Genesis Six begins the Third Major Division of the Book of Genesis, The Flood. This chapter begins with the wickedness of man (Genesis 6:1-7; also see Genesis 6:12-13).

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

But even though God was going to destroy man, there is Grace for God’s Elect; there is Salvation in the Ark. The basis of God’s Grace is His Covenant:

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8)

“But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” (Genesis 6:18)

We also see God’s preservation of the animal kingdom, male and female (Genesis 6:19-22).

Here are some special thoughts on Genesis 6:

Man left to his own depravity will destroy himself in sin. Read verses 1-7; in these verses we see God’s hatred of wickedness (verse 6). This hatred even touched the animal and bird kingdoms (verse 7). God told Noah that man, animals, and birds would be destroyed by a flood (verse 17); except those that would be saved in the ark through the flood; eight humans, and male and female of the animals and birds:

“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” (Genesis 7:2)

Genesis 6:8-9, 18-22 show the Sovereign Grace of God. This Grace is through the Ark (Genesis 6:14-15). And this Grace is established by God’s Covenant:

“But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark…” (Genesis 6:18)

Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord. It was by God’s choice, not by Noah’s. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation; and Noah walked with God.

1. Noah was justified in Christ.
2. He walked uprightly before men.
3. He walked with God, or in agreement with righteousness.

But remember, God’s Revelation of Himself through Grace is progressive in God’s Word. With Adam and Eve, God taught them the necessity of Sacrifice. He taught them that His Grace is Sovereign. And He taught Noah that Grace is established by Covenant, or God’s Eternal Purpose in the Ark (or Christ, who is The Ark) (Genesis 6:18).

The Ark was a real, vivid picture of God’s Salvation in the Ark; a type of God in human flesh (yet without sin) in the prepared Body. He was our Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:1-22). In Him, we are Justified, Reconciled, and Redeemed; Sanctified in Christ, the Ark (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). (See Isaiah 53:1-12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 2:24; Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-21; etc.)

The key to this devotion is the word “covenant” (which means a confederacy, confederate, league, compact). Man’s covenant is between two people. The Eternal Covenant is between God Himself. (See Hebrews 6:13-20. Please read this carefully.)

God made a Promise to Abraham. This was the first mention in Scripture of the word “covenant.” But here, Noah was given the first revelation of the meaning of God’s Promise of Salvation, or His Covenant to save Noah, his wife, and their three sons and their wives; eight people to be preserved through the Flood, God’s Judgment.

God told Noah, I will establish My Covenant with you by means of Salvation in the Ark. (Of course, looking down to Christ on the Cross, bearing the Judgment of God for the Elect’s sin. See Galatians 3:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:21.) Then God confirmed the establishment, or the ratifying, of His Covenant to Noah by the actual salvation (or preservation from the flood), and the placing of a bow in the sky, the promise to never judge the world by flood again. Christ’s Sacrifice is forever, never to be repeated.

We will see more about the Covenant as we progress through the Books of Genesis and Exodus. But God’s Word is our Security forever (Romans 8:29-39). Hallelujah!