Genesis 6
Sons of God marry daughters of menverses 1-2
And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth
and daughters were born unto them
that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that
they were fair – and they took them wives of all
whom they chose
Men will not listen to Holy Spiritverse 3
And the LORD said – MY Spirit shall not always strive with man
for that he also is flesh – YET his days shall be an
hundred and twenty years
Giants produced by marriageverse 4
There were giants in the earth in those days – and also after that
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men
and they bore children to them
the same became mighty men
which were of old – men of renown
LORD observed the wickedness of menverses 5-7
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth
and that EVERY IMAGINATION of the THOUGHTS of
his heart was only evil continually
And it REPENTED the LORD that HE had made man on the earth
and it grieved HIM at HIS heart
And the LORD said – I will destroy man whom I have CREATED
from the face of the earth – both man – beast – creeping thing
fowls of the air – FOR it REPENTS ME that
I have MADE them
Noah found graceverses 8-10
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 generation
and Noah WALKED with God
And Noah begot three sons – Shem – Ham – Japheth
God communicated with Noah: Flood earthverses 11-12
The earth also was CORRUPT before God
and the earth was FILLED with VIOLENCE
And God looked on the earth and BEHOLD – it was CORRUPT
for all flesh had CORRUPTED his way on the earth
God commanded an ark builtverses 13-17
And God said to Noah
The end of all flesh is come before ME
for the earth is FILLED with VIOLENCE through them
and BEHOLD – I will destroy them with the earth
Make thee an ark of gopher wood
rooms shall you make in the ark
and shall pitch it within and without with the pitch
And this is the fashion which you shall make it of
the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits
and the breadth of it fifty cubits
and the height of it thirty cubits
A window shall you make to the ark
and in a cubit shall you finish it above
And the door of the ark shall you set in the side thereof
with lower – second – third stories shall you make it
AND BEHOLD – I even I do bring a flood of waters on the earth
to destroy all flesh – wherein is the BREATH OF LIFE
from under heaven
and everything that is in the earth shall DIE
God gave covenant to Noahverses 18-22
BUT with you will I establish MY COVENANT
and you shall come into the ark
you – your sons – your wife – your sons’ wives with you
And of every living thing of all flesh
two of every sort shall you bring into the ark
to keep them alive with you
they shall be male and female
of fowls after their kind – of cattle after their kind
of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind
two of every sort shall come to you
to keep them alive
And take you to you of all food that is eaten
and you shall gather it to you
and it shall be for food for you – and for them
THUS did Noah
according to all that God commanded him – so did he
COMMENTARY:
The Bible started with Adam and Eve in innocence before the fall. This has been called the DISPENSATION of INNOCENCE. After the fall of Adam the next DISPENSATION was called CONSCIENCE. This covered the time period from the fall until the flood. Man did what he thought his conscience was telling him. Remember that most of the people in the world didn’t call on the name of the LORD. From Enoch on there were individuals that preached or witnesses to the truth of only being one true God. When we get to the time of Noah, he was the only one who was a true believer in the LORD. The third DISPENSATION is that of HUMAN GOVERNMENT. This dispensation begins after the flood.
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (1777 “strive” [diyn] means to judge, contend, execute judgment, minister judgment, abide, remain or plead the cause)
DEVOTION: Men were letting their conscience be their guide instead of God. They were doing everything they could imagine that was displeasing to God. There came a point in which God said “enough.” HE sent people to explain HIS way to them but they didn’t want to listen. There was only one family that listened to the message. They were doing evil on a regular basis. The word “spirit” can refer to the human spirit, as well as, the Holy Spirit, only the context determines which it is going to be. The context here seems to be talking about the human spirit would not remain alive because it was not listening to the Holy Spirit. Human were not going to live long lives as they had done before the flood. HE was limited them to the age of 120 years or less.
It is thought that after the flood the “greenhouse” effect was ended. There was going to be the effects of the rays of the sun on humans. There was no canopy over the earth like there was before the flood.
