READING: Genesis 6-7
“Noah, however, found favor in the sight of the Lord.”
Genesis 6:8
I look at the world today, and it’s easy to think that evil’s winning the day. It seems like we’re almost inventing new ways to sin almost every day. In fact, I never dreamed we’d be facing some of the issues we face today when I started pastoring 35+ years ago.
But then I read these words about the world in Noah’s day: “When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Gen. 6:5-6). Man had become his own god, and so evil had he become that God was emotionally grief-stricken over man's sinful state.
That is not to say that God was in despair, however. He already had a plan in place not only to bring judgment on sinful humanity, but also to ultimately provide an answer to the sin problem. He “found favor” with Noah, who “did everything that God had commanded him” (Gen. 6:8, 22, cf. 7:5, 9), and through him humanity would survive the judgment waters of the flood. Through one man—Noah—and his family, God thus paved the way toward sending Jesus to save His people from their sins.
Noah was just one man living as light in the darkness of the world, and God used Him for His glory. No matter how rotten our world becomes, God expects us, too, to be light—even if we stand alone in the darkness.
ACTION STEPS:
- Don’t worry if it feels like evil is winning around you today. Just follow God.
- If you feel like sin is winning in a loved one’s life, spend some concentrated time in prayer for that family member.
PRAYER: “Lord, let me find favor with You today, even if I’m the only one left following You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Genesis 8-9, Psalm 12