Genesis 4:1 – 5:32 / 1Chronicles 1:1-4 / Genesis 6:1-22
FRUIT OF THE WOMB
Genesis 4:1-2 says, “1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, ‘I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.’ 2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”
Just as a spouse is a gift from the Lord, Eve rightly proclaimed that getting pregnant is also a gift from the Lord. The name “Cain” is the Hebrew קַיִן [H7014] qayin (kah’-yin), which means “acquired.” Without the Lord, conception would never happen. Apart from the Source, we can do nothing (John 1:3; 15:5). For this reason, Solomon would later write in Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
And Solomon’s father, David, proclaimed in Psalm 139:13-16, “13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”
But why are we fearfully and wonderfully made? Because we are all made in the image of GOD (Genesis 1:26-27).
If no female can ever become pregnant without the help from the Lord who forms the baby within the womb, and all humans are created in the image of GOD, and all children are gifts from GOD, how would GOD describe the act of an abortion?
If you have children, when was the last time you thanked GOD for your family?
I don’t have a wife. I don’t have children. I don’t have a family of my own. So, if you do, be thankful.
CAIN AND ABEL
Genesis 4:3-8 says, “3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.’ 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. ”
The story of Cain and Abel reveals a lot about GOD’s plan for salvation and His absolute moral standard. We can be angry, but we should never sin in our anger (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26). Yet Cain murdered his own brother, Abel, who happened to be a shepherd. The name “Abel” is wordplay of the Hebrew הֶבֶל [H1893 / H1892] heḇel (heh’-bel), which means a breath, implying a life that vanishes almost as soon as it began. In fact, to even say the word, one would need to exhale a single breath. Not only does the author of Ecclesiastes use the word to imply a life that is meaningless, but in Job 7:16, the word is used to express Job’s sorrow of how he feels his life is soon coming to an end and amounting to nothing. Essentially, the word means short-lived, vanity, futility of futilities, and something like vapor, smoke, or wind that cannot be grasped and held, nor does it remain long enough to even be held.
But why did GOD reject Cain’s offering and accept Abel’s offering? It is written that Cain offered “of the fruit of the ground” whereas Abel offered “of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.” But what’s the difference? Leviticus 3:16 informs us that “all fat is the Lord’s” – that is exactly what Abel brought. Deuteronomy 15:19 says, “You shall consecrate to the Lord your God all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock” – that is exactly what Abel brought.
But what about Cain? Deuteronomy 26:2 says, “you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in.” And then 26:10-11 concludes by saying, “10 ‘Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O Lord have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God; 11 and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household.”
Though GOD commanded these laws later on for the Israelites, it seems evident that He had instructed both Cain and Abel as to what He deemed acceptable offerings because Abel did exactly what is later described and his offering was accepted. Abel presented a sacrificial offering by giving his best out from love and genuine faith whereas Cain’s offering was not described as his first fruits or his best. In fact, Hebrews 11:4 informs us that Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain because he offered in genuine faith (which GOD considered righteousness). And 1John 3:12 informs us that Cain’s deeds were evil whereas Abel’s deeds were righteous. John continues in 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Therefore, it all boiled down to a heart issue. There was no love in Cain, nor did he possess genuine faithful obedience out from a loving relationship with the Lord; consequently, his offering was rejected. Cain’s heart issue was evident in the fact that his anger led him to murder his own brother even though GOD had warned him in advance that if he did right, he would be accepted. GOD also warned him in advance that “sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Though sin had first been introduced in chapter 3, it is here that “sin” is named for the first time, as the Hebrew חַטָּאָת [H2403] ḥaṭṭā’āṯ (khat-taw-aw’), which seems to imply someone being guilty of wrongdoing whenever this word is used. Sin, overall, is a failure to conform to GOD’s Law in thought, feeling, attitude, word, action, orientation, or nature. In this definition it must be remembered that GOD’s Law is an expression of His perfect and Holy character, so sin is not merely the violation of an impersonal law but rather is a personal offense against the Creator according to our design and purpose. For this reason, sin has the meaning of missing the mark. However, this does not mean that sin is reduced to a mere mistake or an oversight. The point is not that a person simply misses the mark of what GOD requires; instead, it is that he/she is aiming for the wrong target altogether (Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:18). Regardless of whether missing the mark is intentional or not, the individual is still responsible (Leviticus 4:2-31; Numbers 15:30). Ultimately, sin is departing from the right path or “the way”.
Genesis 4:9-15 says, “9 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ And he said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’ 10 He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.’ 13 Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.’ 15 So the Lord said to him, ‘Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.’ And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.”
The fact that Abel was a shepherd seems significant in foreshadowing the death of Christ. The sin of man murders an innocent shepherd, slaughtered like a lamb, and the shepherd’s blood was spilled out. When GOD asked Cain for the location of Abel’s body, GOD was seeking to hear a confession; however, Cain lied and spoke as if Satan himself would have responded. Cain’s prideful and arrogant response to GOD was essentially this: “Am I to watch over my worthless and helpless brother like he watched over his helpless sheep? Is he not Abel [able] to be his own master like I am my own master? After all, aren’t You supposed to be his guardian? And yet You failed to protect Abel and now You want to know where I’ve hid his dead corpse?” In response to Cain’s pride, GOD pronounced judgment upon Cain that he is cursed in relation to the ground (Deuteronomy 27:24; Numbers 35:33-34), which he defiled by the spilling of his brother’s blood, that the ground will not produce to its full potential for him, he will barely get by, and he won’t truly belong anywhere as he travels about as a wanderer. Cain’s response reveals his pride: “My… me… I… I… me… me.” But why did GOD say that He wouldn’t allow anyone to kill Cain? Well, first and foremost, because GOD is love (1John 4:8,16), He desired to prevent anymore evil murders. But also, as Cain admitted, being cursed to barely get by and wander was a punishment he felt was too great to bear. Yet it would indeed be his judgment to bear. In addition, this judgment revealed not only GOD’s strictness regarding His holiness, but also revealed His love and patience even toward Cain, which showcases how GOD gives people time to repent (Ezekiel 18; 2Peter 3:9).
