Genesis 6 Corruption, Faithfulness and Judgment

Genesis 6:1-4 records a very curious account that has puzzled people for years. The Nephalim were on the earth in those days, and the sons of God came in to the daughters of men to bear children. “Those were the might men who were of old, men of renown.

The question arises, who were these people? Does this mean that angels in some way had relations with humans to create a new type of person? Were the Nephalim merely giants in the land who had relations with women?

The Bible does not answer this question, and good arguments exist on both sides of the debate. You can search the Internet for the arguments pro and con.

The more interesting part of this passage is the fact that exceeding wickedness existed on the earth. Only a few chapters ago, we read that Adam was in a beautiful garden. Now we see that wickedness and violence pervade the earth.

Notice how many times this theme is mentioned in Gen 6. “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” (6:5); “The earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence” (6:11); “God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth” (6:12); “The earth is filled with violence” (6:13).

In contrast to the wickedness, we read of Noah who “Found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (6:8). He was a “Righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God” (6:9).

As a result of this violence the Lord decided to destroy the earth but rescue Noah and his family. You know the story. Noah built a huge ark roughly the size of one and one-half football fields.

This ark would hold Noah’s family and two of every kind of living thing on the earth and in the air.

Gen 6:22 recognizes Noah’s faithfulness, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”

What about our day? Do we live in a wicked generation?

Many people argue that we have progressed to the highest levels of human achievement. We have put a man on the moon. We have wiped out many devastating diseases, including polio, tuberculosis and small pox. We can communicate instantly around the globe. We can take videos on our telephones and beam them to remote places in a second.

Yet, crime, violence and war continue at alarming rates. The capacity for one human to torture another has not decreased. Sexual promiscuity has become more open. Things never mentioned in prior years now appear in plain view on our televisions and computers.

Divorce rates are soaring. Out of wedlock birth rates continue to climb.
Increasing numbers of children are being raised in single parent homes. Homosexuality is becoming an accepted and protected lifestyle. Some people are pushing for the right to marry children of any age, or groups of people and even barnyard animals.

Jesus called the people of His day, “A faithless and perverse generation” (Matt 17:17). Paul challenged the Philippians to be “Blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15).

It is possible to live in a wicked generation, and there is every reason to believe that we are living in just such a time.

Most people are inclined to think that the greatest generation is the one in which they are living. Because of that bias we have a tendency to overlook wickedness focusing instead on the positive things that are taking place.

The Bible is our only yardstick for measuring goodness and wickedness. It alone provides the standard by which we can make the determination.

There is no reason to believe that the violence and wickedness in Genesis 6 was any greater than that found in our generation. In addition, in our day we are able not only to think do wickedness, but also to transmit it over the airwaves to millions others to view it as entertainment.

While our culture may tell us one thing, God may be saying something very different in His Word. As we read His Word, He confronts us with a choice.

How will we live? Will we choose to follow the wickedness of the world and engage in evil lifestyles? Alternatively, will we follow Noah’s example and live righteously and blameless? Will we walk with God and find favor in His eyes?

The choice is up to you and me.

As you study Genesis 6 you may come to a conclusion concerning the Nephalim and resulting offspring. Regardless of your understanding on that section, do not miss the point of the verses that follow. There is wickedness in the world. We should not adopt lifestyles that God detests and will ultimately judge. Rather, we should choose to be like Noah, living blameless lives and walking with God.