Genesis 6:1-8

Good morning, all!

The first 7 verses of this chapter deal with the appalling plunge into depravity in the world that causes God to send the Flood in judgment.

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty year

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (verses 1-4)

I'm grateful for commentaries that explain these verses, because I'm immediately wondering who the "sons of God" are. Jon Courson says the Hebrew phrase for "sons of God" is benai elohim, and that every time the phrase is used in the Old Testament, it refers to angels. There are two groups of angels: those who do God's work and fallen angels, or demons. Jon Courson believes that these were demons who actually had sexual relations with human women, which resulted in the birth of the nephiliim, which is the Hebrew word for "fallen ones." This word is translated as "giants" in the KJV. Courson believes that these fallen angels were on a mission from Lucifer "to pollute the seed of women to such a degree that the promise of Genesis 3:15 would be thwarted." And, certainly, Satan's goal throughout history has been to somehow stop God's plan!

How bad must it have been if women were engaging in sex with demons?? Yet, as I read this, I immediately thought of the current obsession with all things vampire!!! Young girls are completely fascinated with the idea of having relationships with vampires. So much of what is on TV and in movies focuses on such bizarre relations. Hard-core porn is everywhere and makes billions of dollars every year. Why doesn't the LORD just fold up this planet and toss it out???

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” (verses 5-7)

My Bible says that God's heart "was filled with pain." God knew when He created man as a being with free will that He was going to be rejected by many (most). He knew what the choices would be, and because He is a righteous and holy God, He could not put up with the corruption on earth. But He also knew that allowing men free will would be worth the cost because of those who would willingly choose Him: But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (verse 8) There was Noah - in the midst of it all. And Noah was worth it all in God's view. You and I were worth it in His view! Even with all the evil in our own hearts, God loves us, and it gives Him great pleasure that we chose to respond to Him in faith. Jesus bore that pain on the cross so that we might become His righteousness. He loves us that much! WOW!

Tomorrow we'll look at this amazing man, Noah. I can't wait!