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Genesis Chapter
Six
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Third Fall of Man
A. Man was indeed flesh and was corrupted in
deeds:
1. Human hybrid appeared because of the
intercourse between the angels and men (v.1-4);
2. God was sorry that He had made man on the
earth when seeing the wickedness of man was great in the earth and (v.5-7);
3. Only Noah found grace in the eyes of God
(v.8-10);
4. All the world was corrupted (v.11-12);
B. The salvation of God:
1. God was determined to destroy the whole
world (v.13);
2. God commanded Noah to create an ark
(v.14-21);
3. Noah kept the commandment of God (v.22);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 6:1 “Now it came to pass
when men began to multiply on the face
of the earth
and daughters were born to them
”
YLT:
“And
it cometh to pass that mankind have begun to multiply on the face of the
ground
and daughters have been born to them
”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Sin was a kind of infectious leper. When the
wicked are multiplied
transgression increases (Pro. 29:16).
2) God
desires man to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28). However
if man does not
walk in the appointed will of God
his problems will be multiplied. Indeed
the
church shall seek the increase of number and also pay attention to the growth
of life.
Gen. 6:2 “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men
that they were beautiful; and they took wives
for themselves of all whom they chose.”
YLT:
“and
sons of God see the daughters of men that they fair
and they take to
themselves women of all whom they have chosen.”
Literal
Meaning: “the
sons of God” refer to the
angels (Job 1:6; 2:1). Originally the angels neither married nor were given in
marriage (Matt. 22:30). However
there were some angels that had failed to keep
their proper position. Men of the city of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The lusts of eyes may often stir up lusts of the
flesh. Satan often uses man’s “eyes” to commit adultery (Matt. 5:28).
Therefore
let us watch what we look on.
2) If
a young believer who chooses a spouse pays attention to “physical beauty” only
it is difficult to have a good ending.
3)
Once man leaves God
he will walk “at will” and dare to do anything to satisfy
his own lusts without fear of God.
4) It
is the root of failure that believers walk “according to their own will”
instead of keeping the will of God.
5) Our
God is a God of jealousy. He does not please His children to be associated with
the evil tide of the world to be defiled by the world.
Gen. 6:3 “And the Lord said
“My Spirit shall not strive with
man forever
for he is indeed
flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.””
YLT: “And
Jehovah saith
`My Spirit doth not strive in man -- to the age; in their erring
they flesh:' and his days have been an hundred and twenty years.”
Meaning
of Words: “strive with”: with a straight course;
Literal
Meaning: in the Bible
flesh
means that man has the deeds of body
(Rom.8:13) because of being controlled by the evil lusts after man had
fallen and sin entered into man’s body (Gal. 5:24; Eph.2:3). That man is indeed
flesh means that man is of the flesh and lives under the control of the lusts
of the flesh.
“My
Spirit shall not strive with man
forever”
God send the
Spirit to be against man (Gal. 5:17) to inspire man to walk by the Spirit.
However
if man clings to things of the flesh
he will become the man of the
flesh. God’s spirit will not strive with man forever and gives him up to the
lusts of the flesh (Rom. 1:24).
“Yet his days
shall be one hundred and twenty years”
God gave this additional gracious period and then
executed the judgment.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In order to restore man
His Spirit often speaks
in man to make him realize the mistake.
2)
Once man is flesh
God has no position and God’s word is not obeyed
for the
flesh of man is enmity against God.
3) God
has rich goodness and forbearance and long-suffering to lead man to repentance.
However
if man refuses to repent
he treasures up to himself wrath of God in
the day of righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:4-5).
4) It
is not that the Spirit shall not strive with
man
but
not strive with man “forever”. If we believers do not obey the teaching
of the unction
the Spirit will not utterly cease his working at once. However
if we disobey again and again
the working of the unction may stop.
5) If
a believer is unconscious of his sins
possibly
it is given up by God because
he has darkened his neck and refused to hear the words of the Spirit.
Gen. 6:4 “There were giants 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.”
YLT:
“The
fallen ones were in the earth in those days
and even afterwards when sons of
God come in unto daughters of men
and they have borne to them -- they the
heroes
who
from of old
the men of name.”
