Week 6 Study Companion

"Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord"

Genesis 6–11

Weekly Overview

This week, we turn our attention to some of the most famous and foundational stories in all of Scripture: Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel. These chapters (Genesis 6–11) describe a world that has fallen deep into rebellion, yet they also reveal God’s relentless commitment to save a people for Himself.

As we study, we will see two competing cities emerging: the city of man (Babel), built on pride and self-reliance, and the city of God, built on grace and faith. We will discover that the story of the Flood is not just about judgment, but about God’s mercy in preserving humanity through a "new Adam", Noah. Most importantly, we will see how the Ark serves as a powerful picture of Jesus Christ, the only true shelter from the storm of judgment.

Key Scripture: Genesis 6–11

Biblical Context & Deep Dive

1. "But Noah Found Grace" (Genesis 6:8)

Genesis 6 paints a dark picture of the human condition. Verse 5 says, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This is a profound statement about the depth of human sin. It wasn't just that people were doing bad things; their very hearts were corrupted.

In the midst of this darkness, a single ray of light shines through in verse 8: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

This is the very first time the word grace (chen in Hebrew) appears in the Bible. It is crucial to understand what this means. Often, we assume Noah was saved because he was a righteous man. While verse 9 does say Noah was "a just man and perfect in his generations," the order is important: Noah found grace first.

Grace is unmerited favor. It is God looking upon someone with kindness not because of what they have done, but because of who He is. Noah was a sinner like everyone else, but God chose to set His favor upon him. This connects directly to the New Testament teaching in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Noah’s righteousness was the result of his faith in God, not the cause of God’s choice. As Hebrews 11:7 tells us, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark."

2. The Ark: A Picture of Christ

The Ark is one of the clearest "types" (or foreshadowing pictures) of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Consider the parallels:

• One Door: God instructed Noah to put "the door of the ark" in its side (Genesis 6:16). There were not many ways to enter the Ark; there was only one. Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John 10:9). Just as there was only one way to escape the Flood, there is only one way to be saved from judgment today, through Jesus Christ.
• Safety from Judgment: The waters of the Flood represented God’s judgment on sin. Those outside the Ark were swept away, but those inside were safe. They didn't have to swim or steer; they simply had to be "in" the Ark. In the New Testament, we are told that there is "no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
• The Pitch: God told Noah to cover the Ark with "pitch" (a tar-like substance) inside and out (Genesis 6:14). The Hebrew word for "pitch" here (kaphar) is the same root word used later for "atonement" or "covering." Just as the pitch kept the judgment waters out, the blood of Christ covers us and keeps judgment away.

3. The Bow in the Clouds: The Noahic Covenant

After the Flood, God made a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature. He promised never to destroy the earth with a flood again. As a sign of this promise, He placed His "bow" in the clouds (Genesis 9:13).

In ancient times, a bow was a weapon of war. When a warrior finished fighting, he would unstring his bow or hang it up. By placing His bow in the clouds pointing upward (away from the earth), God was symbolically saying, "My war against humanity is suspended. I am hanging up my weapon."

This covenant is unconditional. It doesn't depend on humanity being good (God actually acknowledges in Genesis 8:21 that man's heart is still evil!). It depends entirely on God’s faithfulness. Every time we see a rainbow, we are reminded that God is a covenant-keeping God who restrains His judgment to preserve His creation.

4. Babel vs. Pentecost

In Genesis 11, humanity gathers together with a unified language and a unified purpose: "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name" (Genesis 11:4).

This is the essence of human religion and pride:

1. "Let us build": We can save ourselves through our own works and technology.
2. "Reach unto heaven": We can ascend to God on our own terms.
3. "Make us a name": We want the glory for ourselves.

God judges this pride by confusing their languages and scattering them. This event, known as the Tower of Babel, resulted in division and confusion.

However, in the New Testament, we see a beautiful reversal of Babel. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), God sent His Holy Spirit. People from many nations were gathered, speaking different languages. But when the Spirit came, everyone heard the Gospel "in his own language" (Acts 2:6).

At Babel, men tried to ascend to God and were scattered. At Pentecost, God descended to men (through the Spirit) and gathered them into one body, the Church. The Gospel doesn't tell us to build a tower to reach God; it tells us that God has come down to reach us.

Reflection Questions

1. Grace First: How does understanding that "Noah found grace" before he is described as righteous change the way you view your own relationship with God? Do you ever feel like you have to earn His favor?
2. In the Ark: Read 1 Peter 3:20-21. How does the safety of Noah’s family inside the Ark help you understand what it means to be "in Christ"? Do you feel safe in Him?
3. The Rainbow: The next time you see a rainbow, what will you think of? How does God’s promise to Noah give you confidence that He keeps His promises to you?
4. Making a Name: In what ways do we still try to build "towers" today to make a name for ourselves or reach God on our own terms? How is the Gospel different from the spirit of Babel?

Going Deeper: Theological Insights

The Depth of Sin (Total Depravity)

Genesis 6:5 is one of the most important verses for understanding the biblical doctrine of sin. It says that "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This teaches us that sin isn't just an external problem (bad behavior); it's an internal heart problem. We aren't just "good people who make mistakes"; the Bible teaches that our nature is bent away from God.

This might sound discouraging, but it is actually the first step to true hope. If our problem was just bad habits, we might be able to fix it with self-help or better education. But if our problem is a dead heart, then we need something far greater, we need a Savior who can give us new life. This is why Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

Salvation is of the Lord

Notice a small but powerful detail in Genesis 7:16: "and the Lord shut him in." Noah built the Ark, but God sealed it. Noah couldn't secure his own safety; God had to do it. Furthermore, the Ark had no steering wheel, no rudder, and no sails. Noah was completely dependent on God to navigate the storm.

