May 27: Looking For Grace
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1
The first thought that Paul presented following the famous “love chapter” placed a strong emphasis for the reader: “desire . . . especially that you may prophesy”! This is what Noah did. His love for Yahweh spilled over into love for his fellow man. To prophesy is simply to share God’s plans with others. Noah’s work of building the ark testified to his faith in the LORD, but he also used words. In doing so, the people were fully informed of the coming judgement of God and the purpose of the ark as a ‘vehicle’ by which protection would be provided from the coming flood.
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
The ark was of a magnificent design. Its enormous proportions, with many rooms, were well lighted by the high window at the top (Genesis 6:16). Such a structure of strength and durability could not have been devised by human wisdom. The transparency of our God was on full display. The ark was built out in the open for all to see. The sight of it and every sound of the construction day after day, year after year, decade after decade—for man still measured his life in centuries!—was a supporting testimony to the words of Noah. It is God’s way to provide prophetic insight. Turning from it, as the people of Noah’s day did, proved disastrous.
Even though Adam and Eve had lost access to the tree of life, genetic vitality from Creation continued for generations. Not only was the physical make-up of humans far superior to what we see today, but mental abilities and creative skills were still only slightly diminished as compared to now. But these men of renown (6:4), instead of using their gifts and abilities for the glory of God, set their affections upon their own intellect and artistic talents. The works of their hands became objects of worship, as did the full-time pursuit of earthly pleasures. Even those who claimed to worship the true God would say that their idols merely served as tokens and reminders of Him. All of these efforts of man only served to distance God even further from their thinking. God knows that such things serve only to degrade and devalue His identity as perceived by humans. This, in turn, lowers the estimation and degrades the immense value that He places on human life. But contemplation of the One who is infinite love and wisdom serves to elevate both. His eternal, unchanging law is the most concise description of what it means to love God and love people. The various pagan gods that they created for themselves were mere extensions of their own sinful characteristics: envy, greed, lust, violence, cruelty.
But then the pendulum always swings the other way. As Noah was preaching of the goodness of God and His coming judgement, there were many who convinced themselves that it was contrary to God’s character to punish wickedness. Noah would have been the first to stand against this thought, so prevalent in today’s world. In his humility, he counted himself among the wicked. This realization caused him to turn toward his Creator for help. It was only in looking for it that he found it! For Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (6:8).
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13