v.1-2
The question over the identity of the “sons
of God” has been the subject of debate for centuries.Where the Bible is unclear, it is unwise to be dogmatic in interpretation.Adopting a carefully thought through
opinion is perfectly legitimate as long as it remains recognised and communicated as an opinion to others.A careful examination shows that the passage’s concern is to portray
how wicked the human race had become and indicating that death would be the punishment.Hence, to this focus we shall turn our attention.
It is helpful to realise that Genesis 6:1-8 are part of the book division (“This is the book of the generations of Adam”) that began with Genesis
5:1.The theme of this
division is death as judgement on the sinful
race.However, in Genesis 6, there is an increase in the urgency and severity of death because of the gross
evil in the spread of sin.The
human family was following the divine directive to “multiply and fill the earth” (cf. 1:28) but evil was also abounding at
the same time.
The concern over interpreting who the “sons of God” are stems from the assumption that Genesis 1:1-4 is an introduction to the account of the Flood and are therefore to be understood
as the cause
of the Flood.But if
we consider these four verses as a summary of Genesis 5, there is little reason to consider them as anything out of the ordinary. As a summary,
this is merely a recounting that the sons and daughters of Adam had greatly increased in number, had married, and
had continued to have children.The reference does not appear to be rape or unbridled lust, but to marriage – “and they took to wife such of them as they chose”.Our Lord Jesus’ comments did not suggest any immorality involved either
– “For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:38-39).In other words, this is a merely a picture of man in the midst of
his everyday affairs.
v.3 The LORD’s decision raises the first hint
that something was not right about this picture of man in the midst his everyday affairs.The word “strive”, which only occurs here in the entire Old Testament, could mean
“protect,” “shield,” or “remain”.Whether God meant He will withdraw His protection over the man, or withdraw His Spirit remaining or dwelling
with these men that gave them their lives, the warning of a judgement to come is clear.
The time limit of 120 years could refer to a new age limit for people or the time left for the race before the
flood.The second view
is more likely because man continued to live long lives after the flood (cf. Gen. 10:29; 11:10-26).
v.4 The term “Nephilim”(“giants”) is used elsewhere in the Pentateuch to refer to “men
of a great stature,”who were in the land of Canaan at the time of the Exodus (Num. 13:32-33). These giants were great men – “mighty men,” “men of renown” – of antiquity.
v.5 Now, the LORD gives His evaluation of the human race
before the great flood.The
rapid spread of sin’s corrupting influence, first seen in Cain (4:8-9), then in Lamech (4:23-24), has become “great”.Where did God find such great wickedness
in the earth?He saw
it right in the heart of man.It is from the heart that all evil flows (Matt. 15:18-19).It was so great that “every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually”.The word “imagination” is related to the word “formed” in 2:7 – God had made human beings by design but they had taken their God-given capacities and devised evil continually.There is hardly a stronger statement in the Bible about the evil of
the human heart.The
fall of man had led to this low point.
v.6The wickedness of man was so great the LORD was sorry (“repented”) that He had made man in the earth.The word “repented” does not mean that God made a mistake.It is an anthropomorphic description – descriptions of God as having human form
and attributes (e.g. the hand of God) – so that we can picture and understand God’s dealings with man.The evil on earth so abominable that
His heart was filled with pain (“grieved”) – the grief and pain of man's sin was not something that only man felt.The sin of man not only angers but also grieves God.
v.7 This verse gives the details of God’s decision in
6:3, based on God’s evaluation (6:5) and response (6:6).The word “destroy” is literally “blot out,” or “wipe out” (cf. Ex. 32:32-33; 2 Kings
21:13; Ps. 51:1).It indicates
the complete removal of one thing from another, which in this case is the removal of the human race from the earth.The judgement will include all living
creatures on the face of the earth.
v.8 The word “grace” carries the idea of “unmerited favour”.It means therefore that the recipients of grace actually deserve the
judgement too.Noah deserved
the same judgement of the flood but he received (“found”) the grace of God.
v.9 Noah is described as “a just man and perfect in his generations”.“Perfect” describes a flawless or complete individual.The second description “just” describes both a covenantal relationship and proper conduct within
the covenant.This means
that Noah was conforming to the requirements of the relationship he had with God.The third description indicates the way Noah maintained a proper relationship
with God – he “walked with God”.Like Enoch,
Noah’s walk was a life of faith that pleases God (cf. Heb. 11:5-6), thus Noah was “just” and “perfect” because
he lived by faith.And
by faith, he found grace in the eyes of God (6:8, cf. Eph.
2:8).
v.11-12 The great wickedness in the heart of man resulted
in the “corruption” of the earth, and filled it with violence.The corruption of man’s individual ways and the violence in human communities springs
from the evil in man’s heart (cf. Matt. 15:18-19).Because “the wickedness
of man was great” (6:5), the corruption upon the earth is also great –“all flesh had corrupted his way”.
v.13 God pronounces His judgement to be on all flesh because all flesh
had corrupted his way.But
the method by which God would bring about the “end
of all flesh” and “destroy” them is not made known yet.