TWU Genesis 6 The World Imploded

Introduction

Today, on The Word Unfolded, we are going to be in Genesis 6 where we examine how the world imploded.

In this chapter I want to explore a few things about this heartbreaking section of the bible.

With that said, let’s dive right in.

Who Are The Nephilim?

Demons, Angels, OR Something Else?

The truth is we simply do not know exactly, but there are somethings we can know that God’s word tells us.

They are the offspring of the sons of God having sexual relations in marriage with the daughters of men.

Genesis 6:1–2 ESV

1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.

They were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4 ESV

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

The term “sons of God” is used of both humans (Deuteronomy 32:8) and angelic beings (Job 1:6).

They were not made extinct by the flood as we find them in Numbers 13:33.

Numbers 13:33 ESV

33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.

Because of this, it is clear that they are not a “race of people” but rather a people distinguished by physical attributes such as being huge, i.e., Goliath (Deuteronomy 2:10-11, 20).

So who are the Nephilim here in Genesis 6?

Again we cannot be certain, but my study of this leans toward angelic beings that came to earth, married human women, and had children.

I say this for this reason, “some angelic beings had to have come to earth to sin” because some of them sinned (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Remember there is no sin in heaven where God resides (Matthew 6:9; Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:4-5).

Now some object to this, and I would not argue with them if they do, but many object to this because of what Jesus said in Matthew 22:30.

However, Jesus says there is no marriage between angelic beings in heaven it says nothing of what would or could happen if angelic beings were here on the earth.

Summary

Let me be clear, we do not have enough information on this particular subject to be dogmatic about it, and as such we must keep Romans 14:1…

Romans 14:1 ESV

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Now let’s dive into the intent of this chapter and why it was written by God.

Corruption Had Exploded

The Whole Earth Was Sinful, Save One Family

Imagine for a moment you are God looking down at your creation, your children.

And out of the millions of those on this earth, that you created for them, there are only seven people being faithful to you; it’s no wonder we read one of the most heartbreaking verses in all the bible in Genesis 6:5-6.

Genesis 6:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

This is the thrust of this chapter and what happens to all of humanity, all accept Noah and his family.

This is why the flood of the entire world, which we will discuss more on in the next chapter, happened.

Genesis 6:7 ESV

7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT, but even in this, God did not make a rash or unjust decision.

Remember, there is no instance wherein sin deserves God’s grace or mercy, but Noah, who certainly was not perfect from sin (Romans 3:23), was striving to live a righteous life and faithful life to God (Hebrews 6:7, 11).

This is why Noah received God’s grace and mercy for that matter.

Genesis 6:8 NKJV

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

How did Noah receive God’s grace when everyone else’s heart was on evil continually?

Noah loved God and demonstrated this love by listened to God, obeyed God, and thus finding God’s favor or grace.

John 14:15 ESV

15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Genesis 6:22 ESV

22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Summary

Noah’s faith saved the human race from extinction.

Conclusion

Noah’s faithfulness (Genesis 6:9) and his willingness to preach the need for faithfulness to a corrupt world (2 Peter 2:4-5), is what makes this chapter, Genesis 6, so inspiring considering how it begins.

We can learn a great deal from Noah and how he lived his life while the world around him imploded spiritually.