"Genesis and Other Things"

Lesson Six - Civilization?

Moderated by Bob Huddlestun

Read Genesis 4:16-26

    Cain, separated from the presence of Yahweh and wandering the land east of Eden, feared for his life. Though the LORD assured his safety he sought to protect himself by building a city. What this city consisted of no one knows. The Hebrew word translated city merely indicates a place that can be protected by a watchman. Self-preservation and the survival of the species, probably the two greatest drives in man, are both seen here in a city and a son named Enoch. 

    As we continue to read about Cain's family line notice that Jabal becomes a farmer, raising livestock and living outside the city; Jubal becomes a musician; and Tubal-Cain becomes a craftsman, making tools of iron and bronze - probably tools for agriculture, construction, and weapons. Cities and farms, music and art, tools and industry - everything needed for civilization. 

    Is there anything wrong in any of this? Surely there is nothing wrong with raising cattle, or with music or musical instruments. What can be wrong about forging tools of brass and iron? The one glaring problem, all of this is done apart from God. 

    Notice Lamech - brash enough to marry two wives, a practice God did not sanction in the beginning. He also brazenly brags to these wives about killing a young man, then sarcastically claims God's protection - seventy times greater than that afforded his forefather Cain. Now we see civilization as it really is, self centered, violent, and proud. 

    Following the birth of Seth's son Enosh, ". . . men began to call on the name of the LORD" (v.26). The name Enosh is actually another Hebrew word for man, thus the comment that men called on the name of the LORD probably refers only to Enosh and his family. A quick scan of Genesis five seems to bear this out. Notice that righteous Noah is from the family of Enosh. Enoch also, of whom it says, he walked with God. 

We'll look more closely at this genealogy next week. 

Read Genesis 6:1-8

The sons of God marry the daughters of men.

    There is a popular notion that the sons of God were angels. Their taking human wives resulted in superhuman offspring called Nephilim, a word translated giants in the King James version of the Bible. All of this displeased God, causing Him to declare the end of all humanity in a hundred and twenty years. 

    Let's examine this popular idea. Were the sons of God angels? Job 1:6 states, "One day the angels (literally - the sons of God) came to present themselves before the LORD." From this we have to concede that the idea has merit. However, Jesus, comparing the resurrected saints to angels, says, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." (Matthew 22:30). This statement certainly casts some doubt on the idea. Could there be other possibilities? 

    Consider this. The sons of God were the descendants of Enosh, those who called upon the name of the LORD. The daughters of men were the descendants of Cain, those who lived separated from the LORD. These mixed marriages did not make the descendants of Cain more godly, but, instead, made all men more wicked. This is generally what happens. For this reason, later in history, God warned the Israelites not to marry foreign wives, not to marry the women of the lands they conquered. Their failure to heed this warning led to their worshipping the gods of these lands, and eventually to their being driven from the promised land. Paul carries this warning to Christians saying, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). This warning includes more than marriage of course. 

Question:

• In what other ways might you become unequally yoked? 
• Have you had an experience with such a union, or know of others who have? 
• What were the results of these associations?

Note: Not all such relationships are disastrous. There are exceptions. However, as a general rule, getting involved with unbelievers in marriage or business partnerships or other legally binding ways is dangerous and should be avoided. 

    Who were the Nephilim? This Hebrew word literally means a bully or tyrant (Strong). It seems that some men were bigger and stronger than the others, therefore, they got their way. Might equals right. Myths probably arose about these men since they are mentioned again in Numbers 13:31-33. Though the description given by the Israelite spies was exaggerated by fear, the idea that they were formidable is obvious. 

Questions:

• Are there Nephilim in the world today?
• Who might they be? (Personal size and strength might not be as important as political or financial clout, who has the most powerful weapon, etc.?). 
• How would you compare our present world
  with the world of Noah? 

    Genesis 6:5 describes man's wickedness as "every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." Evil - we tend to define it with words like morally corrupt, vicious, dangerous, depraved, and devilish. Though these may be accurate, from a scriptural standpoint we must include such words as selfish, self-willed, and Godless. With this in mind ask yourself again, "How would you compare our present world with the world of Noah?" 

    I believe this to be the purpose of Genesis to this point. Not only to see the world as it was, but to see it as it is. Adam and Eve determined to do things as they chose, not as the LORD directed, to become their own gods. They chose to be selfish and self-willed, trusting in themselves rather than God. This is the natural inclination of all mankind. Though some sought to follow the LORD, few succeeded. The results were, and will be, catastrophic. 

"Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."

Bob Huddlestun

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