Peter mentions Noah and the flood twice in his epistles...

Noah Found Grace In God's Eyes

Gen 6:8

There are two contrasting statements at the beginning of the story. "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth... but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen 6:5,8). This reminds us that "no creature is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Heb 4:13). "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely his" (2Ch 16:9). Thus Noah found grace because God's unfailing eye observed that he was not like the rest.

God is watching us, each one, and we can hide nothing from him nor divert his eyes from moving to and fro. But one thing we can change. We can change what God sees when he looks. We can change our hearts and the way we live, so that when God looks at us he will not be disgusted, but will be pleased. And we, like Noah, will find grace in God's eyes, and God will make provision for us to be saved from his wrath.

Noah Did All God Commanded

Gen 6:22, 7:5

Noah was "warned by God about things not yet seen" (Heb 11:7) just as we have been warned about the coming destruction of the world by fire. Therefore "knowing this beforehand" we should "be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless" (2Pe 3:17,14). Noah made his peace with God by doing "all that God commanded him" (Gen 6:22) Noah left nothing undone that God had told him to do. This is the mark of one who is ready for the destruction of the world.

God Destroyed All But Noah and Family

Gen 7:23

The frightening thing about this story, is how few escaped the flood --only "a few, that is eight persons, were saved" (1Pe 3:20) Jesus says of eternal life that "few there be who find it" (Mtt 7:14). Of all the things that concerns us, this fact prays on our minds the most. No doubt Noah must have considered the question too: Why are we so few?

God Remembered Noah

Gen 8:1

The human race was almost extinct. The world population was down to four women and four men. Animal life was no better off. At best it was down to seven pairs of a kind, and in many cases only one pair. This time there was no garden of Eden. There was only water everywhere, an inimical environment. The ark was the only haven. How could this vulnerable remnant of life survive? Well "God remembered Noah" (Gen 8:1). He sent a strong wind to dry the earth for Noah, and called him out of the ark. Sometimes in our lives there can be such devastation that we wonder how we shall survive. But God remembers us and comes to our aid. Even the dead and buried God will remember. He will send Christ to call them out of the graves (Jhn 5:28-29). If they, like Noah, have obeyed the Lord, God will usher them into a new world 2Pe 3:13.

Noah Built An Altar To the LORD

Gen 8:20

You would have thought that Noah had more urgent things to do when he, his family, and all the animals went out of the ark. But the first thing he did was build an altar. Then he took of the precious stock of animals, and what he took, he offered upon the altar, sacrificing precious life (Gen 8:20). Why do such a thing in such circumstances? Well Noah's offering represented the sacrifice that Christ far in the future would make, to save mankind from sin. Noah had to honour Christ, howsoever dire the circumstances. In the same way, we should hasten to honour Christ no matter what. Even when life is grim and uncertain, and the pressure is on us, we should not only expect God to remember us, but we should also remember God. We should build an altar as it were, and "offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually" (Heb 13:15) and to make it our first priority to serve God "in holy conduct and godliness" (2Pe 3:11).

God Blessed Noah

Gen 9:1

When we think of God blessing someone, we usually think of him giving them something tangible. But when we look for how "God blessed Noah" it seems to be all just words and promises. The gospel is like that. It is basically promises. Most of the things that are promised are invisible, intangible --forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, intercession, the gift of the Spirit, and so forth. We are promised an as yet unseen "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2Pe 3:13). The thing is, promises from God are "exceeding great and precious promises" (2Pe 1:4). One reason they are so precious is that God will unfailingly keep them (Heb 6:18). So even if God gives us nothing this week but promises, how truly blessed we are.

God Made a Covenant With Noah

Gen 9:8-17

In his immediate circumstances, I don't think it would have occurred to Noah to ask God for a rainbow, do you? But God didn't wait for Noah to ask. God didn't even ask Noah if he'd like one. God just put the rainbow in the sky, and God just handed down the covenant that the rainbow signified. Notice carefully the language God uses. "As for me, I establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you... This is the sign of the covenant which I make... I set my rainbow in the cloud..." (Gen 9:9,13). It is God doing all this as he wills, not asking anyone's permission or consent. That's the way it is with the gospel, the new covenant of Christ. God handed it down through Christ (Heb 8:6). I don't think it would have occured to Noah to criticise God's rainbow, and suggest some changes in the shape or colours, do you? No, when God hands down his covenant to man, then man should not reject it or wish to change it.

Some day, somewhere, someone will be looking at the last rainbow ever to shine in the heavens, because in the next second, they will see Jesus coming in the clouds and then "the heavens will pass away with a roar" and the world will end (2Pe 3:10).

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