When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the LORD said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
JUDGMENT DECREED
When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the LORD.
GOD WARNS NOAH
These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God. And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness. God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.
Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.”
“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.”
“Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with 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 with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive. Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.”
And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
📜 Lecture: The Descent of Mankind and the Call of Noah (Genesis 6)
1. The Proliferation of Wickedness (Verses 1–4)
This section of Scripture immediately follows the genealogies and sets the stage for God's dramatic judgment.
The Problem of Multiplication (v. 1): As mankind began to multiply on the earth, the earth filled up, but not necessarily with righteousness.
The Enigmatic "Sons of God" (v. 2, 4):
The "sons of God" (likely spiritual beings, angels, or perhaps a reference to the godly line of Seth) found the "daughters of mankind" (the ungodly line) attractive and took any they chose as wives. This was seen as a profound corruption of the divine order.
The offspring of these unions were the Nephilim, described as "the powerful men of old, the famous men." They represent a peak of pre-Flood power and corruption.
The Limitation of Life (v. 3): God declares a limit on human lifespan: "My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years." This foreshadows the coming judgment and sets a cap on human life after that point.
2. God's Grief and the Decree of Judgment (Verses 5–8)
The narrative moves to the emotional and judicial response of the Creator to the state of His creation.
The Extent of Human Depravity (v. 5): God's assessment is absolute: "every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time." This is the ultimate justification for the coming Flood—wickedness was universal and constant.
Divine Sorrow (v. 6): A powerful and profound theological statement: "the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved." This shows that God is not a cold, distant judge, but a passionate Creator who experiences genuine sorrow over the corruption of His beloved creation.
The Judgment Announced (v. 7): God decides to "wipe mankind... off the face of the earth," and this judgment extends to all land-dwelling creatures: animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky.
The Exception: Noah (v. 8): In the midst of universal depravity and decree of destruction, we find the critical pivot point: "Noah, however, found favor with the Lord." This "favor" is the first instance of grace in the narrative of the Flood, introducing a chance for survival.
3. The Righteousness of Noah (Verses 9–13)
This section introduces Noah, setting him apart as the one man worthy of being preserved.
Noah’s Character (v. 9):
He was a "righteous man."
He was "blameless among his contemporaries."
Crucially, "Noah walked with God"—a phrase previously used only for Enoch. This highlights his spiritual devotion in an ungodly age.
The World's Renewed Corruption (v. 11–12): The Earth is again described as "corrupt in God’s sight" and "filled with wickedness," with even "every creature had corrupted its way." The total failure of creation demands a total reset.
The Decision Finalized (v. 13): God informs Noah directly: "I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness... I am going to destroy them along with the earth." The verdict is clear.
4. The Mandate to Build the Ark (Verses 14–22)
God provides Noah with a detailed, specific blueprint for salvation—the Ark.
The Command and Materials (v. 14): Noah is commanded to "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood," complete with rooms and covered "with pitch inside and outside" for waterproofing.
The Specifications (v. 15–16): The dimensions of the Ark are enormous, designed not for speed, but for stability and capacity:
450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
It was to have a roof and three levels: lower, middle, and upper decks.
The length-to-width ratio (6:1) is the same used for many modern cargo ships, emphasizing its structural design for flotation.
The Purpose and the Covenant (v. 17–18):
The purpose is clear: a "flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature."
The promise is equally clear: "I will establish my covenant with you," securing the survival of Noah and his immediate family (sons, wife, and sons' wives).
The Cargo and Sustenance (v. 19–21):
Noah must bring aboard two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive.
He is also to gather every kind of food needed to sustain all the inhabitants of the Ark.
The Response of Faith (v. 22): The passage concludes with an act of pure obedience: "And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him." This immediate and complete obedience is the defining characteristic that saved Noah and his family.
Would you like me to focus on a specific part of this passage, such as the identity of the "sons of God" or the meaning of the "Nephilim"?
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