Genesis 5:28 – 32
Noah – Part i
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 5:32)
NOAH
And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: (Genesis 5:28)
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. (Genesis 5:29)
And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:30)
And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.(Genesis 5:31)
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 5:32)
  Noah’s name fills the meaning of ‘Comfort’ in that Noah’s name also means ‘Rest,’ or ‘resting place.’ The root of this name ‘to rest’ takes on a variety of applications: to rest as in to ‘set down,’ to ‘settle,’ to ‘remain,’ ‘to dwell,’ and we can add ‘to rest comfortably.’ Noah is the link that connects us to the old world, the antediluvian ancient world, and the old world order. The break between our world (as we know it today) and the world of the antediluvians was beyond the physical experience of what we understand of cataclysmic or apocalyptic. These words ‘cataclysmic’ and ‘apocalyptic’ have a strange drawing power over humanity. Why this fascination with these words? Humans love to fantasize over apocalyptic scenarios, but refuse to accept the evidence of a past event documented not only by the Word of God, but also documented by the geological strata, rocks, canyons, hills and mountains throughout earth’s landscape as a witness of a cataclysmic earth changing event.
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3)
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4)
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (2 Peter 3:5)
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (2 Peter 3:6)
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)
  It is at this point that I need to address and further develop Noah’s name because Noah is not only our link from the old world to the new world, but he is the link to a tremendous planetary (Earth) convulsion. Through Noah’s name of ‘Comfort’ and ‘Rest’ God is blessing us with the assurance that He will give us comfort and rest. That God, in Himself, is our Comfort and our Rest, and no matter what physical, social, or mental upheavals we experience (or will experience) that God through His grace will supply us with grace upon grace.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)
Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (2 Corinthians 1:3)
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
  Noah’s name meaning ‘Comfort’ and/or ‘Rest’ draw us to our Creator as the ultimate Comforter and our place of rest in Jesus Christ.
The Ultimate Comforter
 The actual word ‘Comforter’ is mentioned four (4) times in the New Testament all in reference to God the Holy Spirit being the Comforter. In the Old Testament we have the word ‘comforter’ also mentioned four (4) times (in three verses) referring to the need of mankind for a comforter. I suggest that you read the following references in their complete context to get a better understanding of the content. This is quite interesting because through the Old Testament we see our need for a comforter, the need of the whole world in the number 4, and in the New Testament, Christ sends His Spirit to be our Comforter as referenced four (4) times to the whole world. There is no such thing as coincidence in the Word of God.
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter. (Ecclesiastes 4:1)
Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified [himself]. (Lamentations 1:9)
For these [things] I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. (Lamentations 1:16)
  It is quite appropriate that God the Holy Spirit would place these verses in two specific books and no others. In the book of Ecclesiastes (the heart wrenching cries that the dwellers of earth have no comforter, nor had they any comforter in the past) it is evident that this book speaks to the complete vanity and uselessness of all the attempts of humanity to reach the epitome of human perfection in all areas is folly. Then in the book of Lamentations (lamentation means to cry out with grief) we have another two witnesses (through the references) of man having no comforter to restore his standing and position before a righteousness God. The book of Lamentations also can be called the book of sorrows and weeping for the state that mankind is in because of his fallen nature from his first estate of having the glory of the image of God to becoming naked, exposed, and removed from the presence of the goodness of his Creator.
  Then God offers a remedy in Isaiah Chapter 40. Although this is specifically to Israel, the message of God being the resting place and comforter carries into all ages and to all peoples. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (Isaiah 40:1)
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2)
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: (Isaiah 40:4)
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)
  And so it is according to the promise of God in Isaiah 40:5 that the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and it was so in the face of Jesus Christ. Christ was the evidence to mankind of God’s revelation of His being the answer to man’s penalty of sin in the curse of death upon all mankind through Adam. Christ was the comfort of God given to humanity to rest in Him and in His accomplishment on the cross of Calvary. Note that in John 14:16 the Lord Jesus said that the Father would give another Comforter to those who believed in Christ. Christ was the visible Comforter, and the Holy Spirit of God would be the unseen power of the comfort of God within all believers. Here is the answer to Isaiah 40:1: finally the promise of the Comforter is fulfilled in the face of Jesus Christ, and in the power of God the Holy Spirit.
