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NOAH - PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with God.(emphasis added)
Concerning Noah what does perfect in his generations mean? The NIV version
says that Noah was ....blameless among the people of his time.... We
could easily read over this and miss an extremely important truth. To see this wonderful
truth we must begin by seeing how the Lord views generations.
Noah lived about ten generations after Adam. The fall of Adam and Eve was not their one
and only failure. The fall is the only failure taught. Adam and Eve failed greatly
concerning their first two children. How can two children (Cain and Able) be raised in the
same home with the same parents and be so different? Why was it with Adam and Eve that one
child sought the Lord and was accepted by the Lord while the other became a murderer, a
liar, a vagabond, and was marked as an alien to God? No matter what else may have been the
cause, one reason is surely Cains parents. When parents only obey the aspects of the
commands of the Lord God they find comfortable the results of the children will always be
mixed. When the children saw the parents one day serve the Lord and tend their God given
garden with all their might, but the next day the parents were playing with the serpent a
confused seed came forth. This was the case of the boys of Adam. That mixed lifestye
brought about a mixed-up child who became a murderer. Cain murdered Abel.
In the Lords program the wicked will never triumph over the righteous. The most
important boy of Adam was neither Cain nor Abel. The often forgotten, but most important
boy of Adam and Eve was Seth. Cain and Able are not important at all when compared with
the third boy--Seth. Seth enters the scriptures in Genesis 4:25
Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth:
For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then
began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (KJV) (emphasis added)
It was after Seth and in Seths lineage that men began to all upon the name of the
Lord. It would be through Seth that the Christ would come. Previous to this announcement
about Seth in Genesis 4:25 we are first given the generations of Cain (Gen 4:17-24). After
the announcement of Seth in Genesis 4:25 we are given the generations of Adam through Seth
(Gen 4:25-5:32). Interestingly the geneologies of Adam skip over any mention of Cain or
Able in Adams generations. Ths scriptures move from Adam to Seth.
Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own
likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: (emphasis added)
THE WAY THE LORD LOOKS AT GENERATIONS
Most often when we are reading our Bibles and come to the genealogies we may read the
first few names. We stop and look down the page. We ask inwardly How long is this
list of difficult names? Next we say, There is nothing here that I need to
read about.Its just names that I cant speak correctly. I will skip to the end
of this and begin reading again. Most often that is what we do. It seems meaningless
to read all of that. So we skip them and begin reading after the genealogies. Usually our
conscience screams at us and we feel we have somehow cheated and done wrong. We attempt to
read the genealogies again. Eventually most of us shrug our shoulders skip the genealogies
and continue reading after they are over. We know we missed something. We dont know
what it was we missed. We hope it wasnt too important. By doing this with Genesis
chapters 4 and 5 we do miss something very important. When skipping the genealogies we
never understand how Noah was perfect in his generations.
Genesis 4:16-24 is needed information about the genealogies of Cain. We learn the emphasis
of Cains lineage. Genesis 4:16 makes a frightening statement. It says, And
Cain went out from the presence of the LORD.... The presence of the Lord was not
only in Edens garden. The presence of the Lord was available to Adam and Eve and
even Cain outside the garden. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Away from this
presence Cains interest became obviously worldly. The focus of his generations after
him were also worldly. Cain had no desire for the Lord God. Only worldly interest and
accomplishments are emphasized through these verses. What is so important about
that, we may ask. It was that mentality that brought the termination of Cains
lineage when the flood came.
Cains descendant's built cities. They were successful farmers and ranchers. They
were musicians. They worked and used precious metals. They were bragging murderers. Lamech
introduced a new and easy morality --polygamy. There was no seeking of God. They sought
things and success. The lineage emulated Cain even to murdering and the naming of children
after Cain (Tubal-cain).
In chapter 5 we are given the contrasting genealogies of Adam through Seth to Noah. We are
not given their worldly accomplishments. Their worldly accomplishments are not mentioned
thought they must have had them. They built cities cities, were ranchers, played music,
usedf precious metals, etc. However, these are not the emphasis of the godly lineage. What
is the emphasis of this lineage?