God knew that man was flesh. The problem was that man was following his sin nature rather than the divine commands. Two parts of our sin nature are selfishness and laziness. It is part of our sin nature to live independent of God.
During our lifetime, the Holy Spirit has an influence on each individual. HIS influence convicts of sin in our life. If we listen and follow the LORD we will have eternal life in heaven. If we are like the generation of Noah and chose not to listen, judgment is coming.
CHALLENGE: After death, the choice of where the individual spends eternity has been made. What choice have we made for eternity?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (2580 “grace” [chen] means kindness, favor, precious, or pleasant)
DEVOTION: Noah was the only man who found favor in the LORD’S eyes when HE looked over the whole human race. This favor from God is given not on the basis of sinlessness but on HIS giving individuals something that don’t deserve. Our works don’t earn this favor. Only HIS kindness is granted to those HE knows will respond to HIM. Another word that is associated with this word in the New Testament is “mercy.” This is God not giving us what we really deserve. All those who are not found in HIS favor will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Those in Noah’s generation were subject to a worldwide flood. After their death there was a place of torment waiting for them until the final judgment after the Millennium.
Noah was a man who was described as just and perfect in his generation. Perfect doesn’t mean sinless but one who has a mature relationship with the LORD. The LORD showed him kindness by having him build an ark and live in it during the flood. While he was building the ark, he also preached regarding the coming judgment to see if any would respond to the message. They didn’t respond even after a hundred years of preaching.
When we look around our world, there are only a few who have found favor in the LORD’s eyes. Some think that many are saved. The Bible says that only a few are saved and follow the narrow path. Praise the LORD we can be one of those who are on the narrow path.
CHALLENGE: We have to continue to witness all of our lives no matter what the results. We have to answer to the LORD for those times when we didn’t follow HIS leading regarding witnesses. These are times that we have quenched the Holy Spirit.
: 12 And God looked on the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. (7843 “corrupt” [shachath] means to be marred, be spoiled, be ruined, be rotted, or to be or become lacking in integrity or uprightness)
DEVOTION: Have you ever worked in a place that had no Christians in it? The language in the break room is bad. It used to be they could smoke in the break room and the air was bad. There was a lot of backbiting going on regarding whoever was not in the break room at the time. You felt like you had to wash your face and clothes as soon as you left the job.
Also when you tried to witness they would not listen to the message of Christ you were trying to tell them because they could find fault with you so they didn’t have to listen to you.
Well Noah lived in such a world. It is hard to believe that the people were gathered in one place and everyone seemed to know everyone. God looked at the earth and all HE could find was one family that honored HIM. He was only three generations away from Enoch who walked with God. He and his family found grace in the sight of the LORD.
Grace is giving us something we don’t deserve. Here Noah was living in a generation of corrupt people who were not going to honor the LORD. God is the final judge of people. HE observed their actions and was going to judge them quickly well quick for HIM. It took Noah a hundred years to build the ark.
CHALLENGE: God sees what is happening in our world all the time. Is HE pleased with what HE sees in our lives?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:18 But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. (1285 “covenant” [bâriyth] means 1 covenant, alliance, pledge. 1a between men. 1a1 treaty, alliance, league (man to man). 1a2 constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects). 1a3 agreement, pledge (man to man). 1a4 alliance (of friendship). 1a5 alliance (of marriage). 1b between God and man. 1b1 alliance (of friendship). 1b2 covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges). 2 (phrases). 2a covenant making. 2b covenant keeping. 2c covenant violation. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: Ever had a problem where you thought that someone made a promise to you, only to find out later that they did not keep their promise? We all struggle with keeping promises and not making promises which we are not able to keep.
God also has made a series of promises to man. He made a promise to Noah prior to the flood, and another one after the flood. The first was to preserve Noah’s family through the flood, and the second was to not allow any future worldwide floods.