The Comforter Came
  In the book of the gospel of Luke we have this memorial to a man called Simeon (his name means ‘to hearken’ or ‘hearkening’). And therefore, we need to listen intently to hear the message in this passage in Luke 2:25. Read Simeon’s entire narrative in Luke 2:25-35. The Holy Spirit was very selective in supplying this narrative only in this one gospel of Luke and no other book. Why do we have the documentation of this event only in the gospel of Luke? Luke is the gospel of the Son of man, Jesus Christ. This gospel centers around the man Christ Jesus as the Son of man. The messages within this book flows from an individual man sent from heaven to individual men on earth. Luke presents heaven to earth. It presents God’s compassion and solace to the dwellers of the earth through His Son, Jesus Christ as the Son of man. Luke is, therefore, the presentation of God’s comfort to mankind.
  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given — this child is born from the womb of mankind, and this son is given from God. Here is the Son/Father relationship in Isaiah 9:6 being fulfilled and revealed in Luke’s gospel. A son is given, who gave this son, who sent this son? God the Father sent His Son. Each gospel has a particular central theme from which all other themes spring from. Luke’s central theme as Christ Jesus being the Son of man doesn’t stop there, but the theme develops to show us more about our Savior.
  In this encounter with Simeon and the child Jesus is the first witness we have (in Scripture) of what Christ was sent to do. Yes, Christ was sent to be the Lamb of God, He was sent to be the Savior and Redeemer, He was sent to be many things, and one of the things He was sent to do was to be the visible fulfillment of the promise of a Comforter.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (Luke 2:25)　
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:26)
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (Luke 2:27)
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, (Luke 2:28)
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: (Luke 2:29)
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, (Luke 2:30)
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; (Luke 2:31)
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:32)
  Simeon had been waiting for God to show him the consolation of Israel. In his arms Simeon cradled the hope and strength that Israel desperately needed. In this child born, and in this son given was the Comforter. Christ was the Comforter for Israel and the Comforter for the Gentiles, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Side Note: One of the things that many Israelites had difficulty with was that Gentiles would also be blessed through their Messiah, and that God had not left Gentiles out of His promises to Abraham.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (Isaiah 42:6)
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in [their] arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon [their] shoulders. (Isaiah 49:22)
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:3)
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 1:11)
  The Lord Jesus Christ (through the witness of the gospel of Luke) gave hope to the man with leprosy. (Luke 5:12-14) He gave hope and strength to the man with palsy. (Luke 5:18-26) He cured the man with the withered hand. (Luke 6:6-12) He healed the Gentiles centurion’s servant. (Luke 7) He raised the only son of the widow of Nain. (Luke 7) He raised Jairus’ daughter. (Luke 8) He cured the woman who touched His garment. (Luke 8) He raised the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue. (Luke 8) He healed the lunatic on Luke Chapter 9. We could go on and on, but is this not comfort? Did not Christ comfort those who grieved, and did He not remove their suffering, did He not end their distress? Yes, He comforted, for He was the Comforter desperately yearned for in the book of Lamentations, and in the book of Isaiah.
  And we can go back even further into time, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21) Adam and Eve had sinned, and now they had to live with the consequences of that sin which was death. They had been judged by God and the curse of sin and death was placed upon them, BUT, but God even at this tragic point showed His compassion towards them. He gave them comfort, He offered them coats of skins, and clothed them. These skins came from innocent victims. God (with His very hands) shed the blood of these victims to cover the sin of the guilty. Jehovah supplied their cover through the bodies of death, the first blood sacrifice, thus through this sacrifice He gave them comfort from their grief. There is so much to see in this verse of Genesis 3:21: judgment, the curse, sin and death, sacrifice, and the covering that God Himself supplied to two rebellious individuals. We also see a caring God, a loving God, and the God of all comfort. God is Judge and judgment, but He is comfort also.
  Christ eased the pain and anguish of the suffering. He comforted them in their pain, He offered solace to those who dwelt in the realm of sin and death. And the ultimate comfort He offered was while on the cross of Calvary He spoke three words that should comfort us all: It is finished. He accomplished the greatest victory, the victory over sin and death.
As the prophecies were given in Hosea and Isaiah . . .
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (Hosea 13:14)
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 25:8)
. . . . they were fulfilled in the Comforter sent by God.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53)
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:54)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55)
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Yes, Christ is the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world. Yes, He is our Redeemer and Savior, and therein we are comforted.
