BECAUSE OF NOAH, GOD CHANGED HIS MIND
Genesis 6:5-9, 18, 22
Genesis is a book of beginnings. In its pages God documented the Creation story, the first sin committed by Adam and Eve, the first blood sacrifice He made to cover their nakedness, and the first murder of Abel by Cain, his brother. And there are many more firsts within the book.
Genesis also is a book of endings. Because of sin, Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden. Though they lived for very long times, early generations of people died, their life on earth over. By chapter six, wickedness had become so awful and prevalent that God regretted He had created man, and He resolved to end all human existence on earth.
Listen to how God put it:
"I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
So, God purposed to eradicate not just people but the animals, reptiles and birds that fly---even bugs. Everything that breathed and moved on land. He would drastically change the face of the earth. That is, until He came to Noah. This man lived in obedience to all God had told him. No matter what EVERYONE else did, no matter what ANYONE else did, Noah determined to serve God. He refused to willfully sin. He chose to love God Almighty.
One righteous man made a difference. Hear what Genesis says about him:
"BUT Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."
One man gave God reason to change His mind. He did not totally annihilate mankind and the biological world alive on the land. It may be said that the righteousness of one man bought the continuance of all living creatures on the earth!
God has a remnant of righteous men, women and young people in today's world. As it grows darker and darker and the land ripens for God's judgment, must God rapture His own before His hand of judgment falls on the bulk of humanity? If we were to be left on earth going forward, God would change His mind again...but He's not going to. Remnant, look at Noah and his life declared righteous by God Himself. Noah's life was spared because he was a righteous and obedient servant of God. The world wasn't spared, but one man and his family were.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah...Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:36-37, 42.
We are living in the days of Noah! May He find you righteous, too!