This is the first mention of a covenant in the Old Testament. God now makes a promise with Noah to preserve him and his family which is based on God’s own character. More than just being a promise, this is like a contract in business or a treaty in international relations. It means that the parties involved in this agreement are binding themselves to the provisions of this agreement. God is revealing about Himself that He is ready to enter into agreements with mankind, and that He will do this again with Abraham, Moses, and (finally) the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
So, Noah could be sure that God would keep His promise to Him. We likewise can trust in God to keep His promises to us, including His promise to come back for His children one day.
CHALLENGE: God does not change in making and keeping His covenants with His children. We can fully trust them. (BM)
: 22 Thus did Noah: according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (6680 “commanded” [tsavah] means charge, commandment, appoint, bade, order, to lay charge upon, commission, ordain, or direct)
DEVOTION: God gave Noah special instructions regarding what he was supposed to do for HIM. HE gave him every detail regarding the building of the ark. HE gave him who was going to be on the ark. HE also gave him instructions regarding the food that had to come on the ark.
God is a God of detail. HE doesn’t expect us to understand what obedience looks like without giving us the details HE expects in detail. That is why the Word of God is given to us. HE wants us to know what HE expects of us and if we don’t do it we know that we have disappointed HIM.
HE gives instructions for leaders of the church. HE gives instructions to owners of businesses that have workers working for them. HE gives instructions to teachers regarding what they are supposed to teach. HE gives instructions to parents to help them raise the children to honor HIM. HE gives instructions to children regarding their relationship to their parents and others. HE has no problem giving all the details necessary for living a life that is pleasing to HIM.
When HE gave instructions to Noah, he knew what to do and how to do it. What did Noah do? He followed the LORD’S instructions in every detail. He was exact in his actions. We need to be the same in our actions. When we learn what God expects of us we need to just do it with the help of the Holy Spirit and our fellow believers.
CHALLENGE: Are we listening to God’s instructions?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Elohim)verses 2, 4, 9, 11-13, 22
sons of God (angels or ungodly seed of Adam?)verses 2, 4
LORD (Jehovah)verses 3, 6-8
GOD (Jehovah)verse 5
Repentedverses 6, 7
Grievedverse 6
Creatorverse 7
Eyes of the LORDverse 8
Walked with Godverse 9
Looked on earthverse 12
Bring a floodverse 17
Establish a covenant with Noahverse 18
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverse 3
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sons of God = evil human men or fallen angel?verses 2, 4
Daughters of men = Godly women verses 2, 4
Lifespan of humans = 120 yearsverse 3
Giants = offspring of either human or angelverse 4
Mighty menverse 4
Noahverses 8-22
Found grace
Generation of
Just man
Perfect
Walked with God
Three sons: Shem, Ham Japheth
Build an Ark
Gopher wood
Length = three hundred cubits
Breadth = fifty cubits
Window
Three stories
Eight people in ark
Animals in ark: male and female
Fowls of the air
Cattle
Food for all in ark
Noah did all God commanded
Flood of waterverse 17
Breath of lifeverse 17
Establish a covenantverse 18
Preserve animal lifeverses 19, 20
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fleshly men that don’t listen to Holy Spiritverse 3
Wickednessverse 5
Imagination evilverse 5
Heart evilverse 5
Evil continuallyverse 5
Grieve Godverse 6
Corruptverses 11, 12
Filled with violenceverses 11, 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Repentverse 6
Graceverse 8
Justverse 9
Perfectverse 9
Walked with Godverse 9
Covenantverse 18
Obedienceverse 22
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dieverse 17
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QUOTES regarding passage
5–7 These verses form the introduction proper to the Flood story. As such they tie the story together with previous narratives and provide the central themes of the narrative to follow. Here and throughout the Flood story, there are numerous ties established with the Creation account in chapter 1. The effect is to show that the Flood was a reversal of God’s good work of Creation. In chapter 1 God is shown as the one who prepared the good land for man and his family. In the account of the Flood, on the other hand, God is shown as the one who takes this good land from man when he acts corruptly and does not walk in God’s way. The central themes introduced in these opening verses are God’s judgment of man’s wickedness and his gracious salvation of the righteous (von Rad).
