Noah, Saved by Righteousness

Noah, Saved by Righteousness

Ezekiel 14:12 – The word of the LORD came to me: 13 – “Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out my hand against it, cut off its bread supply, cause famine to come on it, and kill both people and animals.  14 – Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the sovereign LORD.

Noah, Daniel, and Job would not be able to save anyone else, except themselves, from the severed food supply or the nation-wide famine killing both people and animals.  The cut food supply and famine happen as a result of unfaithfulness to God.  The citizens were unrighteous because of faithlessness – they stopped believing in God and placed their trust in other things.

What was unique about Noah?  

Genesis 6:8 – Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 7:1 – And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 6:22, 7:5 – And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

These verses describe Noah as a person who found God’s grace; who was righteous; and who was obedient to God.  Noah’s family benefitted from Noah’s faithfulness and were saved from the flood that destroyed the whole world.  But in this scenario described by God to Ezekiel concerning an unfaithful country – no such salvation would be provided for his family.  Noah’s faith in God would save only himself, and no one else, except for Daniel, and Job.  God singled out these three men for their individual faith.  We will spotlight Daniel and Job another time.

How do we get on that list?  Believe in Jesus, receive His grace, and do what He says to do.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” – Romans 1:16,17.