive, precisely because his descendant Jesus would satisfy the holiness and righteousness of God on his behalf.

Grace finds Noah. Grace credits Noah with righteousness for the sake of Christ. Grace transforms Noah—not because Noah deserves it, or because Noah has any ability in himself, but because Jesus deserves it, and Jesus has the power in Him.

What do you deserve? Who deserves different? What has He done for you? 

Suggested Songs: ARP32 “What Blessedness” or TPH130A “Lord, from the Depths”