This is a beautiful picture of our salvation. We don't steer our own way to heaven. We trust in God to carry us through the storm of judgment and bring us safely to the other side. As the Psalmist says, "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord" (Psalm 3:8).

Weekly Reading Plans

📖 Individual Reading Plan (7 Days)

A focused study for personal spiritual growth.

Day 1: The Corruption of Humanity
Read: Genesis 6:1-8
As wickedness multiplies and God's heart grieves over human corruption, we see that divine judgment is always preceded by divine sorrow, reminding us that God's holiness cannot coexist with unrepentant sin, yet His grace seeks out the righteous remnant like Noah (cf. 2 Peter 2:5-9).

Day 2: Noah's Obedience and the Ark of Salvation
Read: Genesis 6:9-22
Noah's blameless walk with God and his complete obedience in building the ark demonstrates that saving faith expresses itself through radical obedience, foreshadowing Christ as our ultimate ark of salvation who preserves us from the judgment we deserve (cf. Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:18-22).

Day 3: Entering the Ark, God's Provision and Protection
Read: Genesis 7:1-24
The Lord Himself shuts Noah in the ark, illustrating that our security in salvation rests not on our ability to hold onto God, but on His sovereign grace to seal and preserve us through the waters of judgment (cf. Ephesians 1:13-14; John 10:27-29).

Day 4: Remembrance, Covenant, and New Beginnings
Read: Genesis 8:1-22
God's remembrance of Noah signals the turning point from judgment to restoration, and Noah's first act upon leaving the ark, worship through sacrifice, teaches us that gratitude and consecration must mark every new beginning God grants us (cf. Romans 12:1-2).

Day 5: The Noahic Covenant and God's Faithfulness
Read: Genesis 9:1-17
God establishes an unconditional, everlasting covenant with all creation, signified by the rainbow, demonstrating that His mercy triumphs over judgment and His promises remain steadfast regardless of human failure (cf. 2 Peter 3:3-13).

Day 6: The Tower of Babel, Pride and Divine Intervention
Read: Genesis 11:1-9
Humanity's attempt to build a monument to their own glory rather than God's reveals that pride seeks autonomy from God, but the Lord graciously confuses their language to prevent greater rebellion, showing that God's judgments often serve as merciful restraints against deeper sin (cf. Acts 17:26-27).

Day 7: From Babel to Blessing, The Line of Shem
Read: Genesis 11:10-32
The genealogy from Shem to Abram demonstrates that even amid global scattering and judgment, God preserves a faithful line through which He will bring redemption to all nations, pointing us toward Christ who reverses Babel's curse at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1-11; Galatians 3:8, 14).

🏡 Family Reading Plan (7 Days)

Simple readings and activities for parents and children.

Day 1: God Sees Everything
Read: Genesis 6:5-8
"God saw that people were doing bad things, but Noah loved God and obeyed Him."
Ask: "Why do you think God was sad? What made Noah different from everyone else?"
Do: Play "I Spy" together, then talk about how God sees everything we do, both good and bad, and He loves when we choose to obey Him like Noah did.

Day 2: Building the Big Boat
Read: Genesis 6:14-16, 22
"God told Noah to build a huge boat called an ark, and Noah obeyed God completely."
Ask: "What would it be like to build a boat as big as a house? Why did Noah obey even though it seemed strange?"
Do: Build a simple boat together using cardboard, paper, or blocks. Talk about how obeying God is important even when we don't understand everything.

Day 3: Into the Ark!
Read: Genesis 7:1-5, 16
"God told Noah to bring his family and two of every animal into the ark, and God shut the door."
Ask: "How do you think Noah felt when God closed the door? Were they safe inside?"
Do: Gather stuffed animals and pretend to load them into your "ark" (a box or blanket fort). Count them by twos and talk about how God protected Noah's family.

Day 4: The Flood and God's Care
Read: Genesis 7:17-20; 8:1
"It rained for 40 days and nights, but God remembered Noah and kept everyone in the ark safe."
Ask: "What does it mean that God 'remembered' Noah? Does God ever forget us?"
Do: Fill a basin with water and float a toy boat in it. Talk about how even in scary times, God takes care of us just like He took care of Noah.

Day 5: The Rainbow Promise
Read: Genesis 9:12-15
"God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise that He would never flood the whole earth again."
Ask: "What do you think of when you see a rainbow? What promises has God made to us?"
Do: Draw or paint a rainbow together. Write "God keeps His promises" on it and hang it up as a reminder of God's faithfulness.

Day 6: The Tall Tower
Read: Genesis 11:1-4
"People tried to build a tower to make themselves famous instead of honoring God."
Ask: "Why do you think God didn't want them to build the tower? Who should get the glory?"
Do: Stack blocks as high as you can, then knock them down. Talk about how pride makes us fall, but when we honor God, He lifts us up.

Day 7: God Scatters and Saves
Read: Genesis 11:5-9
"God confused their language so they couldn't finish the tower, and He spread people all over the earth."
Ask: "Why are there so many different languages in the world? How can we still tell everyone about God?"
Do: Learn to say "God loves you" in 2-3 different languages (Spanish: "Dios te ama," French: "Dieu t'aime"). Talk about how God's love is for everyone, everywhere.