Genesis 6 – Wickedness in the World

Wickedness in the World

Genesis 6:1-3 NIV
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, [2] the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. [3] Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

Commentary: Up to this point, based on the genealogy we have seen, the average age has been just under 1000 years on the earth. In Peter’s epistle, Peter says that for the Lord a day is like 1000 years. So according to the Lord’s timing, when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he lived less than a day.

Genesis 6:4 NIV
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Commentary: When I get on YouTube, I see video after video on the subject of the Nephilim. Being this is the only reference to them in the Bible, it amazes me that there is so much written about them. I am not trying to make light of the subject but I think that we can actually concentrate more on the subjects that will make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Genesis 6:5-8 NIV
The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. [6] The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. [7] So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Commentary: “Men look on the outside but God looks on the inside.” Paraphrase from Samuel when God was anointing David to be king of Israel. God looks in the heart. As I write this, I am thankful that Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Commentary: I have been thinking a lot lately about the world we live in and about “sustainability” and I come to the conclusion that the only reason that this earth can’t sustain what we need is because of greed and pride. But I also believe that it can sustain us if our hearts turn towards God.

Noah and the Flood

Genesis 6:9-10 NIV
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. [10] Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Genesis 6:11-21 NIV
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. [12] God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. [13] So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. [14] So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. [15] This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. [16] Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. [20] Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. [21] You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

Commentary: The Lord is specific about the measurements necessary. There is a replica of the Ark in Kentucky that people visit every year. I haven’t been there but I look forward to seeing it. I also like that “every creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.” The Lord directed the movement of the animals that were to be kept alive.

Genesis 6:22 NIV
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

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