The Genealogy of Jesusنموونە

In Genesis chapter six, we are introduced to Noah. Noah found favor in God's sight because he "was a righteous man, blameless in his generation" (Gen. 6:9 ESV). God wanted to cleanse the earth of wickedness, so He instructed Noah to build the ark. Note the repetition in Genesis seven, "God Commanded," "Noah did." First, this repetition reminds us that God specified every detail to protect Noah's family from the flood. Secondly, it reveals the righteous obedience of Noah (Hebrews 11:7).

Noah and his family exited the ark 370 days after it began to rain – that's just over one year! Noah offered up a burnt offering, and God established a unilateral covenant that He would never again flood the earth. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Just as God used Noah to rescue His creation from destruction, God also sent His Son, Jesus, completely perfect in righteousness, to save all of humanity from the judgment of their wickedness and sin. How? 2 Corinthians. 5:21 says, "For our sake, he made him to be sin who knows no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (ESV).

Read 1 Peter 3:18-22. How does the salvation in the ark compare to baptism for believers? (Hint: why did God save Noah?)

Prayer: Take a minute to thank God for the righteousness and salvation of Jesus.