Meaning
of Words: “giants”: feller
bully; “come in to”: enter in;
“mighty”: valiant
strong;
Literal
Meaning: “giants”
it is “Nephilim” in the original
a kind
of giant with stalwart stature (Num. 13:33). Such kind of hybrid appeared
because of disobedience to God’s law of “being after one’s kind” (Gen. 1:21
24) so that the nature of the evil spirit was mixed into man.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Those who are of God can in no wise have
fellowship with those are of the world. Let believers come out from among them
that God will accept us (2Cor. 6:14-18).
2)
Believers now may often compromise on truth for the purpose of the so-called
“fellowship and oneness”. We have to know that any fellowship or oneness
obtained at the cost of truth God is not what God looks for.
3)
Those who have stalwart stature and mighty power are objects the worship of the
world. However
they tend to be the overwhelming power over all. The problems
in the church are often caused by the leading characters.
4) If
man’s flesh is not dealt with or controlled
it will puff up and bring
disasters.
Gen. 6:5 “Then the Lord[b] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth
and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
YLT: “And
Jehovah seeth that abundant the wickedness of man in the earth
and every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the day;”
Meaning
of Words: “great”: multiplied; “thoughts”:
imagination
means;
Literal
Meaning: not only man’s
external works but also inner thoughts are full of wickedness and evil.
“Continually”
it means that man’s sins and thoughts of sin are not occasionally
but
constantly.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) They that are according to the flesh mind the
things of the flesh. And the mind of the flesh is enmity against God (
2) The
mind of man is the stronghold of Satan. Let we believers pay attention to our
mind that all our thoughts will be led to the obedience of Christ.
3)
False marriage leads to great loss. Let young people take heed of choosing
spouse. Remember that there is no fellowship between Christians and unbelievers
and be not diversely yoked (2Cor. 6:14).
4) The
eyes of God run to and fro through the whole earth and He searches reins and
hearts. Let us pray to God to keep our mind and hearts and lead captive every
thought into the obedience of Christ (2Cor. 10:5).
Gen. 6:6 “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the
earth
and He was grieved in His heart.”
YLT:
“and
Jehovah repenteth that He hath made man in the earth
and He grieveth Himself
-- unto His heart.”
Meaning
of Words: “sorry”: sign; “grieved”: hurt
painful;
Literal
Meaning: here “sorry” does
not mean “regret”
for God is omniscient. God felt sorrowful and painful when
He saw man’s sins.
The
fall of man is not the original will of God
for God made man for the purpose
of manifesting God and ruling on the earth on Him behalf (Gen. 1:26-27).
“Grieved Himself”
it indicates that man occupied an influential
position in God’s heart. And even though man was so depraved
God was still
merciful and slow to anger (Neh. 9:17).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
2) God
will not despise a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17)
for He had been
grieved Himself for the sake of our sins.
Gen. 6:7 “So the Lord said
“I will destroy man whom I have
created from the face of the earth
both man and beast
creeping thing and
birds of the air
for I am sorry that I have made them.””
YLT: “And
Jehovah saith
`I wipe away man whom I have prepared from off the face of the
ground
from man unto beast
unto creeping thing
and unto fowl of the heavens
for I have repented that I have made them.'”
Meaning
of Words: “destroy”: wipe off
rub; “sorry”: sign;
Literal
Meaning: since the fallen
race had failed to perform the function
their life became meaningless in the
sight of God. Moreover
things created for the sake of man had also lost their
value of existence.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let believers not despise themselves. If we live
in the will of God
all things will be those for whom all things and by whom
all things
just like Christ (Heb. 2:6-10)
2) All
things of the flesh should be destroyed
for they do not meet for God’s use. If
we believers want to be serviceable to the Lord
we have to deal with our
natural flesh.
Gen. 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
YLT:
“And
Noah found grace in the eyes of Jehovah.”
Meaning
of Words: “grace”: graciousness
favor;
Literal
Meaning: God’s grace is the
source of man’s being saved. He will feel compassion for whom He will feel
compassion (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Even though the whole world is defiled
I am
alone is innocent. Though I am despised by others
I still seek His favor only.
2) God
does not sees as man sees
for man looks upon the outward appearance
but God
looks upon the heart (1Sam. 16:7).
Gen. 6:9 “This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man
perfect
in his generations. Noah walked with God.”
YLT:
“These
births of Noah: Noah a righteous man; perfect he hath been among his
generations; with God hath Noah walked habitually.”