First notice that Genesis 5:1 says This is the book of the generations of
Adam.... Then the lineage begins. The births of Cain and Abel are skipped. The
genealogy begins with Seth, the third boy of Adam who the Christ came through. The truth
first given and followed through the genealogies of Seth is the emphasis of the continuing
the lineage that would bring forth the Christ. Those who call upon the name of the Lord
have only one primary concern. That concern is to bring the presence of Christ to the
earth. When we truly call upon the name of the Lord the emphasis is to bring the presence
of the Christ.
Notice that the emphasis of Cains descendants was their accomplishments. The
emphasis of Seths descendants was (1) they produced godly descendants (seed) through
which Gods program would continue; (2) they lived long lives full of birthing sons
and daughters; (3) they died. The cities they built, the cattle they raised, the iron they
melted, the music they made, etc. can not be compare in importance when compared with
bringing forth the lineage. It was that lineage that would bring forth the seed who would
crush the serpents head.
The Holy Spirit tells us how old Seths descendents were prior to birthing the
lineage child and how long they lived after that event. This length of life is obviously
given by the Holy Spirit to impress those who would later read the accounts. Man was
intended to live long lives even after the fall. Next the Holy Spirit tells us they died.
There is no mention of this dieing in Cains genealogy! We are not told how long
Cains lineage lived. We are not told how old each was before they brought forth a
specific child. We are not told how long they lived after that event. We are not told how
old they were when they died. Why is this? Psalm 116:5 says the death of a saint is
precious to the Lord. The Lord was not concerned with the length of days for Cains
lineage. They would be destroyed shortly. What they did and all they accomplished matter
nothing. What mattered to the Lord was bringing forth the godly lineage.
The main contrast between the line of Cain and the line of Seth is the emphasis of each.
Cains emphasis was worldly accomplishments. Seths accomplishment was long life
which produced godly seed who would bring forth the Christ--the seed of the woman.
The tenth generation from Adam in Cains lineage is Tubal-cain the son of Lamech.
Here Cains genealogy comes to a dead end. The lineage begins with ungodly Cain and
ends only 10 generations later with Tubal-cain the son of wicked Lamech. The entire name
of Cain and his lineage is washed away by the flood.
Adams lineage begins with righteous Seth and extends on through righteous Noah and
his offspring. They were not washed out. The tragedy is the unrighteous seed are
destroyed. The lesson is the righteous seed continue. The measure of a man in the eyes of
the lord is evidenced in his children. Cain exchanged his sons for success, but Seth found
success in his sons.
A LOOK AT THE GIANTS
We are looking at Noah who was perfect in his generations. The first aspect of this
perfection was that Noah was of Seth who called upon the name of the Lord and brought
forth the Christ. There is another aspect of this perfection. It was at this time that the
serpent entered the picture in a new and perverse way. It appears the lineage of Seth is
doing fine. It is seeking the Lord and walking with God. Then suddenly from no place we
read....
Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born unto them,
Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they
took them wives of all which they chose.
What is so wrong about this? Did not the Lord say to multiply? But there is something
horribly wrong here for it is at this moment the Lord says,
Genesis 6:3 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. (emphasis added)
It is at this moment that the Lord determined that He would destroy mankind. What
happened? The godly lineage was accomplishing its purpose wasnt it? People were
walking with God and seeking the Lord. They were naming their children with godly names.
What happened? We are told what happened and it is indeed strange.
Genesis 6:4 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 6:5 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. (emphasis added)
When were there giants? There were giants when the sons of God came in unto the
daughter of men.... This union produced giants and that was not all it produced. It
produced something so horrible that every imagination of mans heart was evil
continually. Man, even Seths lineage, no longer thought about the Lord God. They
only thought and imagined wickedness. This thought process is in direct connection with
the giants in the earth in those days. The Holy Spirit repeats Himself telling us where
those giants came from. The sons of God came in unto the daughters of men. What does that
mean? When studied we find that fallen angels took mortal women and produced
Anakims--giants. Sounds like some Hollywood movie doesnt it? It sounds like Hercules
or some mythology god fiction story, but it is not. This was real and the only answer to
what happened in Noahs generations. But Noah found grace for Noah was perfect in his
generations.
