GENESIS
CHAPTER
6
1. When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.
(Genesis chapter 6 verses 1 and 2)
Apparently there was a rapid increase of males and females on earth, however the quality of spiritual and social values was in a rapid state of degradation. Instead of consulting God with reference to whom to marry, people started acting on sexual and sensual gratifications and started choosing according to their mean and sinful desires.
This is something that is happening even during our times. Many people are making decisions that do not have God as their basic assumption or foundation. Lawmakers are planning laws such as same sex marriages and adoption to homosexuals and implementing laws such as divorce that all go against the will of God and even against the natural course of human nature.
3. Then the LORD said, "My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years."
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 3)
As previously mentioned God's presence and the presence of evil cannot coincide. This means that when humans became tainted by sin, they became corrupted and seriously inclined to a bad and negative human nature governed by sinful desires and instant gratification. This also means that humans lost contact with the 'Divine grace of God' and had become as we are today, slaves of our own desires and gratifications regardless of the will of God. In a way we have become no better than animals who act on instinct. However in order to free ourselves of this terminal condition we are to turn to God by means of the Church and seek to open our sinful selves to God so that His light of grace can shine in us once again and deliver us out of our sinful selves.
4. The Nephilim were on the earth in those days-and also afterward-when the sons of God went into the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes of old, warriors of renown.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 4)
Apparently it seems that fallen beings such as angels that could be the followers of Satan who had already become corrupted intermingled with humans and somehow bore children to them as in Greek mythology where hybrid beings such as half horses and half humans came into beings. In fact verse four could be actually referring to such beings.
5. The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 5)
In fact it is absolutely true that our natural inclinations are inclined to bad and corrupt instincts. Furthermore had it not been for laws, commandments and other restrictions, the world would end up in a state of absolute chaos.
6. And the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 6)
When reflecting on God's great love for us, we can only imagine God's immense sorrow when the biblical verse says, that God's heart was grieved. It can also be concluded that the greater the love the greater the sorrow.
7. So the LORD said, "I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created-people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 7)
It seems that not only human beings had become corrupted but even nature. As previously mentioned the fallen ones representing nature had corrupted and contaminated humanity and therefore both had now been contaminated by evil and did not merit to remain in existence. Therefore, it was now time to apply plan B and save humanity and the world from the evil state it had come to end up in. This called for the need of a format of all creation and the need to save His only Son as a means of compensation for the sins of humanity.
9. Theses are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
(Genesis chapter 6 verses 9 and 10)
According to verses 9 and 10 from the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis, among the corrupted generations of these times, Noah had remained non corrupted by the sinful ways of life practiced. God appreciated that Noah had remained righteous and had mercy on him and his family. Noah was a person who walked with God and not before Him or behind Him. This means that Noah and God had a relationship where the two friends walked closely side by side. This is the type of relationship that as Christians we are to aim for.
11. Now the earth was corrupted in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 11)
It seems that along with corruption the world had also become corrupted with violence. Violence and corruption are two things that god really hates.
12. And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, " I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
(Genesis chapter 6 verses 12 to 13)
It seems that God patiently lovingly and caringly went through the complete decision making process and finally reached the following conclusion. If God had found a convincingly large proportion of the world still not corrupted God would not have decided on such as tragic conclusion. however when evil increases so much that it almost superseded goodness, action needs to be taken because goodness and evil cannot both exist at the same time with the same intensity. They are two opposites that repel each other but can never attract.
14. Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 14)
Although there has been much debate on the real material chosen to build the ark in the sense if it was cypress or another material, the emphasis of this analysis is not that of giving the reader the correct answer. What is of importance is that God ordered Noah to build and Ark that was to be protected both from the inside and from the outside with pitch a waterproof material.
God also wants us to be protected both from the inside and from the outside. God protects us with His infinite blessings by means of the sacraments and other blessings initiated by the Roman Catholic Church, and moreover God gives us His real self to heal us and cleanse us from the inside by means of his own body and blood in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.
15. This is how you are to make it; the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 15)
If it is really of any significance apart from manifesting the glory of God as manifested in this enormous structure that God ordered Noah to construct we are going to reflect on the given measurements as found in verse fifteen of the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis.
In order to base our analysis on a correct beginning we have to keep in mind that:
1 cubit is equal to 0.5 meters.
Therefore the length of the ark in cubits is 300 hundred cubits which in meters is 150 meters. The width of the ark is referred to be 50 cubits that is equivalent to 2.5 meters. Moreover the height of the ark is referred to have been thirty cubits which is equivalent to 15 meters.
When God embarks on a project God in his perfect wisdom goes in to much details in order to make the finishing product perfect.
