Scripture
Genesis 6:5–8 (ESV): The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 9:18–21 (ESV): The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.
20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.
Biblical Principle
After the Fall the sin of man increased tremendously. Things were so bad that God decided to start over. He decided to have a reset. God sent a flood over the entire world to blot out every person and animal, expect Noah found favor in God’s eyes. God spared Noah and his family and one kind of every animal. (If your children are unfamiliar with the story of the flood please read the full account starting in Genesis 6 and explain it more fully).
Noah was like a new kind of Adam. He was meant to be the new starting point of man. Before Adam there were some that did follow God as well but God found favor in Noah and decided to use him as the new starting point for all men. We may be tempted to think Noah was this great or perfect man. And no doubt, he was a man we should emulate. He had faith in God and believed that God was sending a flood. He trusted God and made the ark just as God told him.
But Noah was not good in and of himself. He was still deeply flawed. The sin of Adam had still infected him just like it has infected each person born since Adam. The point is that Noah was a shadow of the one who was to come but not the one who was to come. Noah found favor in God and believed and obeyed God. Jesus is the Son of God and found favor from God and man. He believed and obeyed perfectly. He was the first among many brothers of God’s new creation in salvation. Noah was a man we can learn from, but he was pointing us to Jesus. We see this in Genesis 9 when Noah became drunk. Noah was not off to a good start. This led to the sin of Ham which led to the cursing of Canaan.
Application
For Parents
Does it bring you comfort that God still uses flawed men and women in His story? Why?
The Bible is full of men and women we should follow. We should emulate their faith, obedience and more. In this life there are men and women we should do the same. We can follow their faith, obedience and more but we must remember the ultimate example we have is Jesus. He lived the perfect life of obedience. Be careful to follow God and not man. Because we are being conformed into Christ’s image not another man’s.
For Children
Does God only find favor on perfect people? How does Noah answer this question for us?
Take this time to explain grace to your children. Grace is always unearned.
Activity
Memorize: Genesis 6:8 (ESV): "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
Pray: God would help us understand the Bible as we study and read accounts like the account of Noah.
Activity: Play and sing this song with your young children.
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