Text: Genesis 6:1-8
This week’s Parsha concerns Noah, the first civilization, and society. From this Sidrah we can learn 6 facts:
The world’s population ignored YHVH and became worldly and immoral and even the godly became immoral and worldly, ignoring YHVH, and rebelling against Him.
YHVH was distraught and He warned mankind that He would withdraw His Spirit and that His grace was limited, and judgment would follow
Mankind became lawless as well as immoral.
YHVH saw man’s wickedness and every imagination and thought was evil.
YHVH grieved, aw tswab (displeased) over man and condemned man to be destroyed off the face of the earth.
YHVH remembered His grace and saved Noah.
Now we need to first examine verse 2 where we see a very interesting statement. Read with me:
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. (KJV)
To fully understand this section of Scripture we must first understand this passage.
There are two major interpretations of this passage. We need to look at these positions before studying these passages.
The interpretations focuses upon the term “sons of G-d (Elohim.)”
Some commentators say the “sons of G-d” are angels
Others say this term refers to the godly line of Adam and Seth.
All Jewish commentators take the first position as I do. Philo, Josephus and the apocryphal book of 1 Enoch are among many who hold to this position. Other proofs are definitely found in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. Giants as translated in English texts (nephilim in Hebrew) were born as a result of the union between the “sons of G-d” and earthly women (v. 4). I might add that the Hebrew word Nephil can mean fallers, apostates from true religion, strong and robust in body, bullies, leaders of others. Nephilim comes from the Hebrew root word nephal meaning to “fall upon and attack.” This word Nephilim then both refers to the strong of the earth such as the leaders and the powerful, and to the attackers, robbers and bandits, and not specifically to gigantic beings as we would read it, although it can mean that as well. Many scholars believe that these beings are the basis for ancient mythology that talks about half-human, half-divine beings upon earth. Greek mythology is rampant with such stories and the heroes of these stories were worshipped as gods.
We surely know that angles can appear in bodily form as reported in Genesis 19:1-5 and in other places in Scripture. Then in Jude verse 6 we also read:
6 And the angels, which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Vs. 6 Is a reference to that group of fallen angels who cohabited with women, (Gen. 6:1-4) and who were confined immediately by YHVH because of the gross nature of that sin. The apocryphal book of Enoch describes their dramatic end. 2 Peter 2:4 also refers to this episode.
2. Commentators who deny this position state that the reference to the “sons of G-d” refers to the godly line of Adam and Seth, those that walked with G-d, while the ungodly line is that of Cain. They offer less proof for their position and I reject this position.
It’s my position that these events described so briefly in this passage, where hasatan’s emissaries infiltrated the human race, so infecting it with rebellion and sin by his angelic agents, was the catalyst that brought the human race to destruction, save 8 souls who found grace in the eyes of YHVH Elohim. I might add that Yahshua in Matthew 24: 37-38 warns us that just before His return, that in the end time it will be like in the time of Noah. It should also be noted that Scripture states that YHVH will unleash these demons then.
This brings us to the state of the earth in the time of Noah and to compare that time with our time. YHVH saw that man’s wickedness was great upon the earth. By great, it is meant that man’s wickedness multiplied. Society was not getting better, but more lawless, and immorality, crime and corruption were increasing every year.
It also means that sin became more extreme and terrible.
· More mean and vile
· More immoral and perverse
· More destructive and terrifying
· More evil and devilish
· More fleshly and carnal
· More lustful and sensual
· More obscene and flagrant
· More filthy and foul
· More gross and heinous
Mankind had become depraved and what this means is that mankind was:
· Self-centered and self seeking
· Self exalting and prideful
· Covetous and full of greed
· Condemning and judgmental
· Negative and attacking
· Suspicious and unbelieving
· Bitter and hateful
· Despiteful and vengeful
· Violent and destructive
· Lustful and sensual
· Sexual and immoral
· Fleshly and obscene
On and on the list could go, covering the unending flow of evil thoughts and imaginations that flash across man’s mind every day of his life. How many of the thousands of thoughts are negative and evil within a day? YHVH said, the thoughts of man was evil continually for anything short of perfection is evil, if it stands opposed to YHVH Elohim and His perfection.
How can we interrupt the evil thoughts that in us? We must dwell upon torah and focus upon YHVH Elohim. The Bible tells us that our mind (heart) controls our thoughts and if our mind is set upon Him our thoughts will be His.
Now I want you to think, to consider, how much our society is like the society of Noah just described.
· Think of the cult of beauty and sex, the emphasis upon sex and the flesh today, how sex and the flesh dominate the media, advertisements, and the very thoughts and minds of people.
· Think how the strong, powerful, unjust, and immoral rule the earth today; how money, wealth, position, and might control the lives of people.
· Think how lawless so many societies have become, full of attackers, robbers, and bandits. Think how lawless and uncontrolled people become even when some natural disaster has stricken an area and the local residents are suffering. We live in a day of lawlessness and violence.
· Think how the powerful and immoral and even some of the lawless of this earth have become famous and are the idols of society. The person may be the most immoral person imaginable, having had multiple husbands and wives, be a drunkard, adulterer, and drug user, but if he or she holds some high position, has money., or is featured in films or sports, the person is built up in the media, mad famous and idolized by many.
· Think how many film stars, athletes, and leaders, even presidents within this world live immoral and unjust lives; yet there are the giants, the famous and the idols of the earth. Even some believers hold them in high esteem.
Now for the ultimate question? How did the first society and this society get into this predicament? Scripture tells us that marriage between the ungodly and the godly was strictly forbidden in the earliest days of history, long before the Torah was given to Moshe. In Deu. 7:3-4 YHVH command to Israel is recorded.
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
As believers we are to be set-apart not only in marriage, but from ungodly people and their activities. Ultimately, sin corrupts even the believer. Have you ever noticed that the more sinners congregate and get together the more sin grows? We see this when people flock to large population centers and ignore YHVH. When people get together for parties and ignore YHVH, drinking to excess, loosing their inhibitions. You know if you are honest with yourself how more likely it is to sin when in a group of worldly people then when alone or with other believers. We all know people are much more bold when sinning in a group. It always becomes easier when someone else is doing it, no matter what, sexual immorality, stealing, violence or even murder. We’ve seen it if we haven’t experienced it on TV when we see the results of mob violence.
We as Believers are to be separate from the world, and the foregoing metaphor of marriage as well as myriads of Scripture teaches that. We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers for evil corrupts and tears down a believer’s restraint and control. Like the angels we begin to notice what they noticed, that the women were fair, beautiful and shapely. The ungodly focused their thoughts upon the beautiful faces and shapely bodies, and they desired them. They looked at the outward physical appearance and forgot the inward spiritual beauty. They did not control their eyes or their thoughts. They looked and saw, and fed their minds upon the worldly and immoral ignoring YHVH His Torah going about doing their own thing, satisfying the lust of the flesh.
But there is hope for in fact six we saw that Noah was saved. YHVH showed His favor upon Noah and His family for Noah found grace in the eyes of G-d. Noah found favor because he believed YHVH and remained true to Him following His instructions and not following a path of his own making. If we are to be saved like Noah, we too must follow YHVH, and His Torah keeping separate from the ungodly world that surrounds us. May YHVH Elohim show favor and grace upon you and me and let us be a light unto the world reflecting His righteousness and glory.
Amein