THE DAYS OF NOAH

Genesis 6:1-8

INTRODUCTION:

INTRODUCTION:

1. is the story of Noah & the flood.

2. It is a story that is familiar to us but it's also a story that when you study in detail…it has a lot of parallel's to our day.

3. Let’s look at what Jesus said in .

This passage is part of a longer section called the Olivet Discourse, a private message given by Jesus to his disciples on the Mount of Olives two or three days before he was crucified.

The subject is the return of Jesus to the earth at the end of the age.

In order to help them understand that future event, Jesus draws a comparison with the days of Noah.

He tells his disciples that the past is the key to the future.

Jesus says study the days of Noah b/c what happened in those days will happen again at the end of this age.

Matthew 24:37–39 NASB95

37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matt. 24

Jesus says the spiritual conditions of the pre-flood world will be replicated in the days preceding His return of Christ to the earth.

The spiritual conditions of the pre-flood world will be replicated in the days preceding the return of Christ to the earth. And what do we find when we examine the world of Noah’s day?

And what do we find when we examine the world of Noah’s day?

Write this phrase down in large letters: BUSINESS AS USUAL

They were eating and drinking (nothing wrong with that), marrying and giving in marriage (nothing wrong with that).

They were buying and selling and continuing in all the usual activities of human life.

4. In Noah’s day, he warned them of impending judgment, but they didn't pay him any attention…But at last the day came when Noah entered the Ark.

“The rains came down and the flood came up.”

I’m sure in that day the people started beating on the door but it was too late.

They had no time for God until it was too late.

That was the world of Noah’s day.

They were wise fools who didn't heed the warnings of the preacher of righteousness. Then the flood came and took them all away.

And Jesus said it would be that way again at His coming.

And Jesus said it would be that way again at His coming.

5. So tonight, I want to give you five phrases that will help us grasp the meaning of this text.

And as we understand the meaning of the text…we will see why God sent the flood…and we will see how our world parallels with Noah’s & why God is going to send His judgment again.

So, the first thing to notice is...

1) An Abuse of Marriage (v 1-2)

Genesis 6:1–2 NASB95

1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

Gen

1. Immediately in verse 1, we see that there is an increase in population…and when there is an increase in population there will be an increase in sin & wickedness.

Proverbs 29:16 NASB95

16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Genesis 6:1–2

The more sinners the more sin; and the multitude of offenders emboldens men. Infectious diseases are most destructive in populous cities; and sin is a spreading leprosy.

Sin & wickedness is increasing but the greatest wickedness of that day… I believe has to do something with marriage.

Before we consider the controversial aspects of these verses, notice the last two phrases.

2. Now, before we consider the controversial aspects of these two verses...notice the last two phrases.

“the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful (lit. good/fair); and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.”

These marriages were made on the basis of nothing more than pure physical attraction.

A man saw a woman and said, “I like her…She’s beautiful…I want her…She’s mine…And he took her for himself.”

Forget wisdom or training or education or ability or character.

Don’t worry about personality or family background…And certainly don’t bother about godliness…Those things just get in the way.

It seems that marriage had become nothing more than the satisfaction of a sexual desire.

Man sees woman…Man wants woman…Man takes woman.

NOTE: Anytime we make a decision based on sight only…it will lead to trouble…b/c things aren't always as they appear.

Eve saw the tree was good for food & pleasant to the eyes…and ate the fruit & gave to Adam…and sin entered the world.

Lot saw the well watered plain of Jordan…and chose that for himself and he ended up settling down in Sodom & Gomorrah.

Just b/c it looks good doesn't mean that it is good.

Beauty is a dangerous bait, and lust is sharp-sighted. It is not safe gazing on a fair woman. How many have died of the wound in the eye! No one means hath so enriched hell as beautiful faces, Take heed our eyes be not windows of wickedness and loopholes of lust. (John Trapp Commentary)

3. However, the real question regarding these verses involves the statement the “sons of God” saw the “daughters of men.”

Who do these phrases refer to?

In the history of biblical interpretation, there have been three main answers given to this question.

A. First, some suggest that this refers to the intermarriage of believers with unbelievers.

In this view the “sons of God” are the godly line of Seth and the “daughters of men” represent women from the ungodly line of Cain.

In favor of this view is the fact that the preceding chapters clearly show the development of two lines—the godly and the ungodly.

We also know from other warnings in the Bible that God forbids believers to deliberately marry unbelievers...This is always wrong.

For a believer to knowingly marry someone who does not love the Lord is a compromise that can lead to years of heartache.

B. Second, some scholars suggest that the phrase “sons of God” is a technical term from the Ancient Near East that describes human rulers who were despots.

These were the ancient tribal chieftains who were bullies and braggarts.

The “daughters of men” refers to the multiple wives and concubines who made up the earliest harems.

This is a plausible view but it depends on evidence from outside the Bible.

C. Third, scholars suggests that the “sons of God” refers to angels who rebelled against God (we would call them demons), inhabited human bodies, married human women, and produced offspring.

This is the oldest interpretation.

