Genesis Chapter 6

The Days of Noah

6:1-2

The term, ‘sons of God’ has always referred to God’s created angels. It would appear that somehow these ‘fallen angels’ had chosen, or taken, the ‘daughters of men’ as wives. It sounds like the girls had no choice. This is an area that is filled with speculation as to the exact meaning and what transpired in the ancient world.

6:3

Now God prophesies that His Spirit will not forever dwell and strive with man, and that man’s days are limited to 120 years. This situation of the sons of God taking daughters of men and causing genetically deviate beings, has somehow caused increased evil in the world. It also appears that God is foretelling that there is only 120 years left before He will remove His Spirit from mankind. Some commentators believe that God is stating that the lifetime of men will be shortened to 120 years. Yet, long after this statement, men continue to live long lives, far beyond the 120 years.

6:4

There were giants, or mighty ones, also known as Nephilim (meaning “the fallen ones”) presumably referring to the fallen angels. ‘Nephal’; means to fall, to be cast down, to fall away, to desert. Certainly, the fallen angels were ‘cast down’, having chosen to fall away and desert their calling to serve God. Interestingly the term geneges (Giants) in the Greek is the same work for Titans. The Titans were creatures emerging from the Greek mythology of interbreeding of the Greek gods with human beings. Our English word for genes and genetics come from the same root word. Was this Greek mythology somehow related to what happened in Genesis, chapter 6? Note what Jude 6 and 7 reveals to us: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” There are a number of references to these strange giants, or deviate ones, in the Bible. Remember David slew a ‘giant’ called Goliath, who was over 10 foot tall. When the Israelites were spying out the land they came upon giants, also identified as Nephilim. In comparison, the Israelite men were as ‘grasshoppers’. See Numbers 13:28, 32, 33. We see references to these Nephilim giants again in 2 Samuel 21:16-22. These giants are living among the Philistines and are very large, strong, vicious men. Some have six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot. This portion of scripture tells us four of these Nephilim were killed by David and his men. Again, see 2 Chronicles 20:4-8, referencing the giants and their great stature, some of whom had 24 fingers and toes. Search out Deut. 2, Joshua 12, 13, 15, 17 and 18. There is yet another clue in 2 Peter 2; 4,5: “For God did not spare the angels who sinned;.. He put them in gloomy dungeons lower than Sheol (Hell), or Tartarus, to be held for judgment. God did not spare the ancient world .. He preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, and brought the Flood upon a world of ungodly people.” It is interesting that the Greek Mythology states that the Titans were part human and part celestial. They rebelled against their ‘father’. After a long battle they were defeated by Zeus and condemned into Tartarus. The ancient legends from Persia, Assyria, Greece, Egypt, India, Incas, Mayan, Bolivia, South Sea Islands and American Indians all talk of a time when there were giants in their land, who were eventually destroyed by a great flood.

Now, the really strange thing is the prophecy given to Daniel, the Prophet in Daniel 2:43 “ And as you saw iron mixed with miry and earthen clay, so they shall mingle themselves in the seed of men (in marriage bonds) but they will not hold together…” Who is this ‘they’ spoken of in this prophecy? This prophecy is still future to us! Now, read the warning given by Jesus in Matthew 24: 36-39 “… As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…” So exactly what kind of ‘deviate beings’ will emerge in the last days? You are encouraged to do your own research.

6:5

God sees, and knows, that only evil is being continually done on earth. Note that the evil begins in the heart of man; in the imagination of one’s mind, heart and thoughts. All evil begins in our heart with our thought process. The Bible tells us that the heart is the center of our thought process. This means that out of the heart comes good thoughts or evil thoughts. Note that we respond to God and praise God with our hearts; Psalm 7:9 “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.” Psalm 9:1 “ I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart..” Psalm 10:17 “O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart;..” Psalm 13:5 “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.’ they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” Psalm 15:2 “He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;” Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Psalm 17:3 “You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 19:8 “the statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;..” Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 24:4 “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 26:2 “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” Psalm 27:8 “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:14 “ Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;..” Psalm 33:11 “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,…”, Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 44:21 “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 86:11-12 “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.:” Psalm 119:2 “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” Psalm 119:10-11 “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart;..” Proverbs 2:2 “Incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;” Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 14:30 “A sound heart is life to the body,…” Proverbs 16:21 “The wise in heart will be called prudent…”

There are hundreds of scriptures pertaining to the heart being the center of our soul, character and being. We can chose to follow God with our whole heart and soul and know that we will eventually become like Jesus… or we can turn away and foolishly ‘follow our own heart’ meaning we will reject God’s wisdom and truth and turn away to lies and evil. This little saying of ‘follow your heart’ really is the world’s way of saying “do you own thing” or “do it your way”, not God’s way. See the deceitful way the world tries to deceive us into doing evil rather than trusting and following God’s perfect way? The choice is ours. Yet, in order to follow God with all our heart and soul, we desperately need the power, wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit; we cannot do it on our own. No wonder God continually warns us about ‘guarding our hearts and minds’ against evil. Be encouraged to do your own search on how your heart influences your entire life, and determines who you ARE. Remember, we’ve already learned that no one can be successful without God’s blessings; and God will bless those who follow Him with their whole heart! Do you realize that God’s Word has just given you the secret of true success in life? You absolutely CAN be successful; but ONLY GOD’S WAY!

