Why Did Noah Find Grace in the Eyes of the Lord?
(Genesis 6:8–9)
Amid one of the darkest periods in human history, Genesis makes a profound statement:
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” — Genesis 6:8
With the world filled with violence, corruption, and unrestrained wickedness, God determined to judge humanity through a catastrophic flood. Yet Noah stands out as a lone beacon of righteousness. This brief but powerful verse raises a deep question: why Noah? What made him different from the rest of his generation?
The answer reveals crucial truths about God’s grace, human obedience, and the nature of faith.
1. God’s Grace Came First—Not Noah’s Goodness
The verse does not say Noah earned grace—it says he found it.
Grace is unmerited favor, a divine gift freely given.
Before describing Noah’s character, the Bible first highlights God’s initiative:
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God looked upon humanity
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God saw Noah
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God extended grace
Thus, Noah was saved not because he was perfect, but because God chose to extend mercy to a man whose heart was responsive.
Grace is the foundation. Righteousness and obedience follow.
2. Noah Responded to Grace With a Righteous Life
(Genesis 6:9)
Immediately after mentioning God’s grace, the text explains the kind of person Noah was:
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
This verse reveals three key qualities:
A. Noah Was Righteous
To be “righteous” means to live in a way that aligns with God’s moral will.
Noah:
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Respected God’s authority
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Lived differently from the wicked society around him
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Acted with justice, integrity, and moral uprightness
His righteousness was the fruit of grace, not the cause.
B. Noah Was Blameless in His Generation
“Blameless” does not mean sinless.
It means:
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He lived with integrity
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His character was whole
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He could not be accused of the corruption common in his day
In a society filled with violence, immorality, and spiritual rebellion, Noah remained untainted.
C. Noah Walked With God
This is the deepest reason for God’s favor.
To “walk with God” means:
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Maintaining an ongoing relationship with Him
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Living in obedience and fellowship
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Aligning one’s life with God’s purposes
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Choosing God’s way every day
This same phrase is used of Enoch, a man who pleased God deeply. Noah shared this intimacy—he journeyed through life in step with God when the entire world walked away from Him.
3. Noah Believed God When No One Else Did
Hebrews 11:7 explains Noah’s inner character:
“By faith Noah…constructed an ark…by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Noah believed God’s warning about things he had never seen.
There had never been:
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A global flood
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A ship of such size
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A cultural expectation of judgment
Yet Noah trusted God, acted on His word, and obeyed in radical faith.
This faith set him apart from the unbelieving world.
4. Noah Obeyed God Completely
Genesis emphasizes Noah’s obedience:
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“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” — Genesis 6:22
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“Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” — Genesis 7:5
Faith produced obedience.
Grace produced faithfulness.
Noah’s life became a model of:
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Trusting God’s word
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Following God’s instructions
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Persevering for decades despite ridicule
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Building an ark in a corrupt world
For more than a century, Noah lived as a visible testimony of obedience and warning.
5. Noah Stood Alone in a World of Universal Corruption
Genesis 6:11–12 reveals the moral climate:
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The earth was filled with violence
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“All flesh” had corrupted their way
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Humanity’s thoughts were only evil continually
Amid such darkness, Noah’s faithfulness was extraordinary.
He was:
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The last righteous man of his time
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A preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5)
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The only person whose family God preserved
Noah’s difference was not small—it was total.
6. God’s Grace Worked Through Noah to Preserve Humanity
Noah’s significance is not only personal. God used him to:
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Preserve the human race
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Carry forward the promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15)
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Provide a fresh start for creation
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Become a new “father” of humanity after the Flood
Through grace, Noah became the vessel through which God’s plan of salvation continued.
Summary: Why Did Noah Find Grace?
Noah found grace in God’s eyes because:
1. God sovereignly extended mercy toward him
Grace came first.
2. Noah responded with faith, righteousness, and obedience
His life reflected the grace he received.
3. He walked with God in a world that had abandoned Him
Noah stayed close to God.
4. He lived with integrity in a corrupt generation
He refused to follow the crowd.
5. He believed and obeyed God’s word without hesitation
His faith distinguished him from the world.
Final Reflection
Noah’s story shows that even when the whole world turns evil, one person whose heart is open to God can make all the difference. God is always searching for people who will walk with Him, trust Him, and live faithfully in a broken world.
What were the conditions on earth that led God to send the Flood