Cain was a cultivator of the ground and worked only to benefit himself. For this reason, GOD’s punishment for Cain deprived him of his livelihood. As Cain’s name suggested (“acquired”), he was only interested in receiving for himself. This selfishness and wickedness is the essence of sin. Pride. The contrast between Cain and Abel is that of receiving and giving; however, it is written that it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35). Also, Proverbs 21:27 tells us that the sacrifice of an evil person is detestable – especially when offered with wrong motives. GOD later clarifies that obedience is better than sacrifice (1Samuel 15:22). Further, we are not to give reluctantly, under compulsion or out from obligation, but only because we truly desire to give (2Corinthians 9:7). Simply put, we are to offer our best and do what’s right by trusting in the Lord (Psalm 4:5). GOD tells us that we must master sin or it will master us. Cain was the first murderer (Genesis 4:8) and liar (4:9). He was without remorse and had no genuine repentance — he only cared about himself (4:13-14). However, it is written that Satan was a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies; furthermore, all who sin are children of Satan, not the Lord, because they do as their father does (John 8:44). But because GOD told Satan that the Seed of woman would crush him (Genesis 3:15), Satan convinced one of Eve’s seed to murder her other seed! And with Abel’s murder came a prideful boast from Satan that the only seed remaining was his child, not GOD’s.
How often do you sin in your anger? Do you control your anger or does your anger control you?
Do you present everything to GOD by doing your best, out from your love, with genuine faith, and with a desire for a real relationship?
If you were to present a sacrifice to GOD in our modern era, what would it be? Why would it be a sacrifice on your end? What would you lose? What would you gain?
According to GOD’s design and purpose for you, in what ways do you think you have missed the mark, departed from the right path, “the way”?
How much time do you spend focusing on yourself and concentrating on your wants?
Are you typically one who desires to give, or one who desires to receive?
Even if you do give, do you give reluctantly, under compulsion, or out from obligation? Or do you give because you delight in giving your gift?
Do you truly comprehend how loving GOD is while He patiently waits, desiring for us to repent?
Is there anything you need to repent from doing right now?
LAMECH’s SIN
Genesis 4:19 says, “Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.”
Lamech, who descended from Cain, took for himself two wives. Take notice that he followed the same sinful pattern that Eve had done: he saw, he desired, he listened to instructions that did not come from GOD, and then he took action and committed sin against GOD’s design. Though Scripture describes the event, GOD does not prescribe polygyny / polyandry. There is a difference between acceptance of polygamy and approval of polygamy. To define marriage, we need only to examine the original design where GOD gave Adam only one female who came from his side in order to complement and complete him. Marriage should be defined as a covenant between one male and one female, both being of a proper age of maturity that would enable a mutual consent to a lifelong partnership that is designed to unite the two as one in a committed relationship of equal service in love. The union of the two as one should not be detached, divided, disconnected or divorced unless death separates them or the sin of sexual immorality defiles the covenant and creates a chasm between the commitment that would cause division. The monogamous male-female union, introduced in Genesis 2:21-24, is the only model of sexual behavior consistently praised in both Old and New Testaments. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18,23-24; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 17:17; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27; 1Corinthians 6:9-10; 7:2; 1Timothy 1:9-10; 3:2,12; Titus 1:6)
Jesus said that in the beginning, they were created male and female; in addition, Jesus said that a man will leave his father and mother and will become one with his wife. Marriage was clearly identified as a union between one male and one female. Furthermore, Jesus specifically mentioned father and mother. Why? Because father is male and mother is female. No living thing, until GOD made woman, was capable of becoming one flesh with the man. In Genesis 2:18, GOD pronounced the absence of woman as being “not good” because it left man alone and incapable of accomplishing GOD’s purposes for humanity in His world. Scripture conveys marriage as being closely tied to procreation (biology confirms this). In addition, we must realize that the design of marriage as 1 + 1 = 1 is an image of humanity in relationship with the One true GOD (Hosea; Ephesians 5:22-33). And if marriage is a picture of our relationship with GOD, then multiple wives or husbands would be the same as humans being able to have multiple gods; however, Scripture is clear that we are to only be in relationship with One GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 22:37). Thus, GOD’s design for marriage was disregarded and broken when Lamech chose to be unfaithful to his first wife by taking a second wife. And just as GOD eventually permitted divorce due to a hardness of heart (Matthew 19:8; Mark 10:4-9), GOD also permitted polygamy for the same reason. GOD honors our free will. But again, the fact that GOD allowed it to happen does not mean that GOD approved of it. Another reason GOD may have allowed it was due to the fact that a woman’s value was largely unrecognized; women were typically viewed as property, and were usually unable to provide for themselves because men owned and controlled everything. In light of this, GOD might have allowed multiple women to be under the umbrella of one man so that they might at least have provision and protection. While definitely not the design nor the ideal, living in a polygamist’s palace might have been better than the alternatives: prostitution, slavery, or starvation. However, the decision to disregard GOD’s design produced many problems. Multiple partners always created conflict, confusion, identity crises, and even led to idolatry (examine the lives of Abraham + Sarah + Hagar, or Jacob + Leah + Rachel, or even Solomon + hundreds). Any addition to GOD’s design is a subtraction in quality of life and a division of loyalty, which ultimately leads to multiplied problems.
If you are a male and have a wife, are you loyal to her alone? If you are a female and have a husband, are you loyal to him alone? Do you love your spouse with the faithful commitment that GOD has for you?
Knowing that Cain’s sin against GOD’s design originated from when he first saw and desired that other woman, what can you do to prevent yourself from stepping into the phase of desiring what does not belong to you?
TWO PATHS
Genesis 4:19-20 describes how Lamech’s descendants possessed good qualities, such as being able to raise livestock, create music, or even forge with metal. Although Cain’s descendants could have used those good qualities for good works, it seems they still chose a path of violence. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said that the Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Again, this only showcases GOD’s goodness in His patience for people to repent (Ezekiel 18; 2Peter 3:9). Sadly, Lamech refused repentance, chose instead to live a wicked life, and therefore traveled down the wrong path.
Genesis 4:23-24 says, “23 Lamech said to his wives, ‘Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; 24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Reminiscent of Cain’s pride and murder, Lamech echoes both his ancestor (Cain) and Satan who possessed his relative: “my… Lamech… my… I… me… me… Lamech.”
Genesis 4:25-26 says, “25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, ‘God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.’ 26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.”
Satan tried to eliminate the Seed (3:15) who would eventually crush his head in GOD’s perfect timing, but Seth was born in place of Abel. The Seed is still coming and there’s nothing Satan can do to thwart GOD’s perfect plan. And so Genesis 4-5 highlights that two distinct groups emerged out from Cain and Seth: those who showed indifference to sin and evil, and those who worshipped the Lord; those who desired to live wicked lives, and those who desired to live righteously. From Seth’s line, “men began to call upon the name of the Lord.” This is an expression used elsewhere throughout Scripture to describe people praying to GOD (Genesis 12:8; 26:25; 1Kings 18:24; 2Kings 5:11; Joel 2:32). Therefore, Cain’s line represents the unsaved whereas Seth’s line represents those who will be saved because they call upon the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13).
