Devotions

Do you know where the word grace first appeared in the Bible?  That’s a trivia question most would miss.  Some would say Paul because he mentioned it more than anyone.  Some say Jesus and I get that because no one lived it like he did.  Some say David in the Psalms and I get that because he relied heavily on it after his failures.  The answer is surprising.

·         Genesis 6:8 – But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

How about that.  The ark building – flood surviving – animal herding – dove sending – rainbow discovering – wine drinking Noah.  The word grace appears in the bible when his name does.  That’s cool.  Because the word grace follows some of the most difficult words in the Bible.

·         Genesis 6:5 – The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Now there is no need to complicate this.  We don’t know a lot about Noah.  We know he was mentioned in Hebrews with heavy hitters of the faith.  We know what he did after he found grace. We know he saved the animals.  We know he was a good man but….

·         The reason we call him Noah is because we don’t Noah thing about him.

I thought that was more clever than you did.  As I consider this being the first mention of grace I’m struck by something that may be frustrating to you and me.  The first mention of grace in the entire bible gives us no instructions on how to get it. Proving again -  Grace isn’t ever up to the one who receives it – it’s always up to the one who gives it.   Unearned, undeserved, unworthy – but given freely to us all through Jesus Christ.  No wonder we sing about how Amazing it is.