The cause for the Flood is tied directly to the earlier account of the fall of man in chapter 3. As a result of the Fall, man had obtained the “knowledge of good and evil” (ṭôḇ wārāʿ, 3:22). It is clear from the previous narratives that the author does not consider man’s having obtained a knowledge of “good and evil” to be beneficial for man. From the author’s perspective, man was far better off when he had to trust God for “the good” (ṭôḇ). One of the ways the author is able to teach this lesson in chapter 1 is through the recurring expression “and God saw [wayyarʾ] that it was good” (ṭôḇ). The central theme of “God’s good provisions for man” is embodied in the recurring picture of God’s “seeing” what is good (ṭôḇ). After the Fall, when man had to find the “good” on his own, what God “saw” (wayyarʾ v.5) was not that his Creation was good (ṭôḇ); but, rather, “the Lord saw [wayyarʾ] how great man’s wickedness [rāʿaṯ] on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil [raʿ].”
In v.6—“the Lord was grieved [wayyinnāhem] that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain [wayyiṯʿassēḇ]”—the author describes the Lord’s response to man’s wickedness by making a curious wordplay on Lamech’s naming Noah: “He will comfort us [yenaḥamēnû] in … the painful toil of our hands” (ûmēʿiṣṣeḇôn, 5:29). Thus in both passages Noah is introduced with wordplays associating his name, “Noah” (nōaḥ), with the “comfort” (niḥam) from the grief and pain (ʿāṣaḇ) caused by man’s rebellion (cf. Cassuto). By making God the subject of the verbs in v.6, the author has shown that the grief and pain of man’s sin was not something that only man felt. God himself was grieved over man’s sin (v.7). In returning in this way to the role of “comforter” invested in the significance of Noah’s name, the author suggests that not only did Noah bring comfort to mankind in his grief, but also he brought comfort to God. (Sailhamer, J. H. (1990). Genesis. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, pp. 80–81). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
5–8. Sin full-grown. In verse 5, the expression the Lord saw invites bitter comparison with the creation story, 1:31. In the two halves of the verse man’s evil is presented extensively and intensively, the latter with devastating force in the words every … only … continually. ‘A more emphatic statement of the wickedness of the human heart is hardly conceivable.’
The term for imagination (yēṣer) is closer to action than the English suggests: it is derived from the potter’s verb ‘to form’ (cf. 2:7), and implies design or purpose. Later Judaism made it a technical term for each of the twin impulses, towards good and evil, which it considers to coexist in man; but the New Testament is the true exponent of the passage, finding ‘no good thing’ in our fallen nature (Rom. 7:18). (Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, p. 91). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
6:5–8. God’s words concerning the human race are filled with pathos. People’s wickedness was great, and every inclination (better, “plan,” yēṣer) of their hearts was only evil continually (cf. 8:21, “every indication of his heart is evil from childhood”). God had made man by design (yāṣar, “to form by design”; 2:7), but man had taken that capacity given to him and produced evil alone. There is hardly a stronger statement in the Bible about the sin of mankind. This passage gives insight into Jesus’ explanation that “before the Flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38)—seemingly a harmless statement until its context is studied. In addition man was “corrupt” and “full of violence” (Gen. 6:11, 13).
The wordplays in verses 5–8 are striking. God “repented” (kjv) that He had made man because the sin of the race filled Him with pain. The words “repented,” “pain,” and “made” go back to chapters 3 and 5. Lamech longed for comfort (nāḥam), from the painful toil under the curse (5:29). Now God “repented” (nāḥam, was grieved, niv) that He had made man because human sin pained Him (6:6). This is why pain was brought into the world—God was grieved with sin. But now God, rather than comforting man, “repented” after making him. This gave an ironic twist to Lamech’s words. God determined to destroy them all. (“Repented” does not suggest that God changed His mind, for He is changeless [Mal. 3:6]. Instead, it means that God was sorrowful.)