In Genesis 4:17-18, Scripture states that from Cain came Enoch, followed by Irad, Mehujael, Methushael, and then Lamech. However, Genesis 5:1-32 informs us that from Seth came Enosh, followed by Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and then Noah. At first glance, the genealogy accounts seem to be a contradiction because both Cain and Seth have an “Enoch” and a “Lamech” from their lines; however, further examination reveals that the names being the same on both sides was intentional. What Satan desired to corrupt and destroy from Cain’s line, GOD used from Seth’s line to produce a righteous people who sought Him in prayer. From Cain’s line, beginning with Adam, the genealogy of seven generations symbolizes the completion or end of the line. As seven symbolizes completeness, Cain’s line leads to a complete disaster in Lamech’s prideful rant about his murderous rage. In stark contrast, from Seth’s line, beginning with Adam, the seventh generation is Enoch, of which Genesis 5:24 says, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Further, the extension of Seth’s line beyond the seventh generation to Noah identifies this as the line of hope. In stark contrast to the wicked Lamech of Cain’s line, the righteous Lamech of Seth’s line named his son Noah in Genesis 5:29, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed.” Cain’s line looked back and stressed vengeance and violence, but Seth’s line looks forward in hope to the one who will give them rest. But who is the true One who will give us rest? In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Both Cain’s line and Seth’s line produced an “Enoch” and a “Lamech”; both were given opportunities; both possessed good qualities that could have been used for good purposes. However, the line that was blessed was the line that walked with GOD and called upon the name of the Lord.
Suppose your name is Lamech. Are you from the line of Cain or the line of Seth? Are you on the side of wickedness or righteousness? Are you on the side of judgment or blessing?
Are you walking with GOD? Are you calling upon the name of the Lord?
Cain’s line was granted a lifetime of opportunities to repent because GOD is loving and patient. But what about you? How many sins has GOD permitted you to commit without yet receiving judgment for those sins? Have you repented from your sins or are you taking advantage of GOD’s love like Cain’s line had done?
Seth is proof that generational curses do not exist. You don’t have to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors if your ancestors chose to live wicked lives. You can be the one who changes the direction of where your family line goes by simply making a decision to call upon the name of the Lord and start walking with GOD. Through Genesis 4-5, the Lord informs us that there exists only two paths: unsaved and saved. So, which path do you choose? Which direction will you and your family go?
Do you want rest? Who is the One who will give you rest? Are you willing to go to Him, learn from Him, and allow Him to guide you?
THE NEPHILIM
Genesis 6:1-4 says, “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. 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.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”
Men אָדָם [H120] ‘āḏām (aw-dahm’) began to multiply. The only way humans can multiply is if a male sperm becomes one with a female egg and the miracle of conception occurs. Humans were increasing in number and filling the earth just as GOD had commanded them to do (Genesis 1:28); however, not all increase is good. As they increased in number (which was good), they also increased in wickedness (which was evil).
It is written that the “sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.” The phrase “sons of God” (sons of [H430] Elohim) only appears here in this passage and again in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. However, the phrase “sons of the Mighty” (sons of [H410] El) appears in Psalms 29:1; 89:6. In 29:1, the phrase could be referring to either men or angels, but in 89:6, it seems to refer to heavenly beings (angels) who are part of the divine counsel (great assembly of GOD). In the book of Job, the phrase seems to refer to angels. However, the Hebrew מַלְאָךְ [H4397] mal’āḵ (mal-awk’), is used 111 times in the Old Testament to specifically refer to angels. So, if “sons of God” was meant to refer to angels, then why not use the Hebrew mal’āḵ so as to avoid confusion? In the New Testament, in Matthew 5:9, Jesus, speaking about humans, says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” And in Luke 20:34-36, Jesus, again speaking about humans, says, “34 The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” Moreover, in Galatians 3:26, Paul, referring to humans, wrote, “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” So, even if both angels and mere men are called “sons of God”, what does it truly mean to be a “son” of GOD – especially in proper context within the specified passage?
That word for “son” is the Hebrew בֵּן [H1121] bēn (bane), which can mean son, children, people, or even a member of a group, guild, order, or class. This is the same word used in Genesis 3:16 when GOD promised Eve that “In pain you will bring forth children.” The word is also used in 4:17 to refer to Cain’s son, Enoch; in 4:25 to refer to Adam’s son, Seth; in 4:26 to refer to Seth’s son, Enosh; and all throughout the entire fifth chapter of Genesis to refer to the multitude of sons who came from Adam. And because the sixth chapter of Genesis is continuing the story of Adam and Eve’s genealogy, it is most reasonable to believe from proper context that the “sons of God” refer to all male children who came from Adam and Eve, who were created in the image of GOD (1:26-27).
Psalm 82:1 says, “God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers.” And so, in Hebrew it says GOD (Elohim) presides in the divine/mighty (el) assembly and among the gods (elohim) He judges. And then Psalm 82:6-7 says, “6 I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes.'” And so, in Hebrew, it says you are gods (elohim) and sons (bēn) of the Most High yet you will die like men (‘āḏām). Therefore, humans are sons of GOD even though we will die just as Adam had died. In fact, in John 10:34-36, Jesus quoted that psalm and said to the religious leaders, “34 Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” Therefore, Jesus affirms that humans are indeed sons of GOD because He is the Son and we were all created in His image and according to His likeness.
Further, in Deuteronomy 14:1, GOD, speaking to the Israelites, commanding them to be holy, said, “You are the sons of the Lord your God“. Again in Hosea 1:10, GOD said to the Israelites, “You are the sons of the living God.” And again, in Isaiah 43:6, GOD calls humans “My sons” and “My daughters”. Therefore, the human descendants of Adam are indeed sons of GOD.
Moreover, because Genesis 6 is not only continuing the story, but is also building upon the story, the phrase “took wives for themselves, whomever they chose” should be understood as an explanation as to how GOD’s children who came from Adam and Eve only continued to increase in wickedness. The Fall is rising to a point of judgment. Cain was wicked, murdered one human, yet had only one wife. But then Lamech was even more wicked than Cain, murdered two humans, and took for himself two wives. But now, in this passage, male descendants (“sons of God) have decided to take as many wives as they desired, apparently without any self-control. Therefore, this passage describes the consistent increase in wickedness of everyone who came from Adam’s line (which will be the reason for the flood that we will soon discuss).
