But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. (Genesis 8:1 ESV)
Memory
God remembered Noah? The family of Noah were the last humans on earth. It does not surprise us that God remembered them, it would be more surprising if God had forgotten them!
It might be that God remembered those on the ark because God created them. Many years ago, my best friend and I renovated an old truck. Later, we saw it totaled by the side of the highway. I remembered it because in effect, I had created it.
It might be that God remembered those on the ark because God had saved them from the flood. I once saw across a large lake a man with a beached sailboat, in the face of a summer storm. A couple of us boated across the lake to help him. I’ve occasionally wondered what happened to that man. I have not forgotten him.
But those are not the full reason God remembered Noah. God remembered Noah because God loved Noah. In fact, God still does…
God remembers His people because He loves us. He does not remember us because we are incredible, gifted, attractive, necessary, or memorable. The love of God, unconditional, sacrificial, gracious, and merciful results in His memory.
This is exactly why the Lord promises, with various phrases, that He will never forget us. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13; Joshua 1:5; Philippians 4:6,7; Genesis 28:15; John 14:18; Isaiah 41:13; I Chronicles 28:20; Micah 7:7; Psalm 139:8; Romans 8:39; Psalm 27:1; et.al.)
God loves His people. So remembers us.
He remembered Noah on the ark. He remembered us before the foundation of the world. He remembered us while Christ was on the cross. He remembered us when Christ arose. He remembered you yesterday, remembers you today, and will remember you tomorrow.
He loves, so He remembers.