The Comforter is Here
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
  The work of comfort continues because the Comforter was given to all believers, and dwells within all believers for ever. That is what Scripture teaches us. It is this Comforter who teaches. It is this Comforter who is the Spirit of truth, and in this we surely find our strength and hope. What is the Christian blessed with? We are blessed with a spirit of peace and calmness that stems from the comfort of the Spirit of God within. Sometimes, we forget that we are able to call upon the blessings that our Comforter assures us of, for instance, the spirit of peace. In times such as these today, in times of discord, hatred, and confusion, we listen to the many voices of upheaval and uncertainty. Too many times we allow ourselves to be almost swallowed up in the hopelessness of the emotions of the unsaved. We must not be influenced by the souls who are consumed by bitterness, anger, and hatred. Their end is sure and sad, for they know not that their end is near. (Psalm 73)Whenever you feel that your very being is emotionally affected and influenced by the voices of the distressed and troubled, you need to turn to your Comforter.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)Â
The Number Five (5) Connected to Noah and to Grace
  Let’s return to God’s man, Noah, because he is the evidence of God’s comfort to humanity. Mankind and all of creation were destroyed except for eight (8) souls, and the animals who survived the earth’s destruction as they rested in the ark of God. Eight souls and what remained of the creatures needed (as never before) to be assured that God promised them His preserving grace through His love.
  The number five (5) is associated with Noah, and has been linked to the grace of God mainly from the following verse in Genesis 6:8, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Even though the word ‘grace’ is not recorded in Scripture before Noah, nevertheless, grace was certainly showered upon mankind before Noah: Abel, Seth, Enoch, and many others. Grace and faith were very much a part of God’s program before the law, as it was after the law in what we term as the age of grace.
  It is in this verse in Genesis 6:8 that we have the first mention of the word ‘grace,’ but this is not the only link to the number five and the grace of God. I always feel as if I have to have some form of disclaimer comment whenever I write about numbers, so . . . I will suggest that you link onto the following website: Mystery of Numbers. I use numbers not only as a teaching tool, but also as a memory tool to find references quickly in my mind. Remember, that numbers like eight notes of music can play many tunes. Do not become obsessed with numbers that you remove yourselves entirely from the lessons in the numbers. I cannot say this enough, ‘stay focused on what God is revealing about Himself through numbers not what God is revealing about numbers.’ Now, back to Noah, grace and the number five (5).
  Noah is associated with the number 5 from the following references. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:30)
And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. (Genesis 5:31)
And Noah was five hundred year’s old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 5:32)
And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. (Genesis 9:28)
And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. (Genesis 9:29)
  The number five stands out quite noticeable as it relates to Noah. At the birth of Noah, his father Lamech is marked by the number 595, and God the Holy Spirit connects Noah with the number 500 in Genesis 5:32, and then lastly concerning Noah because he lived a total of 950 years. Notice some interesting things happen within these numbers. I refer you back to the previous article for the number 595.
  Let’s tackle the length of time that Noah lived. He lived 950 years, what do you see? I see that the judgment of God (the number 9) is behind him, and then in the center we have the number 5 because grace follows judgment and is central to God’s message of grace, and then what comes next . . . the number 0. Time once again begins for humanity through a new and fresh year because of the grace of God. It could not possibly be the number 1 as it had to begin with the number 0, a new beginning, and the beginning of a new year. Everything on planet Earth is now fresh and clean, and time again begins anew almost as when God had provided a perfect setting for mankind in the creation described in Genesis, Chapter 1.
  God’s judgment, and grace, and a new beginning is revealed in His numbers. God uses His number structure to teach, and to reveal to us more of Himself (more than words, and more than pictures) because numbers are a language beyond words and even beyond languages.
Grace
  Now on to grace, there have been many great definitions of grace, however, I prefer to think of grace on a more personal basis not merely as a theological definition. I personally deserved nothing less than death, and yet, God gave me life. He gave me Christ. He gave me Himself. He faced death in my place. Christ faced the judgment of God in my place. He took on Himself all my sins, every last one of them and placed them on Himself. I should have been on that cross, but I wasn’t because He took my place and my sin was forever removed by His blood. (According to Galatians 2:20 I did die on that cross, the old man (Adam) died, and I became a new person in Christ). This may not be theologically worded correctly, but I don’t care. This was how I felt the moment that I repented and was saved, this is how I feel at this moment in time, for this is truly grace, the grace of God toward me. I deserved nothing, but God gave me all that He was, and all that He is, and all that He will ever be. Now, isn’t this grace? Not only is it grace, but it is amazing grace.
