Genesis Chapter 6

  

In this chapter we will study how wicked the world had become. Noah, his wife Namath, their sons and their wives were the only ones on the ark during the flood. 

Verses 1-7

The “sons of God” and the “daughters of men.”

What does sons of God mean? Are these men or some other being?

Verse 5 says that God saw the wickedness of man on earth was great. It doesn’t say God saw the wickedness of any type of being was great. 

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are sons of God.

In the family generations we studied in chapter 5 we see the line of Seth being the line of the faithful which I believe are the sons of God. They were marrying the line of Cain from chapter 4, who rebelled against God. 

Their children were known as the Nephilim

The blending of these two lines caused wickedness to run rampant here on earth. Only 8 people were being faithful to God. Noah and his family.

Verses 8-22

God told Noah he was going to destroy man and beast in a global flood and for him to build an ark.

God told him the exact materials to use: gopher wood and covered with pitch. 

God also told Noah the exact dimensions that Noah would need to get his family and all the animals on this ark. (A pair of every kind of animal) 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark within 18 inches of the top. Put a door inside of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. The ark was the equivalent of 500 to 550 boxcars on a train.

Noah was instructed to begin gathering food for his family and the animals.

Noah obeyed God. 

In the previous chapters we have seen that obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings a cursed life. 

God was merciful to Noah and his family because of their faithfulness. The ark was God’s plan for their salvation.

God has been merciful to us as well not only in our obedience but even when we have let Him, ourselves and others down because of His goodness towards us. 

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This scripture tells us that just as God provided for Noah and his family to be rescued then. God has continued to provide a way of salvation for us today.

Discipleship

...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

Discipleship is teaching others how to follow Jesus. We don't have to be great theologians to teach others how to follow. It's in the simple every day things that we do all day that we can teach those around us how to follow Jesus.

When my grandkids are in the car we always sing songs from Sunday school that I have taught over the years. Their favorite is "Jesus Loves Me" and we always discuss afterwards God's love and say the verse together John 3:16. I have been using my car rides with my kids and grandkids as an opportunity to worship as we sing and learn more about God together!

May we leave behind a generation of men, women, children, and grandchildren who love Christ with all their heart!

 This is a picture of me with my nephews at Dubois Lagoon in the 1990's ~ we would go there  some days from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm having breakfast, lunch and dinner by the water.

When Children School Us

While raising children I wanted to fill their eager young minds with as much knowledge as I had obtained through my own years of experience. I don't really have that same mindset now when it comes to my grandkids because I wish I had taught my children more about loving and less about life. I thought I could make a difference in the life of my children but I have learned I still have so much to learn myself.

Instead, my approach with my grandkids is more about what they can teach me. For instance, to see the excitement and joy of our visits together. Our time with tea parties where we dress up silly and wear funny hats. What I love about these innocent moments is that there is nothing expected, no judgement of others or even ourselves.

These little ones have such hope of everything. That their dad is their prince charming. They still believe in happily ever after. They have taught me to continue to laugh, to be silly and that just sitting in a room talking together is enough. I don't have to own the latest of anything because I am their grandma. They are not embarrassed by my aging face and figure or at what I am wearing. 

My grandkids have taught me how to love & laugh; dress silly & giggle; but more importantly to spend time listening and learning from them instead of the reverse. 

 This picture was taken of a photo shoot I was commissioned to do

 which was published July 2010.