3. FIRST HUMAN DESTRUCTION (GENESIS 5:1 - 11:9)

Chapters 5 to 6:8 form a section of Genesis giving the generations of Adam (Genesis 5:1 ), linking Adam with Noah.

The earlier account of man's creation is summarised here (Genesis 5:1,2 ). Male and female are included in the name Adam, or as the New King James translates, 'mankind'. God's true view of fallen mankind is revealed in this period of man's history - the prophetic commentary of Jeremiah 17:9 needs to be accepted.

Jeremiah 17:9"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

A comment by Ryrie is helpful: "Each reference to a patriarch gives four details: (1) In his name. (2) His age at the birth of his first son. (3) The length of his remaining life, and (4) the age at death. There are variations in the cases of Adam (verse 5) Enoch (verses 22-24), and Lamech (verses 28,29). The longevity of the patriarchs (average age 912 years, not including Enoch who did not die), may have been due to the canopy (1:7), the waters which were under the firmament. Apparently God suspended a vast body of water in vapour form over the earth, forming a canopy that caused conditions on earth to resemble those inside a greenhouse, which was not dispersed until the flood."

	Enoch is an exception in this chapter, to the dismal refrain 'and he died.'
	Enoch was right with God (Genesis 5:22 ). He lived right with God amidst an evil generation. He lived right with God fulfilling all family obligations.
	Enoch was pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:5 "He had this testimony, that he pleased God."
	Enoch had faith in God. By faith lived - by faith translated. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."
	Enoch walked harmoniously with God (Genesis 5:22 ). In step with God - in desire - direction - determination.
	Enoch spoke prophetically from God. (Jude 14 ). He named his son Methuselah prophetically (Genesis 5:21 ). The name means 'when he is gone it will come.' An announcement of judgment - he lived 969 years, revealing God as slow to anger and abundant in mercy and truth.
	Enoch was a bold prophet - fearless in his witness - he denounced the prevalent wickedness. He foretold the second coming of Christ in judgment (Jude 14,15 ).
	Enoch was translated by God (Genesis 5:24 ). Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

Of all mankind, he and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11 ) have alone escaped physical death. Their translation demonstrated that victory over death is included in redemption. Further, their translation prefigured the rapture and translation of all living saints at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "... in the twinkling of an eye ..." (1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. ) We shall not all die before Jesus returns. Living saints bodies will know instant change from 'mortal' bodies to 'immortal' bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:53,54 ). Enoch represents the church's witness during the evil last days - its triumphant walk/life - with the Lord forever.

Genesis 5:27 "So all the days of Methuselah were NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE YEARS."

The name that was prophecy was fulfilled - the flood came when Methuselah was gone. Lamech - not the wicked one of Genesis 4:23, God's man, called his son Noah, meaning 'comfort'. He was trusting in the promise of Genesis 3:15. Judgment was coming, as Enoch had prophesied. Noah was God's comfort and mankind's in that he was to be preserved and the preserver of man.

Genesis 6:1-8 describes the state of the world before the flood. 'Men began to multiply.' The earth's population increased rapidly with the longevity of man. The blessing of fruitfulness (Genesis 1:28 ) was not withdrawn on account of the Fall. God's purpose was to draw from among multiplied mankind a multitude of redeemed that no man could number (Revelation 7:9 ).

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"The sons of God" (Genesis 6:2)

This expression is not suitable for the race of Seth as a whole. Of individuals yes - like Enoch - Noah. The meaning lies in the Scripture usage. In the Old Testament the expression 'sons of God' refers to angelic or spiritual beings (Job 1:6. 2:1 ). Peter and Jude, the only apostles to refer to this incident in Genesis 6, speak of them as spirits who were disobedient at the time that the ark was being constructed (1 Peter 3:19, 20 ) and angels that sinned (2 Peter 2:4 ). Jude is explicit, describing the same angels as failing to keep their own domain, but leaving their proper habitation. Then referring to Sodom and Gomorrah, said that the sins of lust, of which those cities were guilty, were the same as the sins of the angels (Jude 6, 7 ). The Lord, in Matthew 22:30, referred to the normal state of angels - Jude says they left their proper habitation. What habitation did they occupy instead? Could it be that as demon spirits they possessed men and so violated women. The gospels often call demons unclean spirits, and the same Greek word for 'unclean' is used by the apostle Paul to describe lust (Romans 1:24; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5. ). However speculative the explanations may be, the evidence of demonic lust is known in our world today. There are serial lustful killers - and who knows the full extent of drugged, demonic, lustful, unclean co-habitation. The question of the identity of the 'sons of God' is not in doubt - in the light of references in Peter and Jude - judgment was immediate upon these sinning angels - and issued as a warning to unclean sinful men.

