Genesis 6:1-8: The World’s Downward Spiral and God’s Heartbreak

This passage in Genesis paints a dark picture of the world before the great flood, showing us just how far humanity had fallen from God’s original design.

What Happened?

• Population Explosion and Corruption: As humans multiplied, wickedness spread like wildfire. The “sons of God” (likely powerful rulers or angelic beings) took any women they desired, leading to a society filled with violence and corruption.
• God’s Grief: God was deeply grieved by the evil he saw. He regretted creating humans and was filled with pain at the state of the world.
• Noah Finds Favour: Amidst the darkness, Noah stood out. He was a righteous man who walked with God, finding favour in His eyes.
• The Decision to Flood: God decided to wipe out humanity and start over, preserving only Noah and his family.

Why is this Important?

This story reveals several important truths:

1. The Destructive Nature of Sin: Sin isn’t just a minor mistake; it corrupts everything it touches. Humanity’s wickedness reached a point where God saw no other option but to start over.
2. God’s Holiness and Justice: God cannot tolerate evil. His justice demands a response to sin, even if it means severe consequences.
3. God’s Love and Mercy: Even in judgment, God shows mercy. He preserved Noah and his family, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the destruction.
4. The Importance of Obedience: Noah’s obedience to God set him apart from the rest of humanity. He trusted God even when it seemed impossible.

Study Questions

1. What does this passage reveal about the nature of sin?
2. How does this story show both God’s justice and His mercy?
3. Why do you think Noah found favour with God? What can we learn from his example?
4. How does this story challenge us to live differently in today’s world?
5. What does it mean to “walk with God” like Noah did?
6. How can we avoid falling into the same patterns of wickedness that led to the flood?

Challenge

Take some time this week to reflect on your own life. Are there any areas where sin has taken root? Confess those areas to God and ask for His help to turn away from them. Remember, God desires a relationship with you, and He’s always ready to forgive and restore those who seek Him with a sincere heart.

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Genesis 6:1-8 – The Corruption of Humanity and God’s Sorrow

• Genesis 6:1-2
  • “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”  
  • Spurgeon points out the rapid moral decline after the godly line of Seth intermingled with the ungodly line of Cain: “The mixture of the two seeds… produced a monstrous progeny of hybrids, unholy, heaven-defying giants.”
  • Matthew Henry emphasises the destructive nature of these unions: “Unholy marriages… are often the inlet of all manner of wickedness into families.” The “sons of God” likely refer to those from Seth’s line, while the “daughters of men” are from Cain’s line.
• Genesis 6:3
  • “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
  • Spurgeon focuses on the heartbreaking reality of God’s Spirit withdrawing: “Sin grieves the Holy Spirit, and if persisted in, will cause Him to depart.” The 120 years is interpreted as a time of grace before the Flood.  
  • Matthew Henry highlights God’s patience and man’s stubbornness: “God is slow to anger… But there is a point beyond which the patience of God himself will not go.”
• Genesis 6:4
  • “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”  
  • Spurgeon sees these “giants” as symbols of rampant evil: “Great in stature, great in sin, great in tyranny and oppression.”
  • Matthew Henry also connects their physical size with their moral depravity: “They were men of great stature… and great strength; but they abused their power to violence and oppression.”
• Genesis 6:5
  • “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  
  • Spurgeon paints a bleak picture of humanity’s state: “The thoughts, the desires, the intents of the heart were all corrupt.”
  • Matthew Henry emphasizes the totality of human corruption: “The wickedness of man was great… All flesh had corrupted his way.”
• Genesis 6:6
  • “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
  • Spurgeon reflects on the depth of God’s sorrow: “The Lord repented… not that He had erred, but He was grieved that man had erred.”
  • Matthew Henry sees this as an expression of God’s holy displeasure: “Sin is… that abominable thing which God hates.”
• Genesis 6:7
  • “And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”  
  • Spurgeon underscores the severity of sin’s consequences: “Sin had brought forth death.”
  • Matthew Henry points to the universality of the judgment: “The earth also was corrupt… therefore God would destroy the earth with its inhabitants.”
• Genesis 6:8
  • “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • Spurgeon offers a ray of hope amidst the darkness: “Noah… by his holy walk and conversation, condemned the world.”
  • Matthew Henry highlights Noah’s righteousness in contrast to the prevailing wickedness: “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations.”

Conclusion

Genesis 6:1-8 presents a sobering picture of humanity’s descent into wickedness and God’s righteous response. However, even in judgment, God’s grace shines through in His preservation of Noah and his family. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of sin and the necessity of repentance and faith in God.