Grace

By Venessa Holtzhausen

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD

Grace is one of the words most used in todays society and the most mis-used as well. Grace is not the reason to cover-up sin and to sin more, since God is gracious, but what is grace?

According to the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon grace, which is chen (ן ֵה (in Hebrew, is translated as grace, favour and goodwill.

It is used 14 times in Genesis alone. This word is not a New Testament word and the people of old new very well that you cannot obtain it by works. It was the favour of God YHWH.

Scripture is not teaching salvation by works, because God is clear that Noah found grace; however, Scripture is teaching that righteousness and walking with God accompanies grace and salvation. The Scripture is painting a picture of two kinds of men:

1. those who align themselves with God, and who, as a result of that alignment, walk with Him, and
2. those who align themselves against God, choosing to walk their own way – not in the revealed path.

“Noah was a godly man, blameless in his generations.”

The Hebrew term ים ִמ ָתּ)tamim, “blameless”) is used of men in Gen 17:1 (associated with the idiom “walk before,” which means “maintain a proper relationship with.”

Deut 18:13 (where it means “blameless” in the sense of not guilty of the idolatrous practices listed before this; see Josh 24:14); Psalm 18:23, 26 (“blameless” in the sense of not having violated God’s commands); 37:18 (in contrast to the wicked); 101:2, 6 (in contrast to proud, deceitful slanderers; see 15:2); Prov 2:21; 11:5 (in contrast to the wicked); 28:10; Job 12:4.

Ancient Hebrew: חן

The first letter is the letter chet, and is a picture of a wall and having the meaning of “separation” as the wall separates the inside from the outside. The second letter is the letter nun, and is a picture of a sprouting seed having the meaning of “continue” as the seed continues a lineage to the next generation. When these two letters are combined they mean “the wall that continues.” In the camp is safety. The Scripture, which is the Word of God, which is God, is our safety. We are saved by grace, but continue to live in the boundaries of the Word.

Amen!