Even though swift judgment would fall because God’s Spirit would not always shield (dûn; “shield” is better than niv‘s “contend with,” Gen. 6:3) mankind, the judgment would be delayed 120 years (v. 3). During this time Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).
Noah was a recipient of God’s grace and therefore was spared from the judgment (in contrast with those who aspired to immortality). In the time of Moses, Israel would know they were chosen of God and should walk in righteousness. They, as God’s people, would meet the Nephilim, the Anakites (Num. 13:33), and the Rephaites (Deut. 2:11; 3:13; Josh. 12:4) when they entered the land. But Israel should not fear them as demigods. God would judge the corrupt world for its idolatry and fornication. And in the latter day the wicked will suddenly be swept away by judgment when God will establish His theocratic kingdom of blessing (Matt. 24:36–39). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 37). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Compromise (6:1–7). After chapter 3, Satan isn’t mentioned by name in Genesis, but he and his demonic hosts are at work doing their utmost to keep the promised Redeemer from being born. This was Satan’s purpose throughout all of Old Testament history. After all, he didn’t want to have his head crushed by the Savior! (3:15) God had declared war on Satan and the deceiver intended to fight back.
One of Satan’s most successful devices is compromise. If he can delude God’s people into abandoning their privileged position of separation from sin and communion with God, then he can corrupt them and lead them into sin. He did this to Israel in the land of Moab (Num. 25; Ps. 106:28–31) and also after they had conquered the land of Canaan (Jud. 2; Ps. 106:34–48). The prophets warned the Jewish people not to compromise with the idolatrous worship of the pagans around them, but their warnings weren’t heeded; and the nation experienced shameful defeat at the hands of their enemies.
What was Satan’s plan for defeating God’s people in Noah’s day? To entice the godly line of Seth (“the sons of God”) to mix with the ungodly line of Cain (“the daughters of men”) and thus abandon their devotion to the Lord. It was the same temptation that Christians face today: be friendly with the world (James 4:4), love the world (1 John 2:15–17), and conform to the world (Rom. 12:2), rather than be separated from the world (2 Cor. 6:14–7:1). Of course, this could lead to being “condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:32). Lot is an example of this danger (Gen. 13; 19).
Some interpreters view 6:1–7 as an invasion of fallen angels who cohabited with women and produced a race of giants. But as interesting as the theory is, it creates more problems than it solves, not the least of which is the union of sexless spirit beings with flesh and blood humans. Even if such unions did occur, could there be offspring and why would they be giants? And how did these “giants” (Nephilim, “fallen ones”) survive the Flood (v. 4; Num. 13:31–33), or was there a second invasion of fallen angels after the Flood?
The term “sons of God” does refer to angels in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; but these are unfallen angels faithfully serving God. Even if fallen angels could make themselves appear in human bodies, why would they want to marry women and settle down on earth? Certainly their wives and neighbors would detect something different about them and this would create problems. Furthermore, the emphasis in Genesis 6 is on the sin of man and not the rebellion of angels. The word “man” is used nine times in verses 1–7, and God states clearly that the judgment was coming because of what humans had done. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (v. 5).
The 120-year limit expressed in verse 3 probably refers to the years until the Flood would come. God is long-suffering with lost sinners, but there comes a time when judgment must fall. During that “day of grace,” Noah prepared the ark and gave witness that judgment was coming (2 Peter 2:5), the same message Enoch had given during his lifetime (Jude 14–15). God gave His message in the mouth of two witnesses, but the people wouldn’t listen.
The word “giants” in Genesis 6:4 (kjv) is a translation of the Hebrew word nephilim which means “fallen ones.” Some who follow the “angel theory” of chapter 6 make the nephilim the fallen angels whose children became great leaders. As we’ve already seen, if these nephilim were angels with human bodies, then they either survived the Flood (because the Hebrew spies saw them in Canaan; Num. 13:31–33), or there was a second invasion of “fallen angels” after the Flood. Both ideas seem incredible.
