Greek grace is: “That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech good will, loving-kindness, favor, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace, thanks, (for benefits, services, favors), recompense, reward”. Hebrew grace is: favor, or acceptance.
Some believe that there is nothing you can do to earn grace, grace is a gift; that might be the case of Greek grace, but Hebrew grace requires us to act in a way that we will gain favor or acceptance. How do we do that?
The first mention of the word “grace” is found in Gen 6:8. It says that “Noah found grace in the eyes of YAH”. What was it about Noah and his life that stood out above everyone else, what was it that caught YAH’S eye?
It says:
- “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God”.[1]
- “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.[2]
- “Then YAH said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me. [3]
There is this notion that “grace” somehow gives you a get out of jail free card and there is nothing you need to do after that. The grace Noah’s found, was the result of his walking with God, keeping all the commandments of YAH and obeying YAH; which in turn made him a just man and perfect ( this also is the first occurrence of the word “Perfect” in the Tanach); it was his walk with YAH that he was rewarded for. He walked first then he found grace.
Every promises or blessing from YAH that I have ever read, start with the word “IF”. If you keep, if you follow, if my people, if,if,if. We need to take the first step and we will only do that after we have come to love YAH our Elohim with ALL our heart, mind and soul because it will be that love that motivates us. YAH wants us to love Him with our free will, He will not pour His grace out on us to us to love Him but He will pour our His grace on us once we do love Him. All YAH ever asked from us was that we would come to Him with a contrite heart, confess our sins and humbly ask for forgiveness.
Additional fruit of his walk with YAH was “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him”, this made him righteous before YAH.
This notion that grace voids out the perfect word of YAH is absurd. I don’t understand why there is such a resistance to YAH’S commandments, judgments, statutes, ordnances; they bring live and blessing to us. Why is it that no one wants to hear, see or do them? Why do heads get turned away, ears go deaf, heart grow hard to the teaching and instructions of our Elohim, I don’t understand and yet I very much understand what is going on.
Psalm 19 hold the key to Noah finding grace in the eyes of YAH.
The law of YAH is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of YAH is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of YAH are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of YAH is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of YAH is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of YAH are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.[4]
This is why Noah found grace in the eyes of YAH! He kept the law and its testimonies, which made him wise; He kept the statutes of YAH which caused him to rejoice in YAH; He kept the commandments of YAH which made him pure and enlightened eyes; He feared YAH which kept him clean before YAH and allowed him to endure; He kept the judgments of YAH which made him righteous.
You don’t read anywhere that Noah did not have to keep the commandments, judgments, statutes, ordnances of YAH because he was saved by grace, rather the grace Noah experienced in his life was BECAUSE he kept ALL the commandments, judgments, statutes, ordnances of YAH.
This is what grace looks like in action. It’s not a kick back do nothing grace. This is the kind of grace I want to find. I want to find grace in the eyes of YAH, I don’t want to be taken away by the flood, I want to be protected by YAH through the flood. With His grace I will, you will rise above the flood, all we have to do is to be like Noah.
Grace comes from walking with YAH
With what shall I come before YAH, And bow myself before the High God?… He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does YAH require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?[5]
How can you walk humbly with your God if you refuse to do what He has asked you to do? I have been told that the word BIBLE, is an acronym for: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. That being true, it would behoove us to heed those Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
[1] Ge 6:9
[2] Ge 6:22
[3] Ge 7:1
[4] Ps 19:7-11
[5] Mic 6:8