Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Gen 6:1 onwards. Indeed, Peter and Jude both refer to that time before the flood when angels “did not keep their origin” and suffer the consequences (2 Peter 2:4-9; Jude 5-7). Men have multiplied on earth and with them evil in its two forms: depravity and violence (v. 11). Is humanity better today? Everything shows us that it is not. And Scripture warns us: “wicked men… will advance ever more in evil, (2 Tim. 3.10-13). Today as then, the glory of men of renown (end of v. 4): heroes, sports champions, stars… can go hand in hand with the worst depravity. Now it is to the hearts of men that the Lord looks, not at their prowess (1 Sam. 16.6-13). V. 5 makes known to us the tragic result of this examination: the imagination of their thoughts is nothing but wickedness at all times. “The hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and foolishness is in their hearts,” confirms the Preacher (Eccl. 9.1-3; see also Jer. 17.5-10). Then Jehovah repents of making man. It goes without saying that God never makes a mistake. But man’s wickedness compels him to change his dispositions. God therefore decides to make his creature disappear from above the earth, with the exception of Noah, the only one who walks with him.
Although Noah is called a “righteous” man, “upright” compared to those of his time (Gen. 6 :6-10), it is not his merit, but grace alone that will spare him. The time has come for God to let him know his thoughts and give him his instructions. It’s easy to be heard and understood by someone walking with you. To these communications, Noah responds by faith. “By faith, Noah, being divinely warned… feared and built an ark for the salvation of his house” (Heb. 11:7). He has nothing but God’s word to show him that judgment is coming. But it is enough for him. He builds the ark and by it condemns the world. Every blow of his hammer reminds his contemporaries that judgment is approaching. And as long as the building lasts, God’s patience waits (1 Peter 3:17-22). But how many benefit? Apart from the patriarch’s family, apparently no one! The faithful warnings of the “preacher of justice” were answered only by indifference and mockery. Today, too, many mockers do not believe in the Lord’s return or judgment (2 Peter 2:4-9; 2 Pet 3:1-7). They willfully ignore what the Bible says about the flood and consider this account a legend.
The fluttering of the ark and everything that happened in it had no marks of God’s hand on it. It was indeed safe while others had been destroyed. But what good is this security? Would he ever get out of this prison? To what difficulties will it be reduced first? So it’s often with ourselves. We must do God’s will without any reasonable sign to deal with natural difficulties, painful and pinching circumstances, ill health, bad mood, failure of our favorite projects, and old hopes – so that finally we come to think that security may be everything, we must have in Christ, a mere exemption from suffering of one kind bought by endurance from much suffering of another kind: that we must be grateful for forgiveness on any conditions; and to run away with our life, must be content even though he is naked. Why, how many times does a Christian wonder whether, after all, he has chosen a life he can bear, if the monotony and constraints of the Christian life are not incompatible with true enjoyment?
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped for your better understanding.
The sons of God and the daughters of humans:
- Physical beauty, examples
Gen. 12:11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, Behold, I know that you are a beautiful woman. Job 42:15 There were not such beautiful women in the whole country as Job’s daughters. Their father granted them a share of the inheritance among their brothers. Dn 1:15 After ten days they had better faces and more overweight than all the young men who ate the king’s food. Acts 7:20 At that time Moses was born, who was beautiful in the eyes of God. He was fed for three months in his father’s house;
- Physical life, symbolic allusion to the brevity of the
Gen 47:9 Jacob answered Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years. The days of the years of my life were few and bad, and they did not reach the days of the years of the life of my fathers during their pilgrimage. Psalm 89:48 Remember what the length of my life is, and for what nothingness you created all the sons of man. Psalm 90:9 All our days disappear by your wrath; We see our years fading like a sound.
- Valiant men
Gen. 10:8 Cusch also begat Nimrod; it was he who began to be powerful on earth. 1 Sam. 14:52 Throughout Saul’s life there was a bitter war against the Philistines; and as soon as Saul saw any strong and valiant man, he took him into his service. 2 Sam. 23:8 These are the names of the valiant men who were in David’s service. Joscheb Basshebeth, the Tashkemonite, one of the principal officers. He brandished his spear on eight hundred men, whom he killed in one go. 1 Chs 11:10 These are the leaders of the valiant men who were in David’s service, and who helped him with all Israel to secure his dominion, that he might be made king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
- Universal sin
Gen. 6:5 Jehovah saw that the wickedness of men was great on earth, and that all the thoughts of their hearts were directed every day only to evil. Psalm 53:4 All are misguided, all are perverted; There is none that does good, not even one. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
From all of the above, we note that this conflict between the felt restriction of the Christian life and the natural need for abundant life, to enter into all that the world can show us, and to experience all forms of pleasure – this conflict continues unceasingly in the hearts of many of us as it continues from age to age in the world. What is the true vision of life, what is the vision that guides us in choosing and refusing the pleasures and pursuits that are presented to us? Are we to believe that the ideal man for this life is one who has tasted all culture and pleasure, who believes in nature, recognizing no fall and seeking no redemption, and makes enjoyment his end; or he who sees that all enjoyment is deceitful until man is morally straightened out, and who expends himself for it, knowing that blood and misery must precede peace and rest, and crowned as our King and Head, not with a garland of roses, but with the crown of Him who is the greatest of all, Because servant of all, to whom the most engulfed is not repulsive, and who will not abandon the most desperate? It is the question of whether this life is final or preparatory? – If, therefore, should our job be to check the lowest propensities and develop and train all that is best in character, in order to be fit at the highest level? Life and enjoyment in a world to come – or should we take ourselves as we are and rejoice in this present world? if it is an eternal and placid state, in which things are quite as they should be, and therefore in which we can live freely and enjoy freely; Or that it is a disorder, an initial condition in which our main task should be to do a little to get things back on track and at least get the germ and the small beginnings of the future good planted in each other? So that in the midst of all the restrictions felt, there is the greatest hope, that one day we will come out of the narrow enclosure of our ark, and go out into the bright and free sun, into a world where there is nothing to offend, and the time of our deprivation will seem to have been well passed, if he has left in us the capacity to enjoy permanently love, holiness, justice, and all that God himself pleases himself with. Our prayers are with us all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in truth to pray with me:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my personal Lord and Savior. I acknowledge that you died at the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and my faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom by walking according to your ways.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to be baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power and glory, now and for ever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Noah enters the ark with his family and the animals.” (Gen 7)
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.