Genesis 6:8-9 — But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 

Noah was unique. He was “just” — righteous. It is the same word that God uses to describe His own righteousness. Noah wasn’t, if you will pardon the pun, just “just”, he was perfect. Now, that perfection does not imply that he was faultless – more of that later. But it does imply that he was a “complete” man. You could rely on his integrity. The term is the same as that used for sacrifices. They are “unblemished”, fit for the Lord. So was Noah.
Noah was perfect “in his generations”. The implication is that he was, amongst all those of his times, unique. He was surrounded by wicked people, and he alone was righteous. How difficult that must have been.
Noah shared a privilege that was surely almost unique with, I think, only two other men. He, like Enoch, was said to have “walked with God”. Although it isn’t said explicitly in the bible, perhaps the same might be said of Adam. That walking with God surely suggests a very close communion. Like Moses, Noah was surely a friend of God – and probably a friend of nobody else.
Could they see this about me, I wonder? “These are the generations of Ian: Ian was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Ian walked with God.” I don’t think so! My righteousness is not anything like so absolute, and my integrity not so complete. Fortunately, I have two advantages that Noah did not. There may be many wicked people in my generations, but there are plenty of righteous people too. I am not like poor, solitary, isolated Noah. Then, too, I have a clear understanding of where to take my sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
Noah was a sinner. “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” (Genesis 9:21). I find that really comforting, for two reasons. First, even the best of us can do silly things, and fall into sin. Second, God’s not going to stop being my friend just because of the stupid sinful things I do. That’s really good news because I do a lot of stupid sinful things!
Sad to say, Noah’s drunkenness led to Ham’s disrespect — and that’s something else to know. Our sins can undermine the character of others. And I can’t help thinking that a man of good character didn’t make that mistake twice.