Jan 04 – Grace for Noah!

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

Scripture reveals many blessings that the Lord graciously gave to Noah and his household. First, He ordained salvation for Noah’s entire family. Second, He placed a fear of them upon all living creatures. And third, He bestowed abundant grace upon Noah and his family.

Grace is a wonderful protective hedge. When grace surrounds us, there is refuge and safety. Just as the ark—made of gopher wood—became Noah’s refuge, the grace of God becomes our covering. As the Lord says, “For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you (Isaiah 54:10).

But if a person treats the grace of God lightly and lives according to his own desires, the Lord may withdraw that grace. He may remove the hedge of protection, leaving that person vulnerable to the attacks of Satan and the destructions of the world. Saul, though anointed as king, rejected the word of the Lord. Consequently, the Lord withdrew His grace from him, and a distressing spirit tormented Saul thereafter.

When the Twin Towers—America’s pride—collapsed in 2001, many servants of God wondered whether the Lord was withdrawing His grace from that nation. Yet, even after repeated hurricanes, storms, floods, and natural disasters that struck the land, many failed to recognize them as God’s warnings to turn back to Him.

Whenever great calamities occur, if people humble themselves, confess their sins, and turn from their evil ways, the Lord will have compassion and withhold the judgment He intended.

In 1945, during the Second World War, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were engulfed in flames and destruction. Yet, in the midst of that devastation, one house alone stood untouched. Scientists and government authorities were puzzled. Upon investigation, the Christian missionaries living in that house declared, “There is only one reason our home was spared — the grace of God.”

Children of God, in this new year, may the Lord grant to you and your family the same grace He showed to Noah. May the Lord be your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Verse for further meditation: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11).