Genesis 6:5-10

In the Beginning

Genesis 6:5-10

Intro:

A couple of weeks ago we studied 6:1-4. I shared with you the three main interpretations of the passage and what I believe is most likely the accurate interpretation. The sons of God were angels who in a Satanic plot to pollute the human race impregnated human women. This was Satan's plan to foil God's redemptive plan. These disobedient angels were punished by being imprisoned in Tartarus until the Great White Throne Judgment. The Nephilim (“fallen ones”) were giants who were killed by the flood. The offspring of the demonic and human relationships were also killed by the flood. The flood undoes Satan's plot. God's plan will always be accomplished.

This week we are going to learn some more about the time leading up to the flood. We are going to learn a lot about God's character from these chapters. The human race is in rebellion against God and He will only allow it for so long. Eventually God must judge sin. He will not allow rebellion to last forever.

Message:

This section begins with God's observation of mankind (5). There have been a lot of people born since Adam sinned and every one of them was born with a sinful nature (cf. 5:3). As time progressed the sin of mankind continued to increase (cf. Rom. 1:18-25). The text informs us that man has a depraved nature (cf. Rom. 3:10-18). After Adam sinned, man's nature was bent toward evil (cf. Rom. 5:12-14, 18-21). This is one of the clearest descriptions of man's sinful nature. When man was created he was sinless (cf. Gen. 1:31; 2:25). All of that has changed. Now everything that man does is tainted with sin (cf. Rom. 8:5-8).

We learn from verse six how God truly feels about man's sin (6). God actually regretted that He created man. This is a very telling statement. Man's sin causes God grief. This is an indication of the person-hood of God, that He has emotion. God is not an impersonal force. He has emotion, intellect, and will. God because He is holy and just must judge sin (7). He decides that because mankind is so wicked that He will end their lives, therefore ending their sin. God also declares that He will kill animals, creeping things, and birds. Animals are morally innocent but fall under the curse placed on creation because of man's sin. They too will die in the flood judgment because of man's sin. God is gracious and merciful but as mentioned before He is also holy and just (cf. Ex. 34:5-7). He is all of these at the same time. God must punish sin (2 Pet. 2:4-9). God's period of grace was coming to an end.

The last verses of this section reveal hope for mankind (8-10). God has promised that one of the woman's descendants would crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). This descendant would undue the consequences of sin. As we learn of God's anger over sin and His coming judgment of wicked man, we are introduced to a dilemma. Where would the descendant come from, if all men are wicked and therefore killed? We receive the answer in verse eight. Out of all the people on earth, Noah is the only one mentioned as being pleasing to God (8). Noah was not sinless, but he did walk with God (9). Noah sought to live his life in dependence upon God. The word “blameless” means “complete, having integrity.” Noah was a man who was consistent in walking with God; he was undivided (cf. Heb. 11:4-7).

Righteous Noah had three sons, who were named Shem, Ham, and Japheth (10). We will learn much more about these three sons very soon. Shem is the oldest, then Japheth, and then Ham being the youngest (cf. Gen. 9:23-27). Noah is the seed who will be used to continue the line from Adam until Christ (cf. Lk. 3:23-38).

Conclusion:

Satan controlled Cain and instigated him to murder Abel (Gen. 4:8). Satan thought that he had thwarted God's redemptive plan, but God produced Seth (4:25-26). Seth becomes the one through whom the Messiah would eventually be born. Satan's demons attempted to pollute the human race to thwart God's redemptive plan (6:1-4). God responds by killing the entire human race except righteous Noah and his family (6:17-22; cf. 1 Pet. 3:18-20). Noah becomes the one through whom the Messiah would eventually be born (Lk. 3:23, 36-38).

God will only put up with sin for so long. Eventually His patience runs out. He is holy and just, therefore He must punish sin. The time in which we live is like the period before the flood. God is giving people an opportunity to repent or be judged (2 Pet. 3:3-10; Matt. 24:36-41). Christ took the punishment for our sins on the cross so that we could be forgiven and saved (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; Col. 1:19-20; 2:13-14).