Now, some people believe that the “Nephilim” mentioned in this passage were a blasphemous crossbreed of fallen angels and human females; however, the very same verse (Genesis 6:4) clearly states that they were “mighty men” and “men of renown.” The phrase “mighty men” is the Hebrew גִּבּוֹר [H1368] gibôr (ghib-bore’), and it refers to mere men who were mighty, strong, and valiant warriors. This word is used to describe Nimrod (Genesis 10:8), 30,000 soldiers (Joshua 8:3), Gideon (Judges 6:12), Jephthah the son of a harlot (Judges 11:1), David (1Samuel 16:18), and Goliath (1Samuel 17:51). Therefore, the Nephilim were not angels; they were mere men, albeit mighty men, and sometimes giants (such as Goliath was a giant).
In addition to this, it is written that humans in the resurrection will be like the angels who neither marry nor are given into marriage (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25). The only time angels ever had a physical body was when GOD allowed them to do so; in addition, those angels always accomplished GOD’s will, not evil. So, rebellious angels wouldn’t be granted the ability to use a physical body (unless they were demons who possessed mere humans). But even possessed men are still mere men. In fact, nowhere in the Bible does a fallen angel ever use a physical form like the elect angels of GOD do. Thus, there is no reason to believe that a fallen angel would have a physical form to have sex with a human female. Some people point to 2Peter 2:4-5 as proof that fallen angels sinned sexually with human females; however, that text simply does not state they did such a sin. It simply states that “God did not spare angels when they sinned.” But as Scripture informs us elsewhere, the angels’ sin was pride and trying to usurp the throne along with Satan. And that is why the angels “did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode” (Jude 1:6). Men began to multiply because “they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.” But as they increased in number, their wickedness also increased. Therefore, this passage is a continuation of the Fall in Genesis 3:6 (i.e., they saw, they desired, they took, and they passed sin along). Cain’s line showcases the wicked path whereas Seth’s line showcases the righteous path. After all, the lineage of Seth was supposed to be the godly line from whom the Redeemer (the Seed) was to come (Genesis 3:15; 4:26). This also accords with the fact that humans are indeed referred to in the Old Testament as GOD’s “sons” (Deuteronomy 14:1; Isaiah 43:6; Hosea 1:10). Further, the “Nephilim” can be seen existing after the flood in Numbers 13:33 as giants— but they were still mere men. And if the flood was meant to wipe out the fallen angels and demonic crossbreeds, how do you explain the fact that descendants of the Nephilim were purported to have also lived after the flood (Deuteronomy 2:10-11,20-23; Joshua 14:15; 15:13-14; 2Samuel 21:16-22; 1Chronicles 20:6-8)? Is GOD powerless to prevent fallen angels from raping human females both before and after the flood? Even Satan himself could do nothing to Job apart from GOD’s permission (Job 1:10-12; 2:6). Was GOD unsuccessful in eliminating the supposed demonic crossbreeds? The notion is absurd. However, the belief that giant humans existed both before and after the flood is reasonable because that DNA would have been within Noah.
Now, it is true that the word “Nephilim” comes from the Hebrew word נָפַל [H5307] nāp̄hal (naw-fal’), which means to fall, and references the ones who have fallen; however, it doesn’t necessarily follow logically or Scripturally that they are fallen angels. Adam and Eve were also “fallen ones”; in fact, their banishment from the Garden of Eden is known as “the Fall”. Numbers 13:33 specifically states that “the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim.” So, who was Anak? According to Deuteronomy 9:2, he and his family were “a people great and tall.” They were giant humans. They were mere men, whom Caleb the son of Jephunneh eventually drove out as he took possession of land (Joshua 15:13; Judges 1:20). In fact, it is evident from both Genesis 6 and Numbers 13 that the Nephilim are “fallen ones” because they are wicked and they will be cast out of the Kingdom just like the rebellious angels were cast out. All Scripture clearly states that the Nephilim are mere men, albeit mighty men, and sometimes giants. And if these men were possessed or influenced by demons (fallen angels), then they are still “fallen ones” regardless. But again, demonically possessed men are still mere men. It simply doesn’t follow to read into the text that angels – who are bodiless (Hebrews 1:14) and sexless spirits (Matthew 22:30) – cohabited with human females. I concede to the fact that there have been archaeological records that reveal giant humans existed in the past, but the Bible also acknowledges the fact that giants existed. But those giants were mere men.
And finally, why would GOD allow fallen angels to breed with humans knowing that their children would be half-human and half-angel? This would only support polytheism, which GOD constantly condemns (Exodus 20:1-4; Deuteronomy 5:6-9; 6:13-15). There never existed a half-breed of heavenly being who was also mere man. Is it even possible that half of a human would be created and exist? Where is it written that angels who are spirits have physical sperm that could unite with a female egg? You won’t find it in Scripture. It is written, however, that angels cannot be redeemed (Hebrews 2:14-16; 2Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). So, can only half a human be redeemed? If so, how? If not, then did the Lord fail to redeem them? Or were they never human at all or never worthy to be called human even though they were half human? No—Scripture is clear that the only Spirit capable of impregnating a female would be the Holy Spirit because GOD is the One and only in control of forming babies within female wombs (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
In conclusion, the “sons of God” are the male descendants of Adam and Eve, who were created in the image of GOD. The Nephilim were mere men who were extremely tall and considered to be mighty warriors. And such a blasphemous belief regarding fallen angels raping females and creating demonic crossbreeds against the will of GOD is a doctrine of demons, a mockery of the holy incarnation of Christ, and is just one example as to why exegesis of Scripture is extremely important and why all Scripture must be examined together as a whole. We must carefully and objectively analyze the Word of GOD, extracting every detail, so as not to read into Scripture what was never there to begin with. The Bible as a whole is one message and Scripture always interprets Scripture.
Many people have come to believe the blasphemous and absurd notion that fallen angels raped human females, impregnated them, and caused females to give birth to crossbreeds of half-human and half-demon. They believe this simply because they were told to believe it by a pastor behind a pulpit and it became a popular teaching. But how would you know if a pastor is truly a son of GOD or a demon in disguise who secured a prominent position?
Whose words are you listening to? Whose words are guiding your beliefs? And won’t your beliefs guide your actions?
Are you able to now see how any area of ignorance about GOD’s Word can be filled in with doctrines of demons? Is it not Satan’s goal to get you to question GOD’s Word and to believe his reinterpretation, which is a misinterpretation?