6:6

How heartbreaking to read that God was sorry that He had made man. We are told God was grieved in His heart. So since God knew before He made man that mankind would disobey Him and enter into sin; then why do you think He is ‘sorry’? Do we realize that every time we choose sin over obedience to God that we grieve the Creator of the Universe in His heart? Even though God is all powerful and all-knowing; we, as His creation in His image and likeness, can cause Him great pain and sorrow by our sinfulness. Maybe if we think this over very carefully and pray about it, we may have a change of heart on how we view our own sinfulness.

6:7-8

Now the only thing that God can do, and must do, is destroy all the evil that has come forth from mankind’s sinfulness. God had no choice, He had to destroy everything evil. Yet, we are given just a little glimpse of how much grief and sorrow it brought God to have to do this to His perfectly created world that mankind (and Satan) destroyed. (8.) Just as it looks like this will be the end of the world, we are given a ray of hope; for Noah has found grace in the eyes of God. Remember, grace is unmerited favor with God.

6:9

When we are told that Noah is a just man, perfect in his generations, this does not mean that Noah was a perfect man, but that in his genealogy he had not been corrupted by the interbreeding with the fallen angels. Since we are told Noah is ‘just’ we can assume that his heart is right with God. We are also told that Noah walked steadfastly with God. Remember, we have not seen this in God’s word since Enoch, whom God translated (Raptured) into heaven.

6:10

We are again reminded that Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. We are not told if these are his only children. But since the last chapter states that Noah was 500 years old before he had these three sons, it would probably mean that Noah had other children. We just don’t know.

6:11-12

Since the entire earth was ‘corrupt and filled with violence’, we must assume that the sinfulness of mankind has somehow caused the animal kingdom to also become ‘corrupted’. This is further made evident by verse 12. which states that all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. This would mean all living things had somehow become ‘corrupted’. The term ‘corrupted’ means that the original intent had been defiled and spoiled. Living things had become evil, rotten, depraved, perverted, vicious, infected, tainted contaminated, etc.

6:13

Now we are given the exact words that God speaks to Noah, telling Noah that the end of all flesh had to come. Notice that evil brings violence and death. God had to destroy all that evil. God tells Noah that He will destroy all flesh with the earth. Note that this pronouncement from God is a Prophecy which will be fulfilled.

6:14-17

Now it is revealed to us God’s plan of having Noah build an ark of a particular wood that would be strong enough and resist water enough to withstand the coming flood. Some commentators believe that this ‘gopherwood’ was actually teak, which is still used today in marine vessels, because of its durability to withstand water. As we read the structural plans and instructions, keep in mind that Noah probably had never even seen any type of water vessel. The necessity of covering it inside and out with pitch was to make certain it would withstand the fierce waves and wind that would come with the flood. It is estimated that the tides and waves were hundreds of feet high! Note that God warns Noah and foretells (Prophecy) that this flood will destroy every living thing on earth. Today, a group of Christians have built an ark the exact size (as near as can be determined) of the one given here in Genesis as a witness to the world. As they faithfully worked on this project, anti-Christians did everything possible to try to stop them! Why? Because this life sized replica of the ark shows and proves that the Ark was able to hold all the animals in each of the decks described. It also shows that the ark was able to withstand the flood waters, and that God did judge and destroy evil in His world. Since, we as Christians, teach that Jesus will return and that God will again destroy the evil world through fire, evil wicked men do not want to hear that truth, nor be reminded that their own doom is coming. If God gives you the opportunity, try to visit the Ark yourself. Both Gene and I have been blessed by being able to tour the Ark!

6:18-21

Yet God promises to establish His covenant (this is a legal agreement God is giving to Noah). This covenant will save Noah, his sons and all their wives from certain destruction. As we see God’s direction to Noah to bring two of all the ‘kinds’ of birds, animals and ‘creeping things’ that have the breath of life in them into the ark to keep them alive. This would mean that Noah, and his sons, would need to provide food for all these animals, as well as enough food for himself and his family. No wonder it took Noah a hundred years to build the ark and provide all this food. You and I are probably amazed that Noah doesn’t ask questions, or ask for some kind of clarification about this plan of Gods.

6:22

We are told that Noah completely obeyed God in all that God commanded him to do. No questions appear to be asked, nor does Noah argue with God about His plan, the timing, or anything else. What do you think Noah’s neighbors, family and friends said to him about his building the ark? After all, as big as it was, it couldn’t have been a ‘secret project’. When we obey God, and others think it is foolishness, what happens? I suspect this sort of thing happened to Noah and his family as they prepared the ark, the food, the water, and all the necessary provisions. Noah exhibited great trust and courage and steadfast perseverance in obeying God’s word to him. I believe Noah was smart enough not to share the plans of God with unbelievers. After all, no one had ever seen it rain, so water falling from the sky was unheard of! Waters coming up in great torrents from the earth had also never been seen before. Noah did not quit or become discouraged even though the flood did not come for 100 years!

What about us? Do we give up and quit because we do not see results in a short time? Do we doubt God’s word because the answers are not coming as quickly as we think they should? Everything happens in God’s perfect timing. We must learn patience and to persevere!