There are two basic interpretations to this passage of Genesis 6:1-4. Obviously something
terrible happened. Even the lineage of Seths thoughts had turned to wickedness. The
first interpretation is that the sons of Seth were the sons of God. They took the women of
Cain (daughters of men) and married them. The problem is that this union would not produce
giants. But that is not the largest problem. A huge problem, and sadly the problem that
gives us the answer of who these must be is this: because of the giants the flood came. It
was when something so demonic took over the very thought process of man the flood came. It
is far more than Seths boys marrying Cains girls. The giants and the lineage
of Cain were destroyed in the flood. We never find Cains lineage again after the
flood.
We do find giants after the flood. How did that happen? The second interpretation gives
the answer. The sons of God are fallen angels that would be chained.
Seths lineage had never been referred to as sons of God. Angels are
referred to as sons of God.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan came also among them. [KJV]
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. [KJV]
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for
joy? [KJV] (emphasis added)
Simply listing the verses (as we do is this writing) is not proper study. However when
properly studied in context and meaning we find the sons of God are angels.
Also, as sad as it is to note, the sons of God in Job 1:6 and 2:1 come around the same
time Satan shows up.
The scriptures clearly tell us that there are angels chained reserved for judgment (2Pe
2:4). We are not told why they are chained except that they kept not their first
estate, but left their own habitation (Jud 1:6). The word habitation
(Strongs #3613) means residence. They left their residence and came in
unto the daughters of men!
2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and
delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; [KJV]
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,
he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
[KJV]
We are not told when they were chained. It would have been after the flood, for after the
flood --1500+years later -- we find the giants nephiyl in the land of Canaan. When
Moses sent the twelve spies into Canaan it was these giants that frightened the spies.
Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants (nephiyl), the sons of Anak, which come
of the giants (gibbowr): and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we
were in their sight. [KJV] (emphasis added)
The Lord instructed Moses and Joshua to destroy every man, woman, and child, even animals
and to have no mercy. This gives depth of understanding and adds clarity to why the Lord
said to utterly destroy the Canaanites. Interestingly, in the very same sentence that the
Lord tells the nation to utterly destroy the nations of Canaan, He tells them not to marry
with them.
Deuteronomy 7:2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite
them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto
them:
Deuteronomy 7:3 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. [KJV]
It also gives new meaning to the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The seed
of the serpent can be more than wicked people. It can be a literal seed! This Genesis
6:1-6 is a most interesting Biblical passage. We obviously see mixed marriages within the
context, but mixed marriages of an extremely devastating level. These giants (nephiyl)
of Genesis 6 are destroyed in the flood, but are back again 1500 years later. How can that
be explained? If they were destroyed by the flood of Noahs day then how can they
exist in Moses day? The only answer is these sons of God are fallen
angels who took human women and produced children. The Living Bible believes this is so.
Genesis 6:4 In those days, and even afterwards, when the evil beings from the spirit world
were sexually involved with human women, their children became giants, of whom so many
legends are told. [TLB]
The giants came from someplace. Most biblical scholars eventually determine that this is
what this passage means. It is not because they want to say this is what it means. I
personally have attempted to disprove the fallen angel teaching. It is in my
attempting to disprove it that I find no other position is suitable. Fallen angels (2Pe
2:4; Jude 6) took mortal women as wives producing a race of large people who became called
Anak. No one would argue that the sons of Seth intermarried with the daughters of Cain,
but that would not produce the giants of Genesis 6:4. It is also interesting that Peter
mentioned the chaining of the fallen angels with the flood of Noahs day.
It is at this point of revelation that Genesis 6 tells us the condition of man. Man was
now wicked. That degree of wickedness was called great. Every thought and
every imagination that man had was continuously evil. The wickedness was deliberate. It
was evil continually.
Genesis 6:5 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. [KJV]
It is in the midst of this context that the Lord says man had 120 years. One hundred
twenty years later the flood happened. God always gives time for repentance. In this case
it was a large amount of time. Gods patience for repentance of wickedness is long,
but always limited. It is at this time that we to meet Noah.
It is in the context of worldly Cain and giants that we read of Noah that he was
perfect in his generations (Gen 6:8, 9). The Hebrew word for
perfect is tamiym (Strongs #8549) meaning entire.
Noah was not perfect as in without fault. He was perfect as in entire of Adam and Seth. He
was not of Cain! He was also perfect and entire in that he and his family was not of
fallen angels--nephiyl! He was entire of Adam and Seth. The serpent had not defiled
the lineage! Noah was perfect in his generations.
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with God.
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