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by Sandy Shaw
What does God think of the moral mess in our nation? What does God think of the way our country is going? What does God think of what is going in the world - where man was created to be a caring compassion steward. We are reading in Genesis Chapter 6, where circumstances have deteriorated seriously.
When sin is rampant, God's company is not sought. God see man's imaginations - his desires - intentions - thoughts - purposes - goals - aims. What dominates our thinking? What do we allow to influence our thought life?
It was so bad that a crisis point is reached. We are only in Chapter 6, and we are reading of judgement already.
Verse 6 - God is sorry that He made man. This is a SAD VERSE! God's emotions have been touched and hurt. He made man and placed him in the world to enjoy it and to be in control - but things have gone terribly wrong. (I remember returning home from a most pleasant social occasion only to say – “This would be a lovely world if it were not for SIN!”)
We say - boys will be boys - or - let bygones be bygones. God will not accept such a situation - and there are no half measures with GOD.
GOD is merciful and righteous and HE deals with situations as they really are - punishment for sin and pardon for those who believe.
Verse 8 - There is one man resisting the pressures of society - one man married to one wife - and Noah enjoyed 'grace' or favour with GOD. The Lord has ‘favourites’ – that is those upon whom His favour rests. Be one of them. This is wonderful thing to see in the Word of God.
He is no respecter of persons - if someone comes along with their long list of things they have done - or if they have come along boasting of who they are - it is as if God is deaf and blind. But when HE sees a man like Noah - His grace goes out. This is the first time the word GRACE is used in the BIBLE.
Wherever there is the judgement of God - grace and mercy are close.
When man is at his worst - then GOD appears at His Best.
God loved to look at Noah. Look at that man - just - full of integrity - upright - sincere. Noah was a man who walked with God - in step with God - in the Will of God - enjoying communion with the Father. As he walked with God he was walking against all the moral pollution and corruption of his day.
We are told in II Peter Chapter 2 verse 5, that Noah was a preacher - a preacher of righteousness.
Noah was concerned about others - but hardly anybody listened. Seven did - seven believed the truth.
It is important to hear and listen and believe – it is as relevant today as it was at the time of Noah.
God, in His mercy and grace and love, sent Jesus Christ into the world, and it is important to believe in Jesus, and obey Jesus, and hear and listen to Jesus. Some do – and many do not – in which group are you?
“Loving God – what do You see when You look at us? Call us and equip us with whatever we require for the task and work and ministry today. As we speak and witness and proclaim Your Word, may there be those who would listen and hear and be forgiven and saved. Holy Father, we pray in Jesus Name. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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