HE PROMISED TO STAND BY YOU

Reflections from the Book of Genesis Chapter 6

Genesis chapter 6 has been exposed as about the flood and how the judgment of God will unfold to the sinful human beings. The judgment will fall into the form of a universal flood. All world will be flooded, but God asked one man to care out the message that there is a rescue mission before the flood will come. There will be an ark that will be the picture of God’s rescue mission. God has given the plan to a man named Noah. He is asked to proclaim the message and to build the Ark with the exact measure and instruction from God.

Another point that made us so familiar with chapter 6 is the exaltation of Noah’s righteousness. This is where our moralism always points to the righteousness of Noah and the admonition to be like Noah. The lifting up of Noah was interpreted as this is written because he was righteous among all the peoples. If we would look at things from this angle, we are missing the whole theology; and the Bible becomes about good men, and we are to follow them. Noah was just a simple man, a sinner like you and me, and here is the thing, what made him righteous and declared righteous was because SOMEONE WAS BEHIND HIS BACK.

Personally, knowing this takeaway, it is just so encouraging to know that it isn’t about Noah; it was about who was behind his back that directs his ways, guides his steps, and instructions. How did God instruct, communicated, and gave the detailed instruction to Noah was a strong implication of God’s very intentional dealing with humanity and their salvation? This is true, a strong revelation of how God is so willing to guide and lead His people unto their salvation. It wasn’t us doing, for us to be saved; it was all about God doing His work using Noah to be His voice.

Do you know that the ARK represented Jesus Christ and His work to save all those who will believe in His works for their lives?

Friends, chapter 6 gives us the picture that our work of salvation is not about the heroic act of a single righteous man called Noah; it is about the ARK and the One behind the ark. It is about God telling the whole world that even in times of destruction, “I am God, and I am behind my people.” God will always prepare a place to save not necessarily all the time their physical body, but most importantly, God would always strengthen their spirit. God is in control, no matter what. There was the ARK in those times of the dark history of judgment, and this is for sure that ARK who kept and saved God’s people will be the same ARK who will be faithful to defend and to take as His own brothers and sisters the people of God.

Chapter 6 reminds us that there is no reason to fear because the same ARK will stand by and will be behind us in that very time of the coming judgment. God’s people are not left alone. Jesus will be our defender!