16. Make a roof for the ark and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 16)
7. So the LORD said, "I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created-people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 7)
It seems that not only human beings had become corrupted but even nature. As previously mentioned the fallen ones representing nature had corrupted and contaminated humanity and therefore both had now been contaminated by evil and did not merit to remain in existence. Therefore, it was now time to apply plan B and save humanity and the world from the evil state it had come to end up in. This called for the need of a format of all creation and the need to save His only Son as a means of compensation for the sins of humanity.
9. Theses are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
(Genesis chapter 6 verses 9 and 10)
According to verses 9 and 10 from the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis, among the corrupted generations of these times, Noah had remained non corrupted by the sinful ways of life practiced. God appreciated that Noah had remained righteous and had mercy on him and his family. Noah was a person who walked with God and not before Him or behind Him. This means that Noah and God had a relationship where the two friends walked closely side by side. This is the type of relationship that as Christians we are to aim for.
11. Now the earth was corrupted in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 11)
It seems that along with corruption the world had also become corrupted with violence. Violence and corruption are two things that god really hates.
12. And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, " I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
(Genesis chapter 6 verses 12 to 13)
It seems that God patiently lovingly and caringly went through the complete decision making process and finally reached the following conclusion. If God had found a convincingly large proportion of the world still not corrupted God would not have decided on such as tragic conclusion. however when evil increases so much that it almost superseded goodness, action needs to be taken because goodness and evil cannot both exist at the same time with the same intensity. They are two opposites that repel each other but can never attract.
14. Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 14)
Although there has been much debate on the real material chosen to build the ark in the sense if it was cypress or another material, the emphasis of this analysis is not that of giving the reader the correct answer. What is of importance is that God ordered Noah to build and Ark that was to be protected both from the inside and from the outside with pitch a waterproof material.
God also wants us to be protected both from the inside and from the outside. God protects us with His infinite blessings by means of the sacraments and other blessings initiated by the Roman Catholic Church, and moreover God gives us His real self to heal us and cleanse us from the inside by means of his own body and blood in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.
15. This is how you are to make it; the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 15)
If it is really of any significance apart from manifesting the glory of God as manifested in this enormous structure that God ordered Noah to construct we are going to reflect on the given measurements as found in verse fifteen of the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis.
In order to base our analysis on a correct beginning we have to keep in mind that:
1 cubit is equal to 0.5 meters.
Therefore the length of the ark in cubits is 300 hundred cubits which in meters is 150 meters. The width of the ark is referred to be 50 cubits that is equivalent to 2.5 meters. Moreover the height of the ark is referred to have been thirty cubits which is equivalent to 15 meters.
When God embarks on a project God in his perfect wisdom goes in to much details in order to make the finishing product perfect.
16. Make a roof for the ark and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 16)
While using the same formula 1 cubit is equal to 0.5 meters, we can conclude that the roof was to be 0.5 meters high from the topmost deck of the ark.
God told Noah to construct three decks in the ark to cater for the needs of all the groups of animals that were to be chosen to enter the ark. Therefore if God catered for the salvation of animals by making particular places for them, God will also make places for us in our heavenly home.
17. For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters 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.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 17)
It seems that in all of God's creation He blew the breath of life that is His Holy Spirit. This breath seems to have given life to all creation meaning both creatures and humans. Therefore it can be said that the Holy Spirit of God that is source of all life, is even found in animals and not only in humans.
18. But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you your sons, your wife, and your son's wives with you.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 18)
From all the people on earth God promised salvation to those who remained in his ways and who wanted to be saved. People who become worldly only believe in a material world and even, if they are offered the chance of salvation of their souls they still might refuse the opportunity.
19. 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.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 19)
In order to promote the existence of society God chose to select two of every species that is a male and female kind. This is the logic of God that is in contrast to the concept of marriage between two males or two females, which brings to a grinding halt the development and growth of society.
20. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 20)
On reflecting it is interesting that God ordered Noah to welcome into the safety of the ark creeping creatures that creep on their bellies especially when considering that the evil one previously had the form of a creature that was later on was condemned to a life of creeping on the flour and eating its dust.
21. Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them."
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 21)
In his infinite wisdom God made provisions for the food of both the animals and that of humans. This means that the two species were to consume different food stuff and that animals were not created to serve as food for animals.
22. Noah did this; he did all that God had commanded him.
(Genesis chapter 6 verse 22)
In contrast to the disobedience of the first humans Noah obeyed God to the letter and fulfilled His will according to the criteria established by God.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God please help us to conquer our human will and inclinations, and empower us to behave according to your holy will. Help us to discern the details of your will and give us the grace to accomplish it in our lives. I beg you to help us Oh God because for us as humans to go against our nature is a difficult thing to accomplish especially where it involves the control over physical drives and moreover our sinful selves.
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