On the surface, the view seems strange and even bizarre but in my judgment, it’s what the passage is teaching. (If i didn’t hold to this view, I would go with the 1st view.)

For one thing, the term “sons of God” in the OT in all its other occurrences always refers to angels.

And this interpretation fits well with , which emphasizes Satan’s long “war” against the “seed of the woman” that will eventually produce the Messiah.

Think about this - What better way to destroy the coming Messiah than to utterly corrupt the human race through the introduction of demonism?

Genesis 1. Intermarriage between the Sons of God and the Daughters of Men (1–2)

“The Savior could not be born of a demon-possessed mother. So if Satan could succeed in infecting the entire race, the deliverer could not come.” (Boice)

This interpretation also helps us understand two dificult passages in the New Testament:

This interpretation also helps us understand two cryptic passages in the New Testament:

2 Peter 2:4–5 NASB95

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Jude 6–7 NASB95

6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Both passages describe a very drastic judgment upon certain angels who not only sinned but “abandoned their proper abode.”

Both passages describe a very drastic judgment upon certain angels who not only sinned but “abandoned their proper abode.”

Notice that in the first passage, the angels are mentioned first, then comes Noah and the flood.

In Jude the phrase “even as” joins the angels with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah...And what was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?

It was a form of “gross immorality” that consisted of going after “strange flesh.”

NOTE: I believe that in the days before the flood, certain angels rebelled against God and entered human bodies in a form of demon-possession…and took for themselves human wives…and produced children through this union that turned out to be evil, violent men (v 4 - mighty men, men of renown).

NOTE: In the Gospels we learn that demons crave human bodies to inhabit.

When the “legion” of demons was cast out of the Gadarene demoniac, they begged to be allowed to enter a herd of pigs ().

Since we know such things are possible, it shouldn't surprise us that the total rejection of God led to bizarre sexual sin and an outbreak of evil unprecedented in world history.

4. I lean to this view b/c the context seems to demand some sort of extraordinary sin that would cause God to wipe out an entire civilization and start all over again.

NOTE: Something perverse was happening sexually that caused God do away with civilization.

And if you look at our world today, there are a lot of sexually perverse things taking place.

God sent a flood in Noah's day…He sent fire & brimstone to Sodom/Gomorrah…and with everything happening in our world, it can't be much longer until Jesus comes & God's judgment comes.

2) An End to God’s Patience (v 3)

Genesis 6:3 NASB95

3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

1. In light of the bizarre morality of the pre-flood world, it's not surprising that God’s patience finally wore thin.

In light of the bizarre morality of the pre-flood world, it's not surprising that God’s patience finally wore thin.

2. I believe that the 120 years refers not to man’s new lifespan, but to the years remaining before the flood.

3. Up until now, God’s Spirit has protected mankind from self-destruction, but at some point that protection will be removed and man will then be left to his own devices.

NOTE: When men rebel against God, sooner of later he “gives them up” to face the consequences of their own sinful choices.

God won't protect us from ourselves forever.

God may delay judgment but judgment will come.

God's patience doesn’t last forever.

NOTE: God didn’t allow the human race to stay in their rebellious state forever.

There is a point of no return in our rejection of God.

God will not woo us forever…there is a point where He will say no more.

Those who continue to reject God have no promise that God will draw them to Himself on some other day.

There can come a day when the HS may no longer draw a person.

3) A Headlong Rush into Evil (v 5)

Genesis 6:5 NASB95

5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Nowhere else in the Bible will you find such a clear description of the doctrine of Total Depravity.

1. Nowhere else in the Bible will you find such a clear description of the doctrine of Total Depravity.

2. This is the human race wholly apart from God’s grace.

In we are repeatedly told that “God saw” what he had made and it was “good” and “very good.”

By when God looks on the earth, he sees His creation turned into a foul cesspool of evil.

3. God sees what is happening in the world.

God saw the wickedness of man.

Everything that they did was corrupt & evil continually.

Man committed more and more sin, more and more acts of wickedness.

Society wasn’t getting better…but it was becoming more lawless and crime-ridden.

But great wickedness does not only mean that sin multiplied, it also means that sin became more extreme and terrible. Sin became...

But great wickedness doesn’t only mean that sin multiplied...it also means that sin became more extreme and terrible.

Sin became...

more mean and vile

1) Sin is internal...It is a matter of the heart first and foremost.

more immoral and perverse

• more immoral and perverse

• more destructive and terrifying

more destructive and terrifying

more evil and devilish

• more evil and devilish

2) Sin is pervasive...It touches every part of our existence.

more fleshly and carnal

• more fleshly and carnal

• more lustful and sensual

more lustful and sensual

more obscene and flagrant

• more obscene and flagrant

3) Sin is continual...It consumes man and controls him.

• more filthy and foul

more filthy and foul

Everything that they did was corrupt & evil continually.

more gross and heinous

• more gross and heinous

NOTE: The people of this day could only practice evil…There was no good in them…and the truth is, there is no good in anyone.