And what does this demonic doctrine ultimately lead people to believe about GOD? Was GOD unable to prevent fallen angels from raping female humans both before and after the flood? Would GOD have formed those demonic crossbreed babies within female wombs? And if GOD is powerless to prevent demons from raping human females and impregnating them, wouldn’t that mean GOD is not omnipotent (all-powerful)?
Now that you have read my cross-examination regarding this common belief, what do you believe? Do you know why you believe what you believe?
And finally, are you taking my word for it, or does the Word of GOD form your belief? But how do you know what to believe unless you study His Word?
TURNING POINT
Genesis 6:5-8 says, “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. 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.’ 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
First and foremost, we need to take notice of the fact that the wickedness of “man” (‘āḏām) was great and the thoughts of his heart was evil continually. Just as the “sons of God” and Nephilim were the continuation of the Fall from Genesis 3:6, this too is the continuation, but now the story has reached the climax of wickedness when the Fall would rise to judgment. And because it was the wickedness of “man” (‘āḏām) that GOD condemned, it is just another reason which proves that the “sons of God” were not fallen angels, but mere men. GOD enacted judgment against humans.
An atheist once wrote, “Genesis 6:6 says your sky daddy regretted making you. How could an omniscient being ever regret what it knew it would do?”
On the surface, Scripture seems to say that GOD regretted something He chose to do. But if GOD regretted what He chose to do, wouldn’t that mean GOD made a mistake? And if GOD made a mistake, wouldn’t that mean He is not GOD because He is not perfect? Again, this is why exegesis of Scripture is extremely important and why we must carefully and objectively analyze the Word of GOD, extracting every detail.
Perceived Problem:
Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”
So, how could GOD regret the creation He declared to be “very good”?
Scriptural Solutions:
First, Genesis 1:31 and 6:6–7 speak of humankind at different times and under different conditions. The former deals with humans in the original state of creation; however, the latter refers to the human race after the Fall and just before the flood. GOD was pleased with humans in their intended design while they were free from sin; however, GOD was displeased with humans due to their freely choosing to live evil lives (as stated in 6:5).
But what does it mean when Scripture says that GOD “was sorry”? How could GOD be sorry? Was GOD admitting He made a mistake? No. GOD does not change, neither His mind, His will, nor His nature (Numbers 23:19; 1Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:17; James 1:17). The word “sorry” is the English translation of the Hebrew word נָחַם [H5162] nacham (naw-kham’), which is sometimes translated as “repent,” “to feel sorrow,” “to be grieved,” “comforted,” “changed his mind,” or “was moved.” Essentially, this word means “moved” or “turned.” While this word does mean that GOD felt sorrow, it also implies that GOD arrived at a turning point in which He would choose a new course of action, and thus, He turned and moved in that new direction. While GOD’s final purpose for humanity does not change, His means to carry that purpose forward may change according to the choices people make. And for this reason, it is written in Ezekiel 24:14, “According to your ways and according to your deeds I will judge you.” So, like a master chess player, GOD makes His move based on the moves people make, always positioning Himself in the winning position. GOD moves, but GOD doesn’t make mistakes; rather, humans make mistakes, and then GOD moves based on our mistakes.
In Genesis 6:6, it is written that GOD was grieved. Thus, GOD’s sorrow or turning point is directly linked with His grief. GOD was sorrowful that He created humans for a specific purpose, yet they rebelled against His will for their lives and chose to live evil lives instead. And GOD’s grief is directly linked with the previous verse (6:5) in that their wickedness was great, and their thoughts were evil continually. The humans refused to turn (repent) from the path of evil, and so GOD turned to act according to His nature in justice.
Now, the other side of the exact same coin can be seen in Exodus 32:14, where it is written, “So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.” The same word, nacham, was used to describe how GOD relented from immediate judgment.
Perceived Problem:
While Moses was upon the mountain receiving the Law from GOD, the people were at the foot of the mountain worshiping the golden calf which they had created (Exodus 32:4–6). When GOD instructed Moses to go down to them, He told Moses that He would consume them and then make a great nation from Moses (32:10). When Moses heard this, he pleaded with GOD to turn from His anger. And in 32:14, GOD relented. But doesn’t this imply that GOD changed His mind and that He took an order from a mere human being?
Scriptural Solutions:
It must be emphatically maintained that GOD does not change (Numbers 23:19; 1Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:17; James 1:17). He neither changes His mind, His will, nor His nature. There are several arguments that demonstrate the immutability of GOD. We will consider three.
First, anything that changes does so in some chronological order. There must be a point before the change and a point after the change. Anything that experiences a before and an after exists in time because the essence of time is seen in the chronological progression from before to after. However, GOD is eternal and outside time (John 17:5; 2Timothy 1:9). Therefore, there cannot be in GOD a series of befores and afters. But, if GOD cannot be in a series of befores and afters, then GOD cannot change because change necessarily involves before and after.
Second, anything that changes must change for better or for worse; a change that makes no difference is not a change at all. Either something that is needed is gained that was previously absent, which is a change for the better, or something that is needed is lost that was previously possessed, which is a change for the worse. But, if GOD is perfect, He does not need anything; therefore, He cannot change for the better. Likewise, if GOD were to lose something, He would not be perfect; therefore, He cannot change for the worse. The logical conclusion is that GOD cannot change.
Third, relating directly to the passages under examination, if anyone were to change his mind, it must be because new information has come to light that was not previously known, or the circumstances have changed that require a different kind of attitude or action. Now, if GOD changed His mind, it cannot be because He has learned some bit of new information that He did not previously know, for GOD is omniscient—He knows all (1Kings 8:39; Psalm 139:1–4, 15–16; 147:5; Isaiah 46:10; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 9:4; 10:29–30; 12:25; Mark 2:6–8; Luke 6:8; John 1:47–48; 4:18; 11:11–15; Acts 1:24; 1Corinthians 2:10–11; 1John 3:20). Therefore, it must be because the circumstances have changed that require a different attitude or action. But, if the circumstances have changed, it is not necessarily the case that GOD has changed His mind. It may simply be the case that, since the circumstances have changed, GOD’s relationship to the new circumstances is different because they have changed, not GOD.
