They Found Favor And...

“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…Noah was a righteous man,  blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Gen 6:8-9)

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.’” (Ex 33:17)

Scripture tells us that both Noah and Moses "found favor" in the in the eyes of the Lord.  This was important since both men lived among sinful people worthy of God’s judgement.  Although considered a grave sin, we do not traditionally elevate the sin of the golden calf to the same level as the wickedness of Noah’s generation.  However, God's perspective on the golden calf is what matters, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.” (Ex 32:7).  The key word conveyed to Moses about the people’s condition is “corrupted” (Hebrew = shahat), which occurs in only one previous story in scripture,

“Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹² God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” (Gen 6:11-12)

The use of the word “corrupted” is noteworthy because it conveys the serious nature of the golden calf sin, the unrepentant condition of the people, and the judgment that God has predetermine.  By linking the people of Israel to the condition of the generation living before the flood, God connected Israel to the same fate.  Only Moses stood between God and the destruction of Israel, and God requested that Moses step aside, “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them,” (Ex 32:10).

At this point, the story of Moses deviated dramatically from the story of Noah.  Whereas Noah used the favor granted him to escape the corrupted world saving only his family, Moses used the favor granted him to save the corrupted people he was living among, “O LORD, why does You anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand, (Ex 32:11).  What follows is a remarkable passage based solely on the actions of Moses, “So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people,” (Ex 32:14). 

Before the flood, we are told, “The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land…” (Gen 6:6-8).  Similar words are spoken to Moses after the golden calf, “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” (Ex 32:10).  

In both stories, God has determined to destroy the people because they have become corrupted.  In both stories, God has instructed the individual possessing favor to leave the location so that destruction can occur.  Whereas Noah chose to separate himself from his generation, Moses chose to unite himself to his generation (Ex 32:32), in the hope that his “favor” (merit) would be sufficient to save the people of Israel. 

The actions of Moses saved the people of Israel and become a pattern for the actions of Jesus, Who also gained favor (Luke 2:52), which He used to save those united with him.

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Rom 6:5)

Noah is introduced in scripture as “a righteous man,” (Gen 6:9), while Moses is introduced as baby born in Egypt, destined for an Egyptian throne, (Heb 11:24).  Noah’s story concludes with drunkenness and cursing his son Canaan.  Moses grew up, “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Heb 11:25), and at the end of his life Moses is called “the man of God,” (Deut 33:1).

So how are we using the favor (grace) that has been granted to us?  Are we like Abraham who used the “favor” granted him to entertain the angels of God and plead for the salvation of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:3), or we like Lot who used the "favor" granted to him to saved himself, (Gen 19:19)? 

 

All the best, Scott