Meaning
of Words: “just”: upright; “perfect”: whole
honest
without blemish
full
undefiled; “generations”: among his peers
history;
Literal
Meaning: “just”: the one who
is justified by God; no one could be justified by works before God (Gal. 3:11)
but by faith (
“Perfect”: it is also “in sincerity” (Jos. 24:14)
which means keeping a
perfect heart toward God. Noah relied on God and loved God with a perfect
heart. Here it does not mean Noah himself was without blemish.
“Walked with God”: draw near to God and focused on the will of God (see
the commentary of Gen. 5:22) in the practical conversation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) No one in the world is perfect in works.
However
if we have a perfect heart
God will see us as “perfect” as Noah.
2) We
can know from this verse that “just” and “perfect” and “walking with God” are
of the same meaning ---- trust in God and desire God with whole heart and walk
according to God.
Gen. 6:10 “And Noah begot three sons: Shem
Ham
and Japheth.”
YLT:
“And
Noah begetteth three sons
Shem
Ham
and Japheth.”
Literal
Meaning: please read the
commentary of Gen. 5:32.
Gen. 6:11 “The earth also was corrupt before God
and the earth was
filled with violence.”
YLT:
“And
the earth is corrupt before God
and the earth is filled violence.”
Meaning
of Words: “corrupt”: decay
cast off; “violence”:
oppression
violent dealing;
Literal
Meaning: man has not only the
mind of the flesh (v.5) but also the works of the flesh (v.12). The works of
the flesh are characterized by two points: one is “violence”
namely
disobedience to God (
Gen. 6:12 “So God looked upon the earth
and indeed it was corrupt;
for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”
YLT: “And
God seeth the earth
and lo
it hath been corrupted
for all flesh hath
corrupted its way on the earth.”
Gen. 6:13 “And God said to Noah
“The end of all flesh has come before
Me
for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold
I will
destroy them with the earth.”
YLT:
“And
God said to Noah
`An end of all flesh hath come before Me
for the earth hath
been full of violence from their presence; and lo
I am destroying them with
the earth.”
Literal
Meaning: since the flesh of
man avails nothing before God
it is worthy of being destroyed only.
Spiritual
Meaning: “I
will destroy them with the earth”
“earth” symbolizes the world. Therefore
the
spiritual meaning of this verse is that the flesh and the world are both
enmities against God
so both of them should be destroyed together (Gal. 6:14).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The human way of dealing with the flesh is
amelioration. But the divine way is to put it to death and crucify it on the
cross (Gal. 5:24).
2) The
world is passing and its lust
but he that does the will of God abides for
eternity (John 2:17).
3)
Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4; 1John
2:15).
Gen. 6:14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark
and cover it inside and outside with pitch.”
YLT:
“`Make for thyself an ark of gopher-wood; rooms dost thou make with the ark
and thou hast covered it within and without with cypress;”
Meaning
of Words: “ark”: box; “room”: dwelling-place
house;
“cover”: pacify
purge away
cleanse; “pitch”: bribe
ransom;
Literal
Meaning: “gopherwood”
it is a kind of cypress rich in resin and
is water proof.
“Pitch”: it is water proof;
Spiritual
Meaning: “gopherwood”
symbolizes the perfect and strong humanity of Christ which can bear the
judgment of God.
“
“Make rooms in
the ark”
it typifies that
the incarnated Christ is just as a man
having the three parts of spirit and
soul and body with different functions.
“Pitch”
it shares the same etymon with the word “redemption”
symbolizing that the precious blood of Christ has the effect of atonement.
The
whole verse means that incarnated Christ who has the perfect humanity bore the
judgment before God in place of man and gave His life and shed His blood and
fulfilled the redemption and thus became the only savior of man.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though God was determined to destroy the whole
earth
He still reserved the way for survival. God’s love here is manifested to
us.
2)
God’s revelation and guidance are often detailed. If believers are vague in the
revelation of God
probably
we may have not made up our mind to keep the will
of God (John 7:17).
Gen. 6:15 “And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits
its
width fifty cubits
and its height thirty cubits.”
YLT:
“and
this that which thou dost with it: three hundred cubits the length of the ark
fifty cubits its breadth
and thirty cubits its height;”
Literal
Meaning: “cubit”: it is an ancient measure of length
(Deut. 3:11; Rev. 21:17); a cubit equals to 18 inches.
