Genesis 8:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is vital that we never forget the mercies God has granted us; instead, let us keep them in our hearts, allowing the remembrance of His generosity to inspire a continuous attitude of gratitude, even as our finite minds struggle to count His countless mercies. Truly, who can fathom all that has already been granted to us by God, all that is promised, and all that is bestowed daily? He lifted us from nothingness into being, granting us both body and spirit, creating us as rational beings, providing us with air to breathe, organizing all creation for humankind, and desiring from the very beginning for us to enjoy paradise, living free from sorrow and toil, our existence exalted above that of angels and spiritual powers. Yet even when humanity, through negligence, succumbed to the serpent’s deceit, God continued to extend His grace, abundantly displaying His compassion even amid punishment, showering countless blessings upon humanity. Eventually, as God observed that the wounds of humanity were beyond healing due to widespread wickedness, He chose to eradicate the evildoers as a harmful leaven while preserving Noah as the progenitor of a new human race. Consider yet again the favor bestowed upon him: from this righteous man and his sons, God allowed the human race to multiply, progressively selecting men of righteousness, such as the patriarchs, to serve as teachers whose virtues could instruct others and bring healing to the wounded. He guided them through various lands, occasionally leading them to Palestine and then to Egypt, all the while exercising the patience of His servants and revealing His own mighty power. Throughout this time, God consistently sought to ensure the salvation of humankind, sending forth prophets and performing numerous signs and wonders through them. In summary, just as the waves of the sea cannot be counted, so too are the manifold blessings of God far beyond our ability to enumerate. Ultimately, when God perceived that even with such providence, human nature remained in vast need of His immeasurable compassion, He sent us a physician for our souls and bodies: His only begotten Son, who willingly assumed the likeness of a servant (Phil. 2:7), was born of the Virgin, lived among us, and endured our cares, so that our fallen nature, weighed down by sin, might be uplifted from earth to heaven. In awe of this, the son of thunder proclaimed: "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16). Observe the wonder expressed in this statement! The term "so" emphasizes the magnitude of what he intends to convey; thus, he begins with these words. Tell us, blessed John, how "so”? Reveal to us the depth, the grandeur, and the remarkable nature of God’s love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This indicates that the purpose of the Son's coming was to provide salvation to those in danger of perishing through faith in Him. Who can fully grasp the great, marvelous, and unfathomable favor that God has shown us through the gift of baptism, granting the forgiveness of all sins? What more can be said? Neither thought nor words can fully encompass the additional blessings of God. Whatever is conveyed is merely a glimpse when compared to what remains unsaid. Thus, who can fully understand the path of repentance that God, in His boundless compassion, has unveiled to us, along with the marvelous commandments that, if fulfilled, can lead us to gain His favor after baptism? Beloved, behold the depths of God’s blessings! Consider how many we have already mentioned, yet we could barely scratch the surface. How can human language adequately convey all that God has done for us? And while these gifts are numerous and great, even greater and beyond measure are the promises He has made for the life to come to those who walk in virtue. The blessed Apostle Paul, seeking to capture the magnificence of these blessings in few words, declares: "But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him’" (1 Cor. 2:9). Consider the greatness of these gifts! Does it not astound you that His blessings surpass all human comprehension? Indeed, "it hath not entered into my heart," he says, "into my heart." Therefore, if we desire to reflect on these gifts and express our gratitude to God to the fullest extent, we can not only gain more of His favor but also cultivate a deeper inclination towards virtue. The remembrance of His favors powerfully stirs us to valorous acts of virtue and encourages us to disregard worldly distractions, holding fast to such a great Benefactor and expressing fervent love for Him daily. This explains why Noah, the righteous man, received so much honor from God: he displayed great gratitude for the blessings granted to him. To clarify our message, we must reference the very beginning of today’s reading. After Noah exited the ark, following God’s command, along with his wife, his sons, and their wives, as well as all the animals and birds, he received a comforting blessing from God: "Let them be fruitful and multiply." The sacred text illustrates Noah’s gratitude: "And Noah built an altar unto the Lord; and he took of every clean beast and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." Pay attention, beloved, to how the Creator has instilled in our very nature a clear understanding of virtue. Where did this insight come from for Noah, who had no example before him? Just as Abel, the son of the first man, offered his sacrifice with great discernment, Noah, according to his own free will and sound judgment, expressed thanks to the Lord through sacrifices. Observe how wisely he performed this act. He required no grand edifice, no temple, nor any remarkable structure; he understood that the Lord sought only a good heart. Consequently, he quickly constructed an altar, took some of the pure animals and birds, and offered a burnt sacrifice, thereby expressing his heartfelt gratitude as best he could. The gracious and loving God accepted this token of thanks and honored his diligent effort, once again revealing His good will towards him.

As a result, we have been abundantly graced with His favor, along with the assurance that death will no longer hold dominion over us. The consequences of divine wrath have ended, and the impact of that ancient curse has been lifted. We are blessed in Christ, by whom and with whom all glory be to God the Father, along with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

The nature of the sacrifice was entirely fitting, mirroring the natural deliverance he experienced. He offered burnt offerings. In Hebrew, the term עלה (olah) generally conveys the notion of an ascent or lifting up and in ceremonial law denotes a particular type of burnt offering (Leviticus 1:9), as well as a burnt portion in various sacrifices (Leviticus 3:5, Leviticus 5:7). Thus, the burnt offering represents a fundamental and universally acknowledged act of sacrifice. Consequently, the true essence of Noah's offerings is illuminated, demonstrating the ease with which they can be compared to the diverse sacrifices outlined in the ceremonial law.

Noah's offering thus served as an expression of thanks, while also embodying penitential and appeasing elements. It foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of the Redeemer on the cross, drawing its efficacy as the sole acceptable offering before God's justice. The ‘whole burnt offering’ involved the complete incineration of all edible parts of the animal, distinguishing it from other sacrifices where portions were consumed by the priest and those offering the sacrifice.