When Israel was at the foot of the mountain engaged in idol worship, GOD told Moses that His anger was burning against them and He was prepared to destroy them in immediate judgment. However, when Moses interceded for them, the circumstances changed. GOD’s attitude toward sin is always anger, and His attitude toward those who call to Him is always an attitude of mercy. Before Moses prayed for Israel, they were under GOD’s judgment. By Moses’ intercession for the people of Israel, he brought them under GOD’s mercy. GOD did not change because He is both justice and mercy; rather, the circumstances changed. The language used in this passage is called anthropomorphic, or man-centered, language. It is similar to someone saying, “The house is on my right,” but then moving and saying, “Now the house is on my left.” Neither of these statements are meant to imply that the house had moved. Rather, it is anthropomorphic language from a human perspective to describe that the person has changed his/her position in relation to the house. Or in the specific scriptures under examination, the Rock—the solid immovable foundation, who is the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2Samuel 22:2–3; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; Matthew 7:24–25; Luke 6:46–49; Acts 4:8–12; 1Corinthians 3:11; 10:4; Ephesians 2:20; 1Peter 2:4–8). When Moses said that GOD relented, it was a figurative way of describing that Moses’ intercession successfully changed the relationship of the people to GOD. Moses brought the nation under the mercy of GOD’s grace and out from under the immediate judgment of GOD. And so GOD does not change, neither His mind, His will, nor His nature.
When GOD first initiated His judgment to destroy the people, He was acting consistently with His justice. When Moses interceded for the people, GOD relented in order to act consistently with His mercy. The truth is that as people change their actions and wills, GOD changes His response to them according to their deeds. The Relentless Rescuer will relent if one decides to repent. Now, ponder: was the conversation between GOD and Moses a test for Moses’ leadership? Would Moses fight for his flock? Was he only concerned about what others would think, or did he genuinely care about them? I believe that GOD relented from immediate judgment for at least two reasons: (1) GOD desired to honor the love Moses had for the people; (2) GOD wanted to give Moses an opportunity to see for himself why those wicked people deserved judgment. After all, GOD knew that the wicked people would die; in fact, it happened not much later (Exodus 32:27–28). Moses traveled back down the mountain to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf. As soon as Moses saw what GOD had already seen, it was Moses who changed his mind, realizing that GOD’s judgment had been right all along. However, the delay of GOD’s judgment was GOD’s mercy and the people’s opportunity for learning.
GOD Himself explains what causes Him to nacham, to turn and move in that new direction. It is written in Jeremiah 18:7–10, “At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.”
When GOD said He would “relent” or “think better of the good,” it is the same word nacham. In fact, this is exactly what happened to Nineveh when Jonah finally preached the message of repentance to them—they turned (repented), and then GOD turned (relented). It is written in Jonah 3:10, “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.”
And so this word, in proper context throughout Scripture, needs to be understood as a turning point in how GOD responds to the turning points of what humankind freely chooses to do. It’s like a contract agreement with special stipulations of “if that, then this.” It is for this reason that, in Genesis 4:7, GOD said to Cain, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” In GOD’s omniscience, with every turning point of what humans will choose to do, GOD has already planned ahead His turning points on how He will respond. In this regard, life is like a video game. No matter what you choose to do, the programmer has already pre-programmed what will happen based on what you freely choose to do.
Joel 2:13 (ESV) says, “‘And rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.”
To paraphrase, GOD essentially said, “Don’t tear your clothing in a pious performance. Stop putting on a religious show for the people. Instead, may your heart break so that you will learn to live righteously. If you turn, I’ll turn. If you repent, I’ll relent. I want to relent. But I am Holy. Please do not invite My wrath upon yourself because you refuse to separate yourself from sin.”
Our hearts should break just like the great faithful men of old. In Jeremiah 8:21, the weeping prophet said, “For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken; I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me.” And in Romans 9:1–3, the apostle Paul said, “1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”.
In Genesis 6:5–7, when GOD saw all the evil, His responsive action was to nacham—He turned and moved in order to enact judgment against sin. Centuries later, in response to the same evil, the Lord’s action was again to nacham—He turned and moved; however, this time, He relented from judgment upon us as the Relentless Rescuer, willingly sacrificing Himself on the cross in order to pay your debt of death due to sin (John 10:17–18; Romans 5:6–8; 6:23). But even the grace-filled act of relenting judgment upon us was still consistent with His nature to enact judgment upon sin. By grace, Jesus took the penalty we deserved. On the surface, it seems as if GOD changed His mind from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but that’s not true. GOD never changed His mind—Christ on the cross had been the plan from the beginning. Every act of judgment had been in response to what humans freely chose to do. However, the free gift of salvation was in response to what humans could not do—save themselves.
Understand this: GOD had a plan from the beginning. His plan involved “very good” creation (Genesis 1:31) with the great gift of free will. Just as a parent expresses sorrow over a rebellious child, GOD expressed sorrow due to our rebellion. GOD’s plan involved cleansing destruction from water (Genesis 6:17), a complete sacrificial atonement of sins (Hebrews 10:10), a cleansing death and new birth from water (Romans 6:3–4), and then final destruction and cleansing of fire (Luke 17:29–30; 2Peter 3:10; Revelation 20:9). It pained GOD that His beloved people had to endure pain and suffering in order to inherit eternal life, but this life on this earth is the necessary furnace of faith for refinement (Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:3–6; Proverbs 25:4–5; 2Timothy 2:21) so that we can dwell in His holy presence. Remember: GOD loves us and wants us to live in His Holy presence, but evil/sin and righteousness/holiness simply cannot coexist (1Corinthians 10:21; 2Corinthians 6:16). Every “coexist” bumper sticker you see on a car is evil illogical nonsense.
Now, if you want to fully understand why GOD would relent, then you need to fully understand why humans need to repent. The truth is that everything you do causes GOD to turn and move in a new direction according to the choices you make. But is GOD moved by your faith, or does He turn because you have grieved Him due to the evil you choose to practice (Romans 8:8; Hebrews 11:6)? In God’s pre-programmed and predestined “if this, then that” foreknowledge, the Lord chose to forgive and invite into salvation all people who place their faith in Christ Jesus (John 3:16,36; 6:40; Romans 8:29–30; Ephesians 1:4–6,11). From the very beginning, GOD had already “changed His mind” to remember your sins no more the moment you place your faith in Christ Jesus and walk according to His will (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:33–34; Hebrews 8:7–13; 10:14–18). Therefore, GOD didn’t actually change His mind about sin. For everyone who places his/her faith in Christ Jesus, the circumstances have changed, and thus, GOD’s relationship to the new circumstances is different because they have changed, not GOD.
In Psalm 25:4–7, David prayed, “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”
May we all lift up a similar prayer to the Lord, desiring to live in faithful obedience to His will. For if we do, it is written that the Lord will move according to our faith. If we repent, He will relent. But without repentance comes only judgment because justice is according to His will.