  Just an insignificant point, the word ‘GRACE’ in our English language has five letters. (I told you that it is insignificant!) Let’s look at some very significant points concerning grace. The first mention of the word ‘grace’ is found in Genesis 6:8, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. You may question that this ‘grace’ might not be the same grace that Christians relate to, however, what does the Scriptures teach us about Noah? By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) God the Holy Spirit in the book of Hebrews is very clear about Noah’s faith. Noah had faith, he believed God, he believed IN God, he obeyed God, he acted on his belief in God, and therefore, Noah pleased God. Noah, consequently became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Let’s not stop here, read Romans 4:16, Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. In Ephesians 2:8 we read, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God. Was Noah born again, was he saved according to our (Christian) definitions, and belief system based on the Word of God? Yes, Noah was saved because Scripture tells us that he was saved. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
  Noah looked forward into a far distant future and saw (through faith) that Christ (God’s express image of Himself) would come and offer Himself as an offering for sin, and (through faith) Noah became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith. We (Christians) look back into the far distant past and see (through faith) Christ’s offering of Himself for sin, and through faith in His blood we are saved, and we become heirs of the righteousness which is by faith. Grace and faith existed from the beginning in God’s plan. Grace and faith is not exclusively provided for those in the dispensation of grace. We make a grave mistake when we do not see that many in the Old Testament partook of the salvation that flowed from the veins of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Christ is the hinge pin that connects the Old with the New, time ended and time began with Christ, He is the center, all doctrines, principals, ordinances, and all truths are centered around our Savior, the Creator of all things.
Side Note: Jesus Christ as Creator — And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;(Colossians 1:19)
 It is worth repeating that we make a grave mistake when we do not see that many in the Old Testament partook of the salvation that flowed from the veins of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Hebrews 11:32)
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (Hebrews 11:33)
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:34)
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35)
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (Hebrews 11:36)
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Hebrews 11:37)
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.(Hebrews 11:38)
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39)
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
  Grace was granted to those in the Old Testament by faith, and the promise of grace and truth (the fulfillment of grace and truth) came by Jesus Christ as evidenced in the New Testament. Christ was the living Revealer and evidence of God’s grace towards His creatures. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
  He was the Truth and He is the Truth. He was grace, and He is grace. God changes not, whether through the Old Covenant or the New Covenant God remains the same, He changes not. His truth never changes, His principles never change, His righteousness never changes, His holiness never changes, His Word never changes. We mistake His dealings with mankind in man’s ever changing slide into sin and depravity as God changing. It is man that changes, and God meets man at every point as mankind circles the abyss of judgment because of man’s unchanging sin. Sinful unrepentant man never changes because he loves sin, and because he loves his sin he is always changing.
  God’s unchanging nature: He sent men like Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and the prophets with His message. Sometimes, the message was to an individual, sometimes to a nation, and sometimes to a world. God never changes. How He deals with mankind sometimes changes because at certain points in time man needs to see more of God in His power and sovereignty. How God deals with mankind can be compared to a continuous flowing river, it slows in some areas, picks up speed in other parts of the river bed, it sometimes comes to a narrow gorge and the force of the river water leaves marks on the rocks themselves, and sometimes the river can be barely seen as moving at all, but move it does! God changes not. The water is still wet, it still flows, it has energy and power, at times it is calm and still, it cleans, and it creates mud (when sin is revealed) but it is still water, however, the river bed and the terrain around the river changes (that is mankind), it is always changing. The water reacts to the river bend and the landscape that controls the river bed. This is the unchanging God flowing through the ever changing tumultuous history of the creature called humanity. God changes not. I used the word ‘react,’ but God does not react to circumstances because in His foreknowledge events do not come as a surprise to God, therefore, He does not react in the same way that humanity reacts, however, God does respond, He responds to the heart of man because He knows what is in the heart of every person. (I guess I digressed a bit . . . enough of walking through By-Pass Meadow).