The most likely interpretation of Genesis 6:4 is that God saw the people of that day as “fallen ones,” while men saw these people as mighty leaders. Even today, much of what is admired by the world is rejected by the Lord (Luke 16:15). When the Sethites compromised by mingling with the Cainites, they fell from God’s blessing. God was grieved that they married godless Cainites, choosing wives as they pleased without considering God’s will (Gen. 6:2). In doing this, they endangered the fulfillment of the 3:15 promise; for how could God bring a Redeemer into the world through an unholy people? The people of that day “married and were given in marriage” (Matt. 24:37–39) and thought nothing of the warning that Enoch and Noah gave about the coming judgment. Human history was now at the place where only Noah and his family—eight people—believed God and obeyed His Word. God’s Spirit was striving with lost people, but they resisted the call of God; and God was grieved at what man was doing.
Read Romans 1:17ff for a description of what civilization was like in those days. Man’s wickedness was great, every imagination of all his thoughts was only evil continually, so it was no surprise that God chose to send judgment.
Grace (v. 8). The only way people can be saved from God’s wrath is through God’s grace (Eph. 2:8–9); but grace isn’t God’s reward for a good life: it’s God’s response to saving faith. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household” (Heb. 11:7, nkjv). True faith involves the whole of the inner person: the mind understands God’s warning, the heart fears for what is coming, and the will acts in obedience to God’s Word.
To understand God’s truth but not act upon it is not biblical faith; it’s only intellectual assent to religious truth. To be emotionally aroused without comprehending God’s message isn’t faith, because true faith is based on an understanding of the truth (Matt. 13:18–23). To have the mind enlightened and the heart stirred but not act in obedience to the message is not faith, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14–26). The mind, heart, and will are all involved in true biblical faith.
Everybody who has ever been saved from sin has been saved “by grace, through faith,” and this includes the Old Testament worthies listed in Hebrews 11. Nobody was ever saved by bringing a sacrifice (Heb. 10:1–4; Ps. 51:16–17), by keeping the Law (Gal. 2:16), or by doing good works (Rom. 4:5). Salvation is a gracious gift that can be rejected or received by faith. Like Noah, we must all “find grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1998). Be basic (pp. 87–92). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
6:5, 6 was sorry: This language is what theologians call anthropopathic (1:31); that is, the Lord is described as having human emotions (Num. 23:19). In these words we sense the passion of the Lord. He had desired so much from humanity and was overwhelmingly disappointed. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Ge 6:5–6). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
6:5 his heart was only evil continually. This is one of the strongest and clearest statements about man’s sinful nature. Sin begins in the thought-life (see notes on Jas 1:13–15). The people of Noah’s day were exceedingly wicked, from the inside out. Cf. Jer 17:9, 10; Mt 12:34, 35; 15:18, 19; Mk 7:21; Lk 6:45. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ge 6:5). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 5. And God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, &c.] That it spread throughout the earth, wherever it was inhabited by men, both among the posterity of Cain and Seth, and who indeed now were mixed together, and become one people: this respects actual transgressions, the wicked actions of men, and those of the grosser sort, which were multiplied, as the word also signifies; they were both great in quality and great in quantity; they were frequently committed, and that everywhere; the degeneracy was become universal; there was a flood of impiety that spread and covered the whole earth, before the deluge of waters came, and which was the cause of it: this God saw, not only by His omniscience, by which he sees everything, but he took notice of it in his providence, and was displeased with it, and determined in his mind to shew his resentment of it, and let men see that he observed it, and disapproved of it, and would punish for it: and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually; the heart of man is evil and wicked, desperately wicked, yea, wickedness itself, a fountain of iniquity, out of which abundance of evil flows, by which it may be known in some measure what is in it, and how wicked it is; but God, that sees it, only knows perfectly all the wickedness of it, and the evil that is in it: the thoughts of his heart are evil; evil thoughts are formed in the heart, and proceed from it; they are vain, foolish, and sinful, and abominable in