Judgment or Grace in Cheshvan

Two messages from God are brought to light during the eighth month on the Hebrew calendar, Cheshvan.  We see them through the story of Noah and the great flood.  Cheshvan can be a month of judging or a month of grace.  God demonstrated both, and He gives us a choice.
 
From the time of creation until the days of Noah, God observed the behaviors of mankind.  He was so grieved by the wickedness of humanity that He expressed regret for making human beings.  "So, the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:7-8 - NKJ)  From these verses we can glean both themes for the month of Cheshvan.
 
The Bible explains in Psalm 89:14 that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne. Psalm 47:8 tells us that "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne."  Isaiah 5:16 prophesies, "But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by His righteous acts."  How could a holy God who builds His foundation on righteousness and justice endure the evil of the people of Noah's day?  He could not!  "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:9)  This being the case, God gave Noah directions on building an ark to protect him and his family.
 
While a time of judgment was placed upon the earth, Noah experienced the grace of God.  The Lord told him, "I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it.  Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.  You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you." (Genesis 6:17-19) On the 17th of Cheshvan Noah and his family entered the ark and the floodgates of heaven were opened, "And rain fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights." (Genesis 7:12)  One year and 10 days later, on the 27th of Cheshvan, God instructed Noah to come out of the ark.
 
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma of a burnt offering that Noah prepared for Him and established a covenant with him.  A promise was made by the Lord:  "Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood..." (Genesis 9:11)  A sign was given:  I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind." (Genesis 9:13-14)  Since Cheshvan is the eighth month on the Hebrew calendar, isn't it interesting that this number represents new beginnings.
 
Judgment led to grace—grace that endures to the present day.  This month is a reminder that God's grace is never-ending.  "Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17)  God's love for us is so great that He nailed His Son to a cross so that His blood was shed for the remission of our sins.  "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:9-10)  In view of God's sacrificial love for us, should we not follow His call on our lives to be holy as He is holy?  We have a choice.  Let us choose grace.