Spiritual
Meaning: “three hundred”
it
is the product of three times one hundred; “three” symbolizes the holy Trinity
and “one hundred” symbolizes fullness (Matt. 13:8).
“Fifty”
it is the product of five times ten. “Five” is the sum of “one”
and “four”
symbolizing that the only God and the created man (“four”) together
will count (“five”). “Ten” symbolizes perfection (Dan. 1:12
20).
“Thirty”
it is the product of “three” times “ten”. And the meaning of
three and ten has been mentioned above.
The
whole verse shows that Christ is God who came to be a man
in whom dwells all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The ark God asked Noah to make was really a huge
one. The work was so tremendous that it cannot be fulfilled without ready
willingness and steadfast faith.
2)
Such a colossal ark needed a long time (possibly
one hundred and twenty years)
to be constructed. During those years
there was no sign at all for the
impending flood. Instead
Noah had to be faced with the sneer of people around.
Therefore
let us disregard the environment or views of men when we wait for
the fulfillment of the Lord’s work.
Gen. 6:16 “You shall make a window for the ark
and you shall finish
it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall
make it with lower
second
and
third decks.”
YLT: “a
window dost thou make for the ark
and unto a cubit thou dost restrain it from
above; and the opening of the ark thou dost put in its side
-- lower
second
and third dost thou make it.”
Spiritual
Meaning: “You shall make a window for the ark”
it symbolizes that believers have to
climb up further and experience more God and God’s grace and rely on Him all
times and have our mind on things above (
“Set
the door of the ark in its side”
“in its side”
it is convenient for
man to go in and go out
symbolizing that Christ is near and is the only way
for men to enter in to God and enjoy the grace of God (John 10:9; 14:6; Heb.
10:19-20).
“You shall make
it with lower
second
and
third decks”
it typifies believers’ experiences of the
Holy Father and the Holy Son and the Holy Spirit are in different levels. Let
us not be satisfied with having entered into the door but seek with diligence
that we have been taken possession of by Christ (Phil. 3:12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There is only one door in the ark. Salvation is
in none other than Christ (Acts 4:12).
2) The
window is above the ark. Thus
men in the ark
will not see the roaring waving around but look on God in the heaven only.
Gen. 6:17 “And behold
I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth
to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.”
YLT:
“`And
I
lo
I am bringing in the deluge of waters on the earth to destroy all flesh
in which a living spirit
from under the heavens; all that in the earth doth
expire.”
Spiritual
Meaning: “floodwaters” symbolize the judgment of God (see Matt.
24:39) as well as the water of baptism (see 1Pet. 3:20-21).
Believers are baptized unto the death of Christ. That is to say
our old
man has been crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed. If we
have died with Christ
we believe that we shall also live with Him (
Gen. 6:18 “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go
into the ark—you
your sons
your wife
and your sons’ wives with you.”
YLT:
“`And
I have established My covenant with thee
and thou hast come in unto the ark
thou
and thy sons
and thy wife
and thy son's wives with thee;”
Meaning
of Words: “covenant”: compact
league;
Literal
Meaning: “but I will
establish My covenant with you”
God made a covenant with Noah
which
shows that God has put himself on a position that cannot regret. God was sorry
for His creation (v.4)
but the gifts and the calling of God do not subject to
repentance (
Only Noah found grace before God (v.8)
and the whole family had also found grace (1Pet. 3:20; 2Pet. 2:5; Acts 6:31)
which shows that kindness of Christ’s salvation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Shall
go into the ark”
he who is outside
of the ark could not be saved. We cannot truly experience the salvation of
Christ unless we have been united with the Lord by faith.
2) The
salvation of God is given to man based on the family unit. Therefore
let us
pray for our family’s being saved.
Gen. 6:19 “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two
of every sort into the ark
to
keep them alive with you; they
shall be male and female.”
YLT: “and
of all that liveth
of all flesh
two of every thou dost bring in unto the ark
to keep alive with thee; male and female are they.”
Literal
Meaning: “male
and female”
it is for the
purpose of multiplication.