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"My Spirit shall not strive with men forever" (Genesis 6:3)

A limit is set by God to the opportunity to sin. Time ran out for the wicked, pre-deluge generation. Sinners continuing today with apparent impunity up to a point, but judgment is certain to fall. (2 Peter 3:9,10. ) Generally commentators accept the 120 years of verse 3 to be that in 120 years judgment would fall on that pre-deluge generation. The time of God's judgment is known and determined by Him beforehand.

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"Giants" (Genesis 6:4)

The Hebrew word is 'nephilim' - half men, half demons - born of the rebellion of angel demons, verse 4. These were the basis for legends and the children of the gods of mythology. (1 Samuel 17:4. 2 Samuel 21:19, 20 ). The devil had his demon-begotten men when Joshua entered Canaan. This was why the Canaanites were not spared - they were a demon-polluted race. (Numbers 13:33; 1 Samuel 17:4; 2 Samuel 21:19,20. )

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"The wickedness of man was great" (Genesis 6:5)

The Lord saw that the actual DOING of wickedness was great. Further, He saw the outward conduct was the fault of a fallen nature within, (verse 5). The works are listed in Galatians 5:19-21. Such wickedness opened them to demonic wickedness. Every intent or imagination of his heart was only evil continually - evil images before the heart bring forth great wickedness. The world today feeds evil imagination. Practice 2 Corinthians 10:5. The words of our Lord fit our generation. (Matthew 24:37,39. ) Note the "as" and "so".

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"The Lord was very sorry that He had made man" (Genesis 6:6)

God is not a disinterested watcher of the human scene. What He saw grieved Him in His heart. (verse 6). If God did not feel grief He would be imperfect in His love. Remember, God in the absolute sense never repents (1 Samuel 15:29 ). But in the relative sense He allowed Himself to be spoken of in terms that apply to man. (See 1 Samuel 15: 11, 35 ).

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"I will destroy man ... from the face of the earth" (Genesis 6:7)

The right of the Creator is to bring into being, and to put out of being. The lower animal creation are involved in the destruction that comes on fallen man, such is the devastating corruption that brought the first human destruction.

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Why was Enoch an exception to the dismal refrain of Genesis 5 "and he died"? Could you experience what he did?
2. Did Enoch live in a generation that made it easy to walk with God? Does walking with God require your dropping out of family obligations?
3. What examples do we have of Enoch speaking prophetically from God? Do you, in obedience to 1 Corinthians 14:1 desire gifts of the Holy Spirit, and particularly to prophesy?
4. Do you accept that Enoch named his son "Methuselah" as an announcement of God's coming judgment?
   • How does your life speak for God?
5. Did Methuselah living for 969 years demonstrate the longsuffering of God?
   • Do you understand God's dealing with this generation to be similar?
6. Do remember that Noah's father Lamech was not the wicked man of Genesis 4:23 whose name means 'overthrower', and who was wild in flaunting his sinfulness. Noah's father believed for the overthrow of unrest and named his son Noah, so prophesying that he would be a comfort to his family. Do you live according to your name?
   • Do you pass on your hopes to your children by how you name them?
   • Are you living out the name Christian?
7. When there was such wickedness among mankind in the world before the flood, God did not withdraw His blessing upon their multiplication. Why?
   • In these wicked days there is a population explosion which shows that God still blesses with fruitfulness. Could God's ultimate purpose be understood by the scene in Revelation 7:9?
8. Who are the "sons of God" in Genesis 6?
   • Could it be that demon unclean spirits possessed men and polluted the human race?
   • Would you hold that we could witness unusual and polluted births in this day of drug, and demonic, unclean lustful co-habitation?
   • Do you expect God's judgment to fall on such a generation as it did on the generation of Genesis 6?
9. In the pronouncement of God "My Spirit will not strive with men forever", do you accept that God will end sin in judgement?