“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen 6:8). Two questions arise from this verse that simply beg for answering: What does this mean? and Why did Noah “find favor” with God? The Hebrew expression used here for “find favor [in the eyes of ]” is an idiom meaning:
• to be an object of another’s favorable disposition
• to be a recipient of another’s favor, kindness, mercy
The favor/kindness is often earned, coming in response to an action or condition (see Gen 32:5; 39:4; Deut 24:1; 1 Sam 25:8; Prov 3:4; Ruth 2:10). What the texts tells us about God’s approval of Noah is not common in Scripture. Moses is told directly that he has found “favor” with God (Exodus 33:12-13, 17). Similar “divine approval” is hinted at in Judges 6:17 (Gideon), 2 Samuel 15;25 (David) and Genesis 18:3,10,33 (Abraham). The ultimate recipient, of course, of the Father’s favor or divine approval is God’s own Son, Jesus. With him the Father was “well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Why did God show favor to Noah, and not to other contemporaries? The context provides the answer. Noah is set in contrast to the others of his generation, people who were “wicked” and “evil” (verse 5). The “thoughts of their hearts” and their conduct “grieved God” (Genesis 6:6). “But Noah…” (vs 8 ) was different; he was “a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9, cf. Ezekiel 14:14).
His conduct didn’t save. But his conduct led to God’s sovereign decision to show Noah His favor:
This does not mean that Noah’s character automatically secures divine favor, for God is under no obligation to bestow his favor. It presupposes a relationship. The proper emphasis in our passage is God’s gracious favor… Genesis’s “grace” and “righteousness” (6:8-9) joined by Noah’s “faith” is brought together in the theological reflection of the writer to the Hebrews. He interpreted Noah’s obedient “fear” as “faith” that resulted in a saving “righteousness” (Heb 11:7) (Expositor’s Bible Commentary).
Noah wasn’t perfect. Genesis 9 makes that clear! Noah does, however, provide a vivid example of a person whose life “heralded righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5) to an evil generation. He feared God more than he feared the people around him. And God was pleased!
