“Noah Found Grace”

The first time the word covenant appears in the Bible is in Genesis 6. God informs Noah that a massive flood is coming and promises to save Noah and his family if he follows God’s instructions and builds an ark:

I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

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 6:17-18

Noah had found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and this covenant was a manifestation of that grace. (See Genesis 6:8.)

After the flood, God expanded the covenant to include all of Noah’s descendants. He specifically promised never again to destroy humanity by a flood, with a rainbow as the reminder (Genesis 9:8-17). Moses clarified that God had previously promised Enoch that he would make this covenant with Noah. (See Moses 7:49-51; see also Moses 8:2.)

The covenant is about far more than floods, though. It’s about God’s immense love for His children, even as we pass through difficult challenges. When Jesus Christ visited the Nephites and Lamanites after His resurrection, He quoted a chapter from Isaiah which includes the following affirmation from God to Israel:

For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.

For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

3 Nephi 22:7-10; compare Isaiah 54:7-10

Noah found grace, and God covenanted to save his family and to have mercy on all of his descendants, which includes each of us.

This week as we study Noah and the Flood, let’s remember how God’s love is manifest to us through the covenants He is willing to make with us.