The Mind of Christ

Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.

Recently My dad celebrated his 80th birthday. Also, my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and we had a big surprise party for them. There was a lot of family there and during the conversation someone asked how long my wife and I had been married. Unfortunately I couldn’t remember the exact day but I did know it was 24yrs…I think???? This idea of remembering or in my case “not remembering “is not how the Bible uses the word to remember. The word “remember” in the Greek is zakar. It’s a verb that signifies not just passively recalling information, but actively acknowledging and holding something in memory. Simply when God remembers it means he acts!!!! This is great news for the believer!!!

In this verse we read the God remembered (zakar) Noah. Now just to be clear Noah was not perfect and therefore God remembered him. Noah, like all humanity, we are told both before and after the flood were wicked. (Genesis 6:5-8 and 8:21) This would include Noah and his family, additionally we hear that Noah after the flood got naked and drunk. (Genesis 9:21). This is who we are at a fundamental level and the reason why we need a savior.

Christ does just that, for us, through His grace! Grace means unmerited favor, a divine gift that He generously gives to us without reservation, and it is not based on our goodness or self-righteousness. This profound act of love reminds us that we cannot earn our way into His favor; rather, it is freely bestowed upon us, highlighting the depth of His compassion. God remembers (zakar) us because we are told that He loves His children immensely and unconditionally. In 1 John 4:9-10, we see a beautiful illustration of this love: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” This remarkable verse encapsulates the essence of God’s heart for humanity. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us first, demonstrating His commitment to redeem us by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, paving the way for reconciliation and eternal life, reinforcing the idea that our relationship with Him is a gift rather than a reward for our actions.

We are “remembered” by the creator and loved so deeply that we can not fully understand. Live knowing this truth!!!