Build an Ark
Genesis 6:1-8
Genesis 6:1–8 (NIV): 6 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 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.
5 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. 6 The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 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.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
New Testament Commentary on Genesis 6:
2 Peter 2:1–12 (NIV): 2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
- Noah preached for 120 years before the flood came.
- God gave mankind time to repent.
- Nephilim- נְּפִלִ֞ים- means “men or renown”
- When Aramaic, the language of Jesus’ day, is a Hellenized (Greek influenced) version of Hebrew.
- Aramaic influence makes “naphiyla” for giant.
- Numbers 13:33 seems to be an editorial comment and that the Israelites were aware that the Nephilim of old had a reputation of being “giants”.[1]
- Giants were named Anakim were also considered Rephaim (2 Samuel 21:15-22; cf. Deuteronomy 2:11)
- To bring some clarity, think of the tradition of Genesis was in oral one until around the time of Moses. Genesis 6 speaks of the “Giants” that Moses and Israel would encounter (think King Og of Bashan).
- Might men “GIANTS” would indeed lead the world. Remember, the descendants of Cain before the flood, or the children of Ham and Japheth, or the descendants Ishmael after the flood.
- Tucked into the first 6 chapters is a Messianic blood line that moves through Adam to Seth, and all the way to Noah.
- His son Shem, according to Rabbinic teaching, is also known by a title, Melchizedek.
- Noah was a preacher; his son Shem would follow his father’s footsteps. Shem’s son, Melchizedek means “King of righteousness”, would father 4 sons, Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram, in addition to unnamed daughters.
- Abraham is a descendant of Noah, through Shem, through Arphaxad. And according to the Bible, Shem was alive at the same time as Abraham.
- Melchizedek is a title, not a name. With Shem being the oldest person alive, Abraham pays his respects.
- Told Noah to preach and invite them to a safe space to avoid the wrath of God (sound familiar?)
- The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah explained
- Ezekiel 16:49–51 (NIV): 49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. 51 Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.
WE SHOULD BUILD AN ARK!
[1] Michael Heiser, The Unseen Realm, 107.