Do you need a turning point in your life? According to Scripture, what are all the actions you can do that will cause GOD to turn toward you according to His mercy rather than toward you according to His justice?
Once you have compiled a list of all the things GOD has asked you to do, how can you rearrange your life so that you will be sure to do what GOD has asked you to do?
RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS
Genesis 6:9 says, “These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.”
Perceived Problem:
In Psalm 51:5, David implies that humans are born into sin. In Psalm 53:1-3, David states that no one is good. In Mark 10:18, Jesus said that no one is good except GOD alone. In Romans 3:23, Paul said that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD. So, how could Noah have been declared righteous and blameless?
Scriptural Solutions:
The word “righteous” is the Hebrew צַדִּיק [H6662] ṣadîq (tsah-deek’), which means just or lawful. The word “blameless” is the Hebrew תָּמִים [H8549] tāmîm (taw-meem’), which means complete, whole, healthy, or unimpaired. To say that Noah was righteous and blameless does not indicate that he was completely sinless; it is true that Noah was born into sin because he came from the seed of Adam. However, because righteousness meant being lawful, Noah would have been judged by whatever Law had been made known to him at that time. However, Noah preceded the Mosaic Law. So, what commands was Noah given? As will later be revealed throughout Noah’s story, GOD commanded Noah to build the ark, gather the animals, etc. And Genesis 6:22 says “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” Therefore, Noah had been declared righteous because he obeyed the commands he knew of at that time. Further, Noah had been complete and healthy because he “walked with God.” Noah received GOD’s Word, believed GOD’s Word, and acted according to his faith. And Scripture later reveals that through faith righteousness is credited to us (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Consider also the fact that David was called a man after GOD’s own heart even though he had sinned (1Samuel 13:14; 2Samuel 12:13; Acts 13:22). In fact, Proverbs 15:9 tells us that the Lord loves the one who pursues righteousness. So, what then, does it mean to be righteous? To be righteous is to be right with GOD. How can one be right with GOD? By doing what GOD told us to do (Luke 6:46; Romans 2:13). A heart that is right with GOD results in a life that bears “fruit” (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43-44; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9); in fact, it is by love and its fruit that a person will be known as a disciple of Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:20; John 13:34-35). In the Old Testament, men were declared righteous when they believed GOD and acted on their belief through faith (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). Before Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), people pursued righteousness by keeping GOD’s Law, seeking holiness, and walking humbly with GOD (Micah 6:8). Because no one can please GOD in our sinful fleshly state (Romans 8:8), no one is completely justified by rule-keeping but by the faith that enabled them to obey GOD (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Essentially, to be righteous, we need only to live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:6). To live by faith, we must possess belief of GOD’s Word and also trust in His Word — we must believe that the Lord exists and trust in the Lord for our ultimate good (Proverbs 3:5-8; Romans 8:28). GOD spared Noah from the flood because everyone else had chosen to live evil lives and walked away from GOD. Noah was the righteous one! Righteousness should be our goal! Now, of course, it is written that we are not saved by our works but by our faith (Romans 3:24-31; Ephesians 2:8-9); however, our faith should produce fruit. But how does faith produce fruit? Because if we receive GOD’s Word and believe GOD’s Word by faith, then we will respond to His Word through our faith; consequently, our faith-filled response to His Word will keep us in alignment with His will while we supernaturally bear fruit (Matthew 7:17-18; 12:33; 13:23; Luke 3:8; John 15:1-11; Galatians 5:22-25; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:17-18).
GOD declared Noah to be righteous and blameless. If someone were to write about you in a book, how would GOD describe you at this very moment?
All over this world, there are competitions to break world records and to see who is best at something, but who strives to be the most righteous person alive? Certainly someone can break a record and become the new best athlete, speller, seller, fighter, or even manage to eat the most hotdogs in one sitting; however, who can be the most righteous? Shouldn’t that be our goal? Shouldn’t that be our heart’s desire?
Noah was complete and whole because he walked with GOD. Are you walking with GOD by the way you freely choose to live your life or are you walking away from GOD?
What was the last thing GOD told you to do?
If being righteous means being right with GOD based off what GOD has told you to do, are you being faithfully obedient to do what He told you to do?
If you have responded through faithful obedience to what GOD has told you to do, have you seen fruit come from it? If so, what? If not yet, do you have faith that GOD will produce the fruit in His perfect timing?
EARS TO HEAR
Genesis 6:13 says, “Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.’ ”
Noah heard from GOD, but is it possible for us to also hear from the Lord? Yes. How is it possible? Like Noah, we need to be “righteous” and “blameless”, which means we must believe that GOD exists, trust that He desires to communicate with us, and then actively listen for Him to speak to us, ready to receive His Word, believe His Word, and be willing to respond to His Word through faith. Throughout Scripture, GOD spoke and His children responded by saying, “Here I am” and “your servant is listening” (Genesis 22:1,11; 31:11; 46:2; Exodus 3:4; 1Samuel 3:4,9-10; Acts 9:10).
In Genesis 18:17, the Lord said He wanted to reveal to Abraham His plan that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
In 1Samuel 3:11, the Lord revealed to Samuel the judgment He was going to enact against Eli.
In Psalm 25:14, David said, “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.”
In fact, the revealing of GOD’s covenant is what happened when GOD informed Noah of the coming judgment by flood and then said in Genesis 6:18, “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”
Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.”
In John 15:15, Jesus said to His disciples, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
The Lord has already spoken to us through His Word (the Holy Bible). The Bible is that which has already been revealed and made known to us. So, if anyone wants to hear from GOD, then that person must first and foremost read and study His Word which has already been given to us. GOD has spoken. The Bible is His Word that all righteous people of ancient history longed and hoped to hear.
In Matthew 13:16-17, Jesus said to His disciples, “16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
What we know to be the New Testament, Peter called “a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1Peter 1:5). And then in 1:10-16, Peter explains, “10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
But how can anyone be holy unless that person seeks the Lord, desires to read and know His Word, and faithfully obeys His will? Anyone who refuses to read and study GOD’s Word cannot be complete and whole as Noah had been because that person has rejected the very Word that sustains us in our process of sanctification. The last days started at Pentecost. We are in the last days and have been in the last days for a long time. In fact, we are getting close to the last of the last days. We know this because the apostasy is already here and we are living in the days of Sodom. We are blessed to be able to have in our possession The Revealed that had not yet been revealed to our ancient ancestors. The great people of faith longed to possess what we now possess, and yet now that we have it, people take it for granted. How can anyone expect to hear from the Lord if they refuse to read His Word? Why would the Holy Spirit speak to you about that which has not yet been revealed when you refuse to read and study The Revealed?