the sight of God, by whom they are seen, known, and understood afar off: the imagination of his thoughts is evil, the formation of them; they were evil while forming, the substratum of thought, the very beginning of it, the first motion to it, yea, every such one was evil, and only so; not one good among them, not one good thing in their hearts, no one good thought there, nor one good imagination of the thought; and so it was continually from their birth, from their youth upwards, throughout the whole of their lives, and all the days of their lives, night and day, and day after day, without intermission: this respects the original corruption of human nature, and shews it to be universal; for this was not only true of the men of the old world, but of all mankind; the same is said of men after the flood as before, and of all men in general without any exception, Gen. 8:21; Psal. 14:1, 2, 3; Rom. 3:9, 10, 11. Hence appears the necessity of regeneration, and proves that the new creature is not an improvement of the old principles of corrupt nature, since there is no good thing in man but what is put into him; also the disability of man to do that which is good, even to think a good thought, or do a good action; therefore the works of unregenerate men are not properly good works, since they cannot flow from a right principle, or be directed to a right end. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 47). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Faith is believing what God has said, not merely hoping for something. It is not like wishing upon a star when, if you believe hard enough, your wish will come true. Faith is trusting God’s Word.
God told Noah to build an ark and save himself from the coming deluge. Noah had never seen an ark, but he believed God and was obedient to what he knew (Genesis 6:22). He believed the Word of God and acted on it. That’s faith. (Walk Thru Bible: QuietWalk)
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11
It can lie. It can gossip. It can slander. It can also murmur and complain. It can manipulate and flatter. It can tear down. It can paint itself in nice words, even while cutting someone to ribbons.
My friend Joe Stowell calls it “the dragon in our dentures.” Our tongue. It can truly be deadly.
On the other hand, when that “dragon” is under the power of the Holy Spirit, when we are daily training it to be submitted to Christ’s control and available for His use and purposes, He can transform it into an instrument that delivers encouragement.
I remember being in church one Sunday morning when I spotted a prominent local oncologist walking by. I’d been hearing about some special things he’d been doing with his cancer patients—some unique ways he was allowing God to minister through him in the course of practicing his profession. So I caught his attention and said, “Hey, I just wanted you to know I really appreciate what you’re doing. Do you realize what an incredible minister for Christ you are? You’re making quite a difference in our community.”
It was like I’d hit him with a stun gun. A dazed expression flashed across his face. And after a moment’s pause, he looked at me and said, “Really?” I said, almost laughing now, “Well, yeah. The things I’ve been hearing about the work you do are really inspiring. We could use a lot more Christ followers like you.”
He shook my hand and smiled. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear that this morning. Thank you.”
I was reminded again how often people just need a nod of encouragement in their journey, no matter how confident he or she may appear to be.
Shared a good word with someone lately? (Moments with YOU by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A MIND
And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit.
Romans 8:27
The Holy Spirit clearly has a mind. In Romans 8:27 we read, the mind of the Spirit this is in connection with prayer. He is also the one who loves, because we read that the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22); and it is His function to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts (Romans 5:5). And, likewise, we know He is capable of grief, because in Ephesians 4:30 we are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
The ultimate doctrine about the Spirit, from the practical, experiential standpoint, is that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so that whatever I do, wherever I go, the Holy Spirit is with me. I know nothing that so promotes sanctification and holiness as the realization of that. If only we realized, always, that in anything we do with our bodies, the Holy Spirit is involved! Remember also that Paul teaches that in the context of a warning against fornication. He writes, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…? (1 Corinthians 6:19). That is why fornication should be unthinkable in a Christian. God is in us, in the Holy Spirit: not an influence, not a power, but a person whom we can grieve.
