God’s Grief over Humankind’s Wickedness
6:1 When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 6:2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose. 6:3 So the Lord said, “My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years.”
6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.
6:5 But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time. 6:6 The Lord regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was highly offended. 6:7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth – everything from humankind to animals, including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them.”
6:8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.
The Judgment of the Flood
6:9 This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a godly man; he was blameless
among his contemporaries. He walked with God. 6:10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6:11 The earth was ruined in the sight of God; the earth was filled with violence. 6:12 God saw the earth, and indeed it was ruined, for all living creatures on the earth were sinful. 6:13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided that all living creatures must die, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now I am about to destroy them and the earth. 6:14 Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and out. 6:15 This is how you should make it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 6:16 Make a roof for the ark and finish it, leaving 18 inches from the top. Put a door in the side of the ark, and make lower, middle, and upper decks. 6:17 I am about to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy from under the sky all the living creatures that have the breath of life in them. Everything that is on the earth will die, 6:18 but I will confirm my covenant with you. You will enter the ark – you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 6:19 You must bring into the ark two of every kind of living creature from all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 6:20 Of the birds after their kinds, and of the cattle after their kinds, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you so you can keep them alive. 6:21 And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten, and gather it together. It will be food for you and for them.6:22 And Noah did all that God commanded him – he did indeed.
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Why were you posting this at 2 AM???
ReplyDeleteTwo things..
ReplyDeleteFirst, I enjoyed this chapter. I never knew or read the specifics on Noah and the Ark and I find it amazing that one man and his family built such a creation while others mocked him for doing so...I suppose that gets mentioned in a later chapter???
Second, why are the sons, "Sons of Gad", but the daughters are of "humankind"? Did I read something wrong or was there different people being refered to here?
And one more...it's a good thing God promised never to flood the earth again. Think about how many times over this earth would need to be flooded now to clear it of sin and wrong doing compared to why it was flooded when Noah was alive.
I forgot...you're in Mexico!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand the difference between men of God/daughters of mankind either...unless it has to do with God made man (Adam), and from a human came woman (Eve). That may be over-simplifying it...
ReplyDeleteYou know, I sit here and ponder how humankind has been so disappointing to God, over and over again. I know the feeling, as a parent to be disappointed, but can't even fathom how pained He must be.
Talk about patient parenting...He knows I can sure use this life lesson!
Two interesting comments on www.bible.org
ReplyDeletehttp://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?dict=dictionaries&word=Nephilim
Describes the Nephilim as giants or sons of the tribe of Anak in Caanan. They are mentioned in this chapter and in numbers (more detail in numbers).
http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Gen&chapter=6#n17
This is the link to the notes for this chapter on the online (fully notated) version. Sons of God could mean several things (none are agreed on). It could mean "angel possessed" men (bad angels) or it could be "from the line of Seth" and therefore daughters of man could be "daughters of Cain." That is "good" lineage Seth mixing with "bad" lineage Cain.
I always struggled with how Noah got two of every animal on to the ark. I can't get my dog to come in from outside without two minutes of begging and cursing. Noah had to get two of everything. Then I realized he didn't have to do any of that work. God would direct the animals. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteI think the story of the flood should kindle a health dose of fear of the Lord in us. Although we know God is all merciful and all giving He is also all powerful, righteous and just. He would have all right (and reason) to strike the world down whenever He wanted to. Since He doesn't it shows His mercy. Sometimes it's good to know who is boss.
I felt terrible when I read that God "regretted" creating man and the earth. What a shame! I can only imagine how he feels these days. But to Stefan's point, it just shows the extent of his mercy.
ReplyDeleteHey all - we got permission to use the NET Bible text. I have to make some improvements to the posts to more appropriately link and reference them but we have been granted permission from the director. Let the journey continue!
ReplyDelete