In Hebrews 11:36-40, the author wrote that our ancient ancestors of faith “36 experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”
Many of our ancient ancestors of faith never had the blessed opportunity to see Jesus in person, to hear Him speak, to witness signs and wonders, to see the prophecies fulfilled, to have the Holy Spirit dwell within them after Pentecost, or to have in their possession a collection of GOD’s Word all in one easy-to-carry book. Men and women of faith became martyrs so that we could have in our possession the miracle that is known as the Holy Bible. I have witnessed children of third world nations weep in joy when they received a Bible because they understood the great gift they were receiving. And yet there exist people in our blessed and free nation of America who proclaim to be children of GOD yet they refuse to read and study GOD’s Word? What kind of child refuses to listen to his father and then complains about never hearing from his father? If someone is not hearing from GOD, then it is almost certain that the person has refused to read and study The Revealed.
In 2Timothy 4:13, Paul, writing while chained in prison (2:9), asked Timothy to bring to him “the books, especially the parchments.” These requested writings were most likely Old Testament scriptures and his own notes and records. The word “books” is the Greek βιβλίον [H975] biblion (bib-lee’-on), which referred to a scroll. In Luke 4:17, Jesus used the “book” of the prophet Isaiah to read from while in the synagogue on the Sabbath. John called his own gospel account a “book” (John 20:30) that could not contain everything Jesus said and did (21:25). In Galatians 3:10, Paul used the word to reference the Torah while quoting Deuteronomy 27:26. Further, the Septuagint (Old Testament translated into Greek) uses the word to describe GOD’s Law, covenant, and important records that had been written for the Israelites.
Paul, knowing that his life would soon come to an end (2Timothy 4:6), declared from prison that the written Word of GOD is of utmost importance for followers of Christ. In fact, Paul told Timothy that he needs to be able to accurately handle the Word of Truth (2:15), and be able to teach and gently correct those in opposition (2:24-25). Further, in 3:16-17, Paul reminded Timothy that “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” And finally, in 4:1-5, Paul wrote, “1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
In summary, Timothy would not have been able to fulfill his ministry and do the work of an evangelist unless he already knew GOD’s Word (which included the Gospel at that time).
In John 14:25-26, Jesus said to His disciples, “25 These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Therefore, if anyone desires to hear from GOD, then that person must have the Holy Spirit dwelling within him/her while actively listening to what the Spirit says because the Spirit will bring to our remembrance the Word of GOD already within us. But how can the Spirit remind us of the Word we received if we never received the Word? For example, David – a man after GOD’s own heart – often wrote psalms via inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But what had the Spirit often called to David’s remembrance? Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, which is a poem of meditations and prayers relating the Law of GOD. David already had GOD’s Word within him when the Spirit recalled that Word to his mind.
Further, in Luke 12:11-12, Jesus said, “11 When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
In John 16:12-15, Jesus said, “12 I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
Thus, the Bible is the Word that has already been revealed and the Holy Spirit will speak the Word to us in GOD’s perfect timing regarding what we do not yet know but will know in that hour. Therefore, a child of GOD needs to know the written Word and remain actively listening to what the Spirit will say. For this reason, Paul wrote in Romans 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” And again, in Galatians 5:25, Paul wrote, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Why? Because if we do, then we will produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Do you believe that GOD exists? Have you read His Word? Have you studied His Word? Like David, do you meditate on His Word and pray about the Word you’ve read and studied? Do you trust what He says in His Word that He desires to communicate with us? Is the Holy Spirit within you? Are you remaining righteous while actively listening for what the Spirit says? What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now? If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, is that message in alignment with what is written in GOD’s Word? How would you know unless you know GOD’s Word?
I challenge you to spend some time right now in prayer, asking GOD to speak to you, whether via the Holy Spirit highlighting the Word you’ve already received, or in a vision, or even through another believer. “Speak Lord. Here I am. I’m listening. What do you want me to know? What do you want me to do?”
NOAH’s ARK
Genesis 6:14-16 says, “14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.”
To the surprise of many critics, the ark was rightly designed for a universal flood; for seaworthiness, it had an accurate ratio (length to breadth to height). The ark was six times longer than it was wide and ten times longer than it was high. This ratio is what modern cargo ships use to withstand the strength of the sea. In fact, modern stability tests have shown that such a vessel could take up to 200-foot-high waves and could tip as much as 90 degrees and still right itself. How would Noah – a desert dweller of such an ancient time period – have known how to construct such a vessel of seaworthiness? In modern measurements, the ark would have been around 450 feet (140 m) long, 75 feet (23 m) wide, and 45 feet (14 m) high, yielding a displacement of about 43,000 tons (about 39 million kg). The inside capacity would have been an estimated 1.4 million cubic feet (39,644 cubic m), with an approximate total deck area of 95,700 square feet (8,891 square m).
Genesis 6:19 says, “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.”
Many critics like to argue that Noah’s ark could not have contained all known animals because there would have been too many animals and the ark simply wasn’t large enough to contain all animals – especially in a peaceful environment where the animals would not attack each other or Noah and his family. However, all arguments presuppose that GOD does not exist and that GOD was not in control. Scripture informs us multiple times that the animal kingdom is subject to GOD’s command. In 1Kings 17:1-7, GOD commanded a raven of the air to feed Elijah until the appointed time for Elijah to leave that area. In 1Samuel 6:7-16, GOD commanded cows of the land to bring the ark of the covenant back to the Levites. And GOD even commanded a great fish of the sea to swallow Jonah (Jonah 1:17) and vomit him back out three days later (2:10). Therefore, all animals, whether of the air, land, or sea, are subject to GOD’s commands. If GOD commanded all the animals to go to Noah, they would have obeyed His command. Is anything too difficult for GOD who created the entire universe, the earth, and all life within? What is impossible with man is possible with GOD (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27). In addition to the animals being subject to GOD’s command, Noah also could have stored the youngest of all animals, which means they would have been smaller and took up less space. Moreover, it is possible that Noah stored eggs, which are even smaller and take up less space than young animals.
Can you think of any other verses in the Bible where the animal kingdom was subject to GOD’s command? If so, where are those verses located in the Bible?
Have you ever been to the Ark Encounter theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky? If so, describe your experience there.
Quest For Truth 