  In Noah we not only have ‘rest’ and ‘comfort,’ but we see the power of an Almighty God to protect and preserve His own. Remember that the Word of God is about God. So what saith the Scriptures about God’s message through Noah? Noah was the bridge between two worlds, as Christ is the bridge between two worlds: the unseen and the seen, the physical and the spiritual. Noah went through the raging wind and waters trusting that God would accomplish His purpose and promise. Christ went through the raging waves of death and completely finished the work of redemption that He had been charged to accomplish. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7)
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. (Jonah 2:3) Jesus said, For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)
 Noah entered a new world accompanied with seven souls. Christ not only ushers in souls into a new world, but He has gone before to prepare His new world. There are many types or examples of the man Noah that can be compared to the true Comforter Jesus Christ.
Grace to Grace
  Grace, faith, truth, and the love of God are not owned solely by the Church. The Holy Spirit gave us a chapter in the book of Hebrews (Chapter 11) that we call ‘the faith chapter.’ It is saturated with Old Testament men and women who lived by faith, and who were blessed by the grace of God. These individuals saw by faith God’s message of truth and love, and yes, they were all saved, all born again. Surprise! The church has never been the only depository of God’s truth. God committed His oracles to His people Israel.
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (Romans 3:1)
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Romans 3:3)
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. (Psalm 147:19) He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 147:20)
Side Note: Israel was very faithful in the transcription of His laws, ordinances and statutes, however, they failed in their obedience to them, and the oracles themselves became their point of departure from God, much like the church age in their failures. The church failed in holding on to the Word of God, it has failed in obeying the Word of God and this has become the point of departure from God in that they no longer accept the Word of God as the written authority of God. (Many Church leaders are very eager to recommend translation after translation to their shaved sheep knowing that with each new copyright translation the Word of God becomes weaker and weaker to understand, as these translations remove the adhesiveness of Scripture. It is not a new translation that is desired, but a new interpretation to remove the glue that holds it all together: the power of a sovereign God).
  Israel stood strong on Deuteronomy 6:4, ¶ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD, and the Lord Jesus Christ confirmed the place that Deuteronomy holds as recorded in Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. Why could Israel not understand who the Lord Jesus Christ was? They knew, but they could not accept that God was greater than their comprehension of what God was and what God should be.
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33)
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)
  The Old Testament testified to a coming Messiah, it testified of a child born, and a son given. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) The Old Testament testified of a suffering Savior in Isaiah 53, and yet, when this ‘son’ and ‘a suffering Savior,’ and a man rejected appeared on the scene to the Pharisees, they refused Him.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Isaiah 53:1)
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)
¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)
  The Pharisees and many other rulers knew exactly what Christ meant. They understand that this one before them performed miracles beyond their understanding. The miracles they could readily accept, but the fact that it was God Himself in the image of Christ they refused to acknowledge. The Jehovah, the one God, the élohiym, this they could not believe, they could not believe their very own oracles. That this one God, this Jehovah, this Branch, this Nail, this Prince of Peace, this Everlasting Father could not reveal more of Himself in the Father/God relationship through the Godhead bodily. Jehovah is not limited in how He works, He is not limited in His purpose and plan, He is not limited to space/time, He is not limited in how He chooses to reveal Himself through His names, why then do we set limits on Him in His Person? This is a very poor analogy, however, here goes — I am one person, but I have a spiritual being within my physical being, I am still one, but I am a person within a person. The Word of God informs me that I was created with a spirit, soul and body. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) I was created in the image of God (maybe you were created in the image of an amoeba), but I was not created as an amoeba in a muddy pond. Could not God reveal Himself as One, and yet as reveal Himself through Christ, as His Son? Jesus said, I and [my] Father are one. (John 10:30) Jesus (speaking to God) said, And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)
  In a very similar way to how Israel failed in not obeying their oracles, Christendom says that they believe in a God, but they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God. Because if they did believe that Jesus Christ is God then they would believe His words. To anyone out there, I say, You cannot pick and choose what you want to obey, or what you want to believe from the Word of God. It is all or nothing!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)
Side Note of a Side Note: or I feel another digression coming on: If the Lord Jesus Christ is all powerful (think of this) could He then not preserve His word? Why then do we need more translations upon translations, isn’t God’s Word enough? (I mean, of course, the KJV.) This is almost the same point by which Israel failed to accept God in the Person of Jesus Christ because they believed not their own oracles. A million Bible translations will not make the Person of Jesus Christ any clearer to you if you are not saved. The floundering church of this age, drags their members into using useless and empty words from books titled ‘This is Your New and 99% pure and Improved Bible,’ that is of course, until the next new and 99% pure improved Bible is published. It is all about book sales, money, and copyrights. Stand your ground, don’t allow church leaders to take the Word of God out of your hands. They are not the authority, watch them buckle when they think that you may not be putting money into their building fund, the bus ministry fund, the children’s fund, the teenager’s fund, the adult fund, the senior fund, the old folks fund, the poor folks fund, their retirement fund, the new basketball court fund, the new choir robes fund, or the new Bibles fund. Money is their motivation, so motivate them, take away their money. (Wow, did I digress this time, big time — By-Pass Meadow just got bigger.) Now where was I? Oh, yes, I remember now — grace to grace.
