“But as for Noah, the Lord approved of him.” – Genesis 6:8 (CEB)
Before Noah swings a hammer, before he gathers a single animal, before he does one obedient thing, the story stops to say the Lord approved of him. We tend to read Noah as a story about effort, all that building, all that faithfulness. But the effort comes second. First there is approval. First there is a God who looks at one ordinary man in a violent world and decides to be for him.
That order matters. So much of our faith runs backward, as if we earn God’s approval by showing up enough, trying hard enough, getting it right enough. Genesis says no. God’s yes comes first. Our showing up is a response to being wanted, not a bid to be wanted. Where are you still trying to earn a yes God has already spoken?
God, thank you for approving of me before I had done a thing to deserve it. Teach me to build my life from that yes. In Jesus’ name, amen.