Psalm 14:1–3 NASB95

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Ps.

NOTE: This is where are apart from God’s grace.

NOTE: This is where people are w/o what we are apart from God’s grace.

Any “good” we may do is stained with the dirt of our own sinful inclinations.

We have never done a truly good deed in and of ourselves and we never will.

Even our good deeds are but “filthy rags” in the sight of Almighty God ().

Don't read and say, “Those people must have been terrible.”

Read it and then look in the mirror...There's no difference...That’s the whole point of .

There's no difference. That’s the whole point of .

There’s no difference between them and us...No difference between then and now.

NOTE: Our world today is just as wicked & corrupt as it was in the days of Noah.

Drugs

Alcohol

Prostitution

Murder

Homosexuality

and the list could go on.

Morals, standards, & boundaries are lacking in our society today, just as in Noah’s day…People no longer exercise self-control & restraint & as a result anything goes.

Genesis 6:11 NASB95

11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.

The days of Noah sounds just like today, doesn’t it?

4) A Shocking Judgment From Heaven (v 6-7)

Genesis 6:6–7 NASB95

6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

Ponder these phrases carefully: “The Lord was sorry” and “He was grieved.”

1. Consider these phrases carefully: “The Lord was” and “He was grieved in His heart.”

This means that God was sorry He had made man on the earth.

God is grieving over man’s sin.

However, God’s grief is a sign of his great love.

The Lord isn’t a robot.

He isn’t some unfeeling God in heaven who set the world in motion and then watches in disinterest while men and women destroy themselves.

His heart breaks over the sin that covers the earth.

God isn’t unfeeling in the face of human sin & rebellion.

NOTE: God knew that this was going to happen…He knew how things were going to turn out…but it still affected Him.

So now God decides to “uncreate” the earth.

God isn’t unfeeling in the face of human sin & rebellion.

2. So now God decides to “uncreate” the earth.

Think of what this means.

Whole cities destroyed...Homes washed away...Roads covered...Whole villages flooded.

Men, women and children vanishing beneath the waves.

The whole earth under the waters of judgment.

Nothing like it had happened before and nothing like it has happened since.

5) Noah Found Grace (v 8)

Genesis 6:8 NASB95

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

The word translated “favor” actually means “grace.” Noah found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord.

1. Noah found “favor/grace” in the eyes of the Lord.

This is the first mention of “grace” in the Bible.

The word means “undeserved favor.” It describes the blessing God gives to those who don’t deserve it.

The word means “undeserved favor.”

It describes the blessing God gives to those who don’t deserve it.

2. So, don't read this verse and think, “Noah was a really good man… and b/c he obeyed God, he earned God’s grace.”

NOTE: Noah didn’t “earn” anything.

Grace was given to him the same way it’s given to people today.

It was given to him freely as a gift…just as it’s freely given to us.

NOTE: Either grace is a gift or it isn’t grace.

That would be more appropriate...Grace found him and saved him and his whole family.

3. We can learn two important truths from this verse:

A. First, grace is available in the darkest hours.

Even though the world was rushing headlong into judgment, Noah found grace.

NOTE: There is never a pit so deep that the love of God is not deeper still.

Don't say, “I am too bad a sinner to ever be saved.”

Don’t say, “God could never forgive me.” Yes, he can. And he will, if you will cry out to him.

Don’t say, “My husband or my wife or my kids are too far gone to ever be saved” or “I’m going to stop praying for that person because they are a hopeless case.” You don’t know that.

NOTE: While there is life, there is hope.

Leave the final judgment in the hands of the Lord…and keep praying.

This is the day of grace.

B. Second, grace is the only means of escape.

Was Noah somehow “better” than his contemporaries?

No, he was a sinner just like them. But he found grace and was spared.

He turned to the Lord and was delivered.

tells us that “by faith” Noah saved himself and his family.

What Noah did, you can do…By grace we can be delivered even in the darkest days and from the deepest pit of sin.

NOTE: I understand that grace is a hard concept for us to grasp…but I would define it as God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves.

It’s God coming to our rescue when we were trapped in sin.

CONCLUSION:

1. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when Jesus returns.

2. If you want to know what the future looks like, go back to the past.

3. The days of Noah are the key to understanding the days to come.

4. So, what are the marks of the “days of Noah?” Here's my answer:

1) The world completely unprepared for the coming judgment.

2) Widespread moral perversion and the breakdown of the family.

3) A sharp rise in Satanic activity and growing interest in the occult.

4) Shocking failure of leaders we thought we could trust.

5) Rejection of God’s authority in the name of “freedom.”

6) Believers standing alone against the world.

As it was … So it shall be.

As it was … So it is today.

5. I believe the “days of Noah” are upon us right now…and that’s one reason I believe we are living in the last days before the return of the JC to the earth.

But we don't have to be discouraged.

These are wonderful days to serve the Lord.

We may be the generation who sees JC return to the earth.

If so, let’s be busy spreading the Good News…working for the Kingdom…being salt and light… and serving the Lord with joy wherever we go.

Let's pray!!!