Review of Genesis 6

by Victor Fawole

I welcome everyone to Genesis 6, a chapter that will drive any Bible reader to ask important questions. God is not averse to our inquisitiveness. However, in His wisdom, He reveals what He knows will be sufficient for us, and we must respect the boundaries of the scriptures. Let’s open to Genesis 6…

1. WHO ARE THE “SONS OF GOD”?

Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

Who are the “sons of God”? There are three major views on the identity of the “sons of God”, Let us check them out:

A. Fallen Angels
Those who hold this view rely on the fact that, in the Old Testament, the phrase “sons of God” always refers to angels (Job 1:6, Job 2:1, Job 38:7). They claim that fallen angels had sex with women to produce giant offspring. They claim that Satan orchestrated this so as to corrupt the bloodline of man, in order to prevent the coming of the Seed of the woman. Hence, God had to intervene and wipe out this corruption.

However, in Matthew 22:30, Jesus said that angels do not marry.

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

But a closer look at that verse shows that Jesus said “angels of God in heaven”, not “fallen angels” or “angels of Satan” (demons). This does not invalidate the view of those who believe that this passage refers to fallen angels. Of course, we know that angels can take on the human body when necessary (Mark 16:5), and this human body has a reference to sexuality (gender). No wonder the men of Sodom wanted to have sex (commit homosexuality) with the two angels that visited Lot (Gen. 19:1-5).

According to people who hold this view, these fallen angels were imprisoned by God, so that the other fallen angels would not do the same (Jude 1:6).

B. Godly Descendants of Seth
Those who hold this view say that Seth’s godly descendants were intoxicated by the beauty of women who descended from Cain and had rejected God, leading to greater wickedness. They claim that in the Old Testament, God’s covenant people are sometimes referred to as “God’s sons” (Deut. 14:1; Jer. 3:19), although the exact phrase “sons of God” is never used for them. Although there was no clear law from God (yet) against marrying unbelievers, they believe that this view explains why God later forbade the Israelites from marrying Canaanite women (Exo. 34:16; Deut. 7:3).

C. Powerful Human Rulers
This is the least popular view among these three. Those who hold this view claim that the “mighty men who were of old, men of renown” in verse 4 are the “sons of God” who had sex with women. These men were rulers at that time. The daughters of men were mere commoners. The union between the two caused a race of people who were in rebellion against God.

Of course, as I said earlier, God is not averse to our inquisitiveness. And He is not against the reading of genealogies. But He wants us to avoid foolish and fruitless arguments especially on matters of “genealogies”…

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Rather than engage in endless back-and-forths over myths and genealogies, we should invest our time in advancing the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

1Timothy 1:3-4 Just as I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, to remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now.

It is on this note that I want to call our attention to something that most people overlook when reading this passage…

Genesis 6:2 that the sons of God SAW that the daughters of mankind were BEAUTIFUL; and they TOOK wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

With those capitalized words, does this sound familiar to you? Let’s retrace back to Genesis 3 and compare…

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman SAW that the tree was GOOD for food, and that it was PLEASANT TO THE EYES, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she TOOK of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Can you see the connection I’m making? Hmmmn…

Whoever these “sons of God” were (Personally, I align with the “fallen angels” view), their sexual intercourses with the daughters of men VIOLATED GOD’S ORDER… and God saw it as a terrible corruption of mankind. That, is the most important point in this passage.

2. WHO ARE THE “NEPHILIM”?

Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

The “Nephilim” are another beings that have caused debates among Bible scholars. Let us consider some of the views:

A. One view is that when the “sons of God” (fallen angels / demons) took on physical form and had sex with human females, it resulted in giants, who are called the Nephilim, and had supernatural abilities. The Hebrew “Nephilim” means “to fall”. Thus, they were a mixed breed of fallen angels and humans.

B. Another view is that the “sons of God” were normal men that were only possessed by demons, and when they had sex with women, it resulted in giants, who were 100% human. These giants (Nephilim) “…were on the earth in those days, and also afterward…” (v. 4) That is, they existed before the flood “and also afterward” like Goliath (1Sam. 17:4–7) and the sons of Anak (Deut. 9:1-2, Num. 13:33). However, we know that giants like Goliath were exceptionally huge, but they were not superhumans and didn’t possess supernatural abilities.

C. A third view is that the “sons of God” were kings and rulers who married common women, and birthed corrupt, rebellious and wicked Nephilim, who were 100% human.

D. Another view is that the “Nephilim” were just an addition to the history here, and had no connection whatsoever with the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men”. It is just like saying: “There was a time in Nigeria, when there was an oil boom, Yoruba men loved Ibo women so much, and married them. The Fulani warriors were in Nigeria in those days, and afterwards, when the Yoruba men married the Igbo women. These Fulani warriors were mighty men, well renowned.” You can see that there’s no connection here, right?

We have the liberty to choose our view, as long as we are sincere with handling the scriptures (Personally, my slant towards the “fallen angels view” make me also align with Nephilim being a mixed breed of fallen angels and humans). However, like I admonished earlier, let us avoid foolish and fruitless arguments over these matters. They are not essential matters to divide over. And as I did earlier, I will like to show the most important part of this passage…

Genesis 6:5, 8-9 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… But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

The Bible contrasts “wickedness” with “grace”, “evil” with “just”. Notice that in the midst of exploding population (v. 1), sexual perversion (v. 2), demonic activity (v. 2), constant evil in the heart of man (v. 5), widespread corruption and violence (v. 11), a man found grace in the eyes of God!

“…but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20). Hallelujah!

That leads us to the third question.

3. WHO IS NOAH?

Genesis 6:8-9 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

While God commanded all the earth to be cleansed, He found one man with whom to begin again – Noah. He didn’t deserve grace; he found it. No one earns grace, but we can all find it. Grace made him “blameless”. Glory!

The phrase “perfect in his generations” simply means that his genetic profile was still pure. There was no record of “sons of God” having sex with “daughters of men” or mention of “Nephilim” in his lineage. This was not the basis of his righteousness, though. This was not how he got grace. As a seed of Adam, Noah was a sinner (Rom. 5:12). He should rather be grateful to God that God was gracious to him and God kept his lineage out of the widespread corruption. He found grace. What a beautiful first mention of the word “grace” in the Bible!

His righteousness is by faith! (Heb. 11:7) Noah responded to God wholeheartedly and loved to please Him. “…and Noah walked with God!” Wow! He found grace… his generation was preserved… and he walked with God! So many blessings of grace!

Say after me: Thank You Jesus for I found grace, I received grace, and I enjoy grace! My seeds are preserved, and I receive all the blessings of walking with God in Jesus’ Name!

Remember Ephesians 2:8-10?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Noah was not “saved by works”; he was “saved to do good works”. The beautiful testimony about this is found in the last verse of Genesis 6…

Genesis 6:13a, 22 And God said unto Noah…Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

When given a huge job to do, Noah did it. No questions… No complaints… No excuses… No rebellion… For over 100 years… He simply obeyed! Based on biblical records, there has never been such a thing as “rain”. So he didn’t rely on scientific theories, observations, weather forecasts, or laws of Physics to doubt God’s pronouncement and plan. His obedience was complete and absolute! There are two lessons for us here:

– God’s assignment receives God’s funding. God did not give Noah a task that he could not bring to completion.

– Noah’s obedience to God is evidence that his faith was genuine. We “work out” what God has “worked in”.

Dear Gogolights, since we have indeed found grace with God, let us commit to walking with Him in obedience, for, after all, we will enjoy the blessings of obedience!

Grace to you, Church!