So the Lord decided that He would wipe out life from the face of the earth - and then start all over again. He would send the flood and wash all sin and sinners away from the world. All He needed was to find someone through whom He could start a new generation of people. But finding that someone proved hard.

Of all the people who lived in the world at that time, only one man was found suitable. That man was Noah.

If Noah was the only man God found suitable to start a new generation, then we can't help but ask - what was so special about him? What did he have that others didn't?

The author of Genesis is very short and direct in that regard:

"This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Genesis 6:9

The whole account of Noah can be summed up in three characteristics: (1) He was righteous, (2) blameless before others, and (3) he walked with God.

These qualities were directly linked to Noah's character. Noah was not chosen by God because he was smart, intelligent, good-looking, educated, had lots of faith, was a hard-worker, or anything like that. He was chosen simply because he was righteous and had a very close relationship with God. That's all. And what does that mean?

To be righteous means to be or do what is just; always to act with "rightness". That was how Noah lived. In the midst of a perverse generation, Noah was the only one doing what was right and being just to everyone.

God is always right, and expects those who belong to Him to manifest the same rightness. He is never contradictory, partial, or crooked in His dealings. His judgments never favor the wicked merely because they are rich and powerful. But neither does He justify the afflicted merely because they are afflicted. He judges rightly. No doubt Noah was righteous because he "walked with God". He walked with the Source of justice and righteousness. Therefore, naturally, that part of God's character rubbed off on him.

Noah's righteous character obviously pleased God. The Lord saw in him what He didn't see in anyone else. So when He was about to bring judgment upon the world, He didn't allow Noah to receive the same punishment of the wicked. He spared him from the flood and chose him to start a new world. God was just to him because he was just too. Did his righteousness pay off? You bet it did.

Many expect, and even demand, justice from God. But we can't forget that those who seek the justice of God need to be just themselves.

If you want to see the justice of God in your life, remember that God judges rightly. Therefore, His justice may not favor you if you have been unjust in His eyes! So before asking God for justice, see if you have been doing what is right before Him and before those around you.

I don't think you want to be outside the ark when justice starts to rain.

Have a great week!


Pr. Renato Cardoso

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