Sin runs Rampant

Genesis 6:1-8

Cain’s followers had separated themselves from God, and steadily gone farther into sin. Seth’s family and followers worshipped God. We tend to associate with those who share similar values and ideas, and to adopt the ideas of those with whom we associate. As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Proverbs 13:20 advises, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Because of the contrasting ideas, there was initially a segregation of Cain’s and Seth’s followers.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:1-2)

Physical attraction isn’t limited to those of one’s own group, and Seth’s followers and descendants were attracted to Cain’s descendants. The separation over religious beliefs was relegated to a secondary position, and they began to intermarry, and turn from God. God forbade the Jews from marrying into certain cultures in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 because they would turn away from the Lord. “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. 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.” The prohibition was not based on race but on religious pressure. Some groups do not attempt to force the adoption of their beliefs, and Jews were not forbidden to intermarry with them.

Even Seth’s followers began to lower their moral standards. Genesis 6:11-12 describes the state of the world. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)

Death came into the world as a result of Adam’s sin, and Man was driver from the Garden to keep him from eating the tree of life and living forever in his wicked state, but they still lived for hundreds of years. God reset man’s life to an expected lifespan of a hundred twenty years. Many still lived longer than that, but that was the norm. II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord … is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God didn’t destroy them immediately because he was giving them a chance to turn to him, but they ignored it.

“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.” (Genesis 6:4)

Different genetic combinations produce sometimes startling results. While all humans have the same basic genetic makeup. Reorganizing the genes sequence produces great variations among us. Scientists have been able to trace all the different varieties of dogs back to a single pair genetically. All the varieties, from the Chihuahua to the St Bernard are just the result of reorganizing the same DNA in different orders. By carefully selecting parents with certain traits, and observing how they are passed on, certain characteristics can be emphasized.

Sometimes intermarriage of different races in our day produces women of exceptional beauty or men of outstanding physique or intellect. The same laws of genetics were in effect then, sometimes resulting in men of larger than normal size. In an increasingly violent society, such men quickly gained notoriety, much as they do in modern basketball or football. Some of that genetic combination was inherited by Noah’s family and resurfaced even after the flood. While rare, it still resurfaces occasionally, when paired with just the right other combination.

“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. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)

God had shortened man’s life expectancy to a hundred twenty years to shake them up but they just kept going on in their rejection of him and his standards. The descendants of Seth were just as involved as those of Cain, although they still retained some of Seth’s practices. Romans 2:3-5 warns that that is not enough. “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”

Sin reached a level where God could no longer tolerate it, and people were ignoring his efforts to dissuade them. He is forced to take drastic steps to stop the wicked behavior. Even God can be pushed too far. As Genesis 6:3 said, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man." There is a limit to Godly toleration, and beyond that action must be taken.

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8)

In a whole world of wickedness, only one man and his family did what was right. Even his relatives went along with the world’s wickedness, but Noah obeyed God. Things were pretty much like they are today.