Spiritual
Meaning: every living thing
would enter into the ark
which showed that all living thing would have part in
the salvation of Christ (
Each male
and female expresses the continuity of Christ’s salvation. He had offered once
sacrifice for sins once for all (Heb. 7:27-28; 10:12-14). And we enjoy His
salvation forever by faith (Heb. 7:25; John 10:28-29).
God let every living thing of the world
enter into death but kept all persons and living things in the ark
which
indicated that all the old creation should die and only the new creation in
Christ will be raised from death.
Gen. 6:20 “Of the birds after their kind
of animals after their kind
and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind
two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.”
YLT: “Of
the fowl after its kind
and of the cattle after their kind
of every creeping
thing of the ground after its kind
two of every they come in unto thee
to
keep alive.”
Enlightenment
in the Word: all living things
were kept for they came to Noah. We believers shall also be responsible for
preaching the gospel to unbelievers.
Gen. 6:21 “And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten
and you shall gather it to
yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.””
YLT:
“`And
thou
take to thyself of all food that is eaten; and thou hast gathered unto
thyself
and it hath been to thee and to them for food.'”
Meaning
of Words: “gather”: restore;
Spiritual
Meaning: the food gathered in
the ark symbolized that Christ is the bread of life. We can live by Him through
eating Him (John 6:35
57).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let us not think it is enough of being saved
(entering into the ark). In the ark
let us also eat and enjoy the Lord
everyday in the ark (Christ) so that our spiritual life will be quickened and
grown up.
2) Man
shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth
of God (Matt. 4:4).
Gen. 6:22 “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him
so
he did.”
YLT: “And
Noah doth according to all that God hath commanded him; so hath he done.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith should be in keeping with works. Faith
without works is dead (James 1:22-23; 2:14-26).
2) The
word of God is the source of believers’ spiritual works. Where there is no
God’s word
there is no work. Once the word of God comes
man shall do
according to the pattern shown in the mountain (Heb. 8:5)
and nothing shall be
added to or taken from the divine word (Rev. 22:18-19).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Man Was Corrupted into the Flesh
A. Evil spirits came to have intercourse of man
(v.1-2);
B. That made man the flesh (v.3);
C. Strange giants appeared (v.4);
D. Every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart
was only evil continually (v.5);
E. Man is full of works in the flesh ----
violence and corruption (v.11-12);
God’s Reponses to Man’s Fall
A. God’s Spirit shall not strive with man
forever (v.3);
B. God was grieved in His heart (v.6);
C. Man and all living things lost their value
of existence before God (v.7);
D. God would destroy the flesh and the earth
together (v.13);
He Who Had Obtained the Salvation of God
A. Just ---- justification by faith (v.9; see
Heb. 11:7);
B. Perfect ---- fear God in spirit (v.9; see
Jos. 24:14);
C. Walk with God ---- keep the will of God
(v.9);
Ways of Obtaining the Salvation of God
A. God is the origin of salvation ---- “find
grace before Jehovah” (v.8);
B. Man can be justified before God by faith
only ---- “a just man” (v.9);
C. Fear in God ---- “perfect” (v.9);
D. “Walk with God” (v.9);
E. Have the word and revelation of God ---- “God
said to Noah” (v.13);
F. Keep the word of God ---- “according
to all that God commanded him
so he did” (v.22);
G. By Christ only ---- “make yourself an ark” (v.14);
H. Enter into Christ ---- “go into the ark”
(v.18);
I. In Christ and die and be raised with Him
---- undergo the flood in the ark (v.17-20);
J. Eat and enjoy the spiritual food ---- “you
shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten
and you shall gather it to yourself” (v.21);
The
A. “Gopherwood” (v.14) ---- which typifies the
firm and perfect humanity of Christ;
B. “Make
rooms” (v.14) ---- which
typifies that Christ is the rest of all kinds of people;
C. “Cover
it inside and outside with pitch” (v.14) ---- which typifies that the precious
blood of Christ has the effect of atonement;
D. The size of the ark (v.15) ---- which
typifies the perfect fullness of Christ;
E. The “window” above the ark (v.16) ---- which
typifies that Christ is the light of the world;
F. “The
door of the ark” (v.16) ---- which
typifies that Christ is the way for man to God;
G. The door “in its side” (v.16) ---- which typifies Christ is near;
H. The “lower
second
and third decks” of the ark (v.16) ---- which typifies that
man’s experiences of Christ are of different degrees;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou