Noah, a Type of Christ
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
5/31 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 4; Psalms 86-87; Isaiah 32; Revelation 2
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
FAVOR
Last year, on January 6th, I wrote a devotional on this verse. It focused on the grace you and I receive from YHVH God through Christ when He saves us (you can read that devotional by clicking here). The wording in this verse in English seems odd, but it is very literally translated correctly from the original Hebrew. It is odd because, for someone to find “favor” (ESV) or “grace” (KJV) by actively seeking it or acquiring it because one sought it, would make that entire process a product of the seeker’s works. In other words, it wouldn’t be grace at all. Yet it is said in this way because Noah, once again as a prophet of God, becomes a type of the Lord Jesus Christ by this verse. It is written,
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, Proverbs 8:35
Before you and I were saved by God’s grace, we would have been just like Adam and Eve in the garden immediately after they sinned. They did not seek His wisdom before they sinned and they did not seek God afterward. They hid in the trees from God (Gen 3:8).
Though Jesus is the very wisdom from heaven above, as sinless Man, He sought wisdom (Pro 8:35) on our behalf because we could not seek it apart from His grace. Likewise, Jesus sought the heavenly Father for us by His incarnation. And by His righteous life lived and His perfect substitutionary Sacrifice on Calvary’s tree, He secured grace for us, finding favor in the eyes of the LORD on our behalf.
At the same time, this statement about Noah finding favor in the eyes of YHVH God is no different from that which Moses spoke when he interceded on behalf of Israel for their sin:
Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” Exodus 33:12-13
As a type of Christ, Noah being a “herald of righteousness” (2 Pet 2:5), not only warned of the righteous judgment to come, but interceded in prayer on behalf of others. Our Lord Jesus, who is far greater than the prophet Noah,
…always lives to make intercession… Hebrews 7:25
…for those He is saving.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