I am going through these details not out of an academic interest, nor because I happen to have a theological type of mind. No, I am concerned about these things, as I am a man trying myself to live the Christian life, and as I am called of God to be a pastor of souls, and I feel the responsibility for the souls and conduct and behavior of others. Wherever you are, wherever you go, if you are a Christian the Holy Spirit is in you; and if you really want to enjoy the blessings of salvation, you do so by knowing that your body is His temple. A Thought to Ponder: If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit is in you.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 11-12. By Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
1 Kings 17
After Elijah prophesies drought, the Lord hides him and later uses him to heal a child.
INSIGHT
Drought is a devastating natural disaster, and when it comes to the children of Israel, it does not come by accident. It is always divine judgment. From the beginning of his reign, Ahab, who is king when Elijah begins his ministry, violates the Lord’s name. He encourages idolatry and the worship of Baal, a pagan god. He “did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Elijah’s name means “Jehovah is my strength,” and the Lord sets about to prove the significance of Elijah’s name as He brings judgment on Israel and destroys the worshipers of Baal. (Quiet Walk)
OBSTACLES OF REVIVAL
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8
Recently, a speaker was about to give an address on a certain religious book which had achieved some notoriety, and he prefaced his remarks by saying something like this. “Now I am going to criticize this book, but I must say this. A friend of mine who saw this man on television said to me, ‘If ever I have looked at a born again man there he was.'”
You see, he was suggesting that what is said in the book does not matter! Though the writer denies the teaching of the Scripture and the creeds of his church, though he denies the being of God, the deity of Christ, and all the essentials of Christianity, in spite of that, what is being put first is our subjective feeling “The man looks to me to be a born again man.” So in spite of what he says in his book, “I therefore have a feeling, somehow, that the man is all right after all”!
Now that is the kind of thing that is being said at the present time: “It does not matter what people may teach. Though they may deny the very essence of Christianity, if I like them, if I am attracted to them, if I can talk easily to them, then that is what counts.”
You can tell whether a man is preaching the gospel or not, or whether he believes the gospel or not, by what he says! It does not matter what he is in his appearance or in his personality…what does he say? Is it the gospel, or something that is passing as gospel, which is not the gospel?
Then Paul makes it still more explicit: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” [v. 8]. Could anything be plainer or stronger?
A Thought to Ponder: You can tell whether a man believes the gospel or not, by what he says! (From Saving Faith, a sermon on Romans 10:3 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
No Adultery
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
This commandment’s obvious application is for marital fidelity. God created one man and one woman for that union (Genesis 1:26; 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:9).
Adam recognized the sanctity of marriage (Genesis 2:23– 25). Christ verified and reaffirmed this fidelity (Matthew 5:27; 19:4-6). Adultery “murders” a marriage and was punished with the death penalty (Leviticus 20:10).
The Bible also gives several parallel restrictions. Premarital sex is forbidden (Deuteronomy 22:20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:13-18), as is the practice of prostitution (Leviticus 19:29). The perversion of homosexuality is forbidden (Deuteronomy 23:17-18), as is the practice of religious sexual rites (Hosea 4:12-14).
The purpose of these social restrictions in the Mosaic Law is to set a clear and visible distinction between God’s people and the rest of the nations. God abhorred such behavior (Leviticus 20:23) because these sins defiled the land (Leviticus 18:24-28). Perhaps even more damning than the physical sins was the false worship of other gods (Jeremiah 3:20).
The Lord Jesus clearly equated lust and adultery (Matthew 5:28), noting that the heart is the source of all evil actions (Matthew 15:19). In fact, in the New Testament any worldly association is whoredom and such friendship is enmity with God (James 4:4).
Unfortunately, we are surrounded by an overt promotion of such behavior, enticing all to engage freely. It is distributed to us through books, movies, TV, internet, music, fashion, and other venues. Surely, it is clear that the Christian must conform to biblical standards, not the world’s tolerance or permission (1 John 2:15-17).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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