Grace, Grace Unto It
 Do not think that just because the first mention of the word ‘grace’ is with Noah that God did not display grace before Noah. God showered His grace on mankind before Noah: Abel, Enoch, Seth, and to His seed in the line of Seth. Yes, God revealed grace in the Old Testament, but the most outstanding revelation of grace would be the last two times that grace is mentioned in the Old Testament.
Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7)
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
  It should not be a surprise to anyone that Scripture unfolds, and unfolds, and unfolds again, the Person who is the core of all Scripture: Jesus Christ.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7)
  Who is this great mountain, who is the headstone (or cornerstone), and who is Zerubbabel? We have symbolism in the great mountain and in the headstone, we have an example of a man of great authority and accomplishments (and much more) in Zerubbabel. And we have the double mention of Grace, grace unto it. This witness (in the number two) is to the grace of He who is all and complete grace, the Lord Jesus Christ.
  We have the follow up of the revelation of the spirit of grace revealed in Zechariah 12:10. The connections: house of David (Christ born in the house of David, Bethlehem in Judah, and of the tribe of Judah). Christ was pierced, and at a specific time frame all Israel will mourn for the son that they refused, the Son of God. All Israel will feel the bitterness of soul when they are confronted with the realization that they rejected and crucified the One who is the firstborn from the dead.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)
Grace for Grace
  The book of Zechariah does not close grace, but it opens grace to us in the Person of Christ: Grace, grace is coming. He who is Grace is coming to earth in a ‘son given,’ and ‘in a child born.’
  The first mention of grace in the New Testament is recorded in Luke 2:40 in the description of Christ growing strong in spirit, and filled with wisdom. By the way, here comes another digression. Wisdom is also a Person, the Person of Christ. In Luke 11:49 Christ is described as ‘the wisdom of God,’ Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute.
  The word ‘grace’ is mentioned 130 times throughout 122 verses in the New Testament compared to ‘grace’ in the Old Testament mentioned 39 times throughout 37 verses. Would you not say that the New Testament is the revelation of the fullness of ‘grace?’ It completes ‘grace,’ it screams out ‘grace has come to mankind in the Person of Christ.’ Grace does not stand alone, how could this divine influence on the hearts and souls of mankind stand alone, how could grace reflect God’s miracle of the new birth, the new man, and the new race of mankind stands alone without truth: the truth of God expressed through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth: (Colossians 1:6)
The Last Grace
  The last mention of grace in Scripture is found in the last book of the Bible in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, in the last Chapter (Chapter 22) in the last verse (verse 21). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
  This exact phrase, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen, is recorded in three others places in the New Testament: Romans 16:24, Philippians 4:23, and 2 Thessalonians 3:18. This is a tremendous path of study that I cannot and will not go into at this point in this article on Noah. But I cannot just bypass this fact that this exact phrase in Scripture is mentioned a total of four (4) times. It is quite a message for the world about God’s grace. Why Romans, why Philippians, why 2nd Thessalonians, and why Revelation, that this phrase, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen, is mentioned in these books? I leave you with this challenge: why these four books? (Don’t you just hate it when anyone does this?) You know I was not planning on ending this article about Noah at the last mention of grace in Scripture, but it is the perfect place to conclude this article. I have not only challenged readers, but I have challenged myself, I hate when I do that! Goodbye for now, and maybe you may be brave enough to return to this website. God bless and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. And Amen.
© Copyright 2018, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)