Read Genesis 5:1-6:8.

Introduction⤒🔗

Two university students in Moorhead, Minnesota, painted a mural on the wall outside their dormitory room. The mural depicted a school of fish all swimming in the same direction, with the exception of one single fish heading the opposite way. The one distinctly different fish was painted in the form of the age-old Christian symbol: IXTHUS. Printed across the bottom of the mural were the words: “Go against the flow.”¹

In obedience to our Lord, as His disciples we must be willing to go against the flow of society. As we follow the Lord Jesus, our motives, values, and decisions are bound to be different from those who are not Christians.

As children of God in Christ Jesus, we must preserve a unique and godly identity, distinct from the apostate world in which we live. Because you are a child of God in Christ Jesus, you must live a distinctly Christian life in the midst of an ungodly world.

Live a Distinctly Christian Life, and Thereby Enjoy God’s Favor←⤒🔗

The first seven verses of Genesis 6 describe the sinfulness of the human race, with verse 5 declaring: “the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth.” Then, in striking contrast to the first seven verses, we read in verse 8: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

Noah was a part of the covenant line. By the grace of God, and through the exercise of faith, Noah was in the LORD’s covenant of salvation. By the grace of God at work in his life, Noah was faithful to the covenant, living a distinctly Christian life. Contrast verse 5, which declares, “the wickedness of man was great,” with verse 9, which declares, “Noah was a righteous man.”

Noah was the climax of the covenant line. Beginning with Adam, Noah was the tenth generation, (a biblical number of completeness). In the days of Noah, the LORD brings the Great Flood, which judged the old world and brought into being “a new creation.”

Noah represents the covenant line. What is said of Noah, he “found favor in the eyes of the LORD,” can also be said of the other members of the covenant line who also were faithful to the LORD.

Certain members of the covenant line are singled out for special mention—what is said about them shows different facets of a life that receives the LORD’s favor.

The first member of the covenant line to be singled out for special consideration is Enoch: “Enoch walked with God” (Gen. 5:21-24). We should also take note Hebrews 11:5,

By faith, Enoch was taken so that he would not experience death; and he was not found, because God took him. Before he was taken it was testified of him that he was one who was pleasing to God. Heb. 11:5

Enoch was an ordinary man, nothing more is said about him besides the fact he had a family; although Jude 14 describes Enoch as “one who prophesied.” But as an ordinary man there was something extraordinary about him: “Enoch was taken so that he would not experience death.” Enoch was taken because he had been “pleasing to God” (Heb. 11:5). According to Genesis 5:22, Enoch had been walking with God for three hundred years, (here was a committed Christian life).

Hebrews 11:5 informs us, “by faith, Enoch was taken.” The source of Enoch’s covenant commitment was faith. Faith stimulated and inspired his commitment. Faith connected him to Christ and the divine resources that enabled his commitment, as the Apostle Paul testifies in Philippians 4:13, “I am able to do all things by him [Christ] who strengthens me.”

Enoch was taken “so that he would not experience death” (Heb. 11:5). That is to say, Enoch was never separated from fellowship with God. It appears that in the Old Testament era, for there to be unbroken fellowship with God, what was required was an immediate translation into the presence of God—because throughout the Old Testament era, before the accomplishment of Christ’s work at Calvary, upon death men appear to have entered into a state of soul-sleep, which would temporarily suspend the believer’s fellowship with God. This seems to be confirmed by several Old Testament passages, prominent among them being Psalm 88:10-12 and Psalm 115:17,

¹⁰Will you work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise you? ¹¹Shall your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in the place of destruction? ¹²Shall your wonders be known in the dark? And your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psl. 88:10-12

¹⁷The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence. Psl. 115:17

Conversely, in the New Testament era the Christian’s “translation” occurs at the time of his physical departure from this present earthly life, as is clearly indicated in such passages as 2 Corinthians 5:8,

⁸...we are willing to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:8

The second member of the covenant line to be singled out for special consideration is Lamech: Lamech hoped in God (Gen. 5:28-31). Lamech names his son “Noah,” (derived from the Hebrew נוֹחַ, meaning, “to rest," "to give comfort,” “to give consolation”). Lamech prophesies, “This one shall give us rest from the work and hard labor of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.” Lamech recognized that Noah would be used by God to bring salvation to His covenant people—with Noah the people of God would pass safely through the judgment and enter into a “new” creation, experiencing God’s divine blessing of rest.

After the birth of Noah, Lamech had to wait 595 years, and even then, he had to rest in peace without yet seeing the realization of his godly hope. Lamech’s whole life was characterized by hope in the LORD and His sure promises.

The third member of the covenant line to be singled out for special consideration is Noah: Noah was a righteous man before God (Gen. 6:9). Noah is described as being “blameless in his generation.” This means that Noah kept himself from willful, defiant transgressions (cp. Psalm 19:12-13, printed below); Noah conscientiously sought to live in submission to God.

¹²Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³Also hold your servant back from committing willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Psl. 19:12-13

Noah was “blameless” because “he walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). In Genesis 17:1, the LORD gave to Abram this commandment: “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.” The way to be blameless—the way to stay clear of great transgressions and stay on track spiritually—is to always set the LORD before you. As David testifies, “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psl. 16:8)

In contrast, note what is said with regard to the spiritual attitude of the wicked:

¹An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked, There is no fear of God before his eyes. ²He flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity will not be detected and hated. ³The words of his mouth speak of iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good. ⁴He devises iniquity upon his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. Psl. 36:1-4

Live a distinctly Christian life, characterized by 1) Fellowship with God, 2) Hope in God, and 3) Righteousness before God; and thereby enjoy God’s favor.

Live a Distinctly Christian Life, and Thereby Bring Joy to God’s Heart←⤒🔗

When God looked down upon His creation, he saw that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Gen. 6:5). Men were engaged in all forms of wicked conduct. Genesis 6:11-12 describes the earth as being “corrupt before God and filled with violence.” When the LORD looked down upon His creation, he saw that “every conception of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually” (6:5). Man, who had been created for devotion to God, had become completely devoted to evil.

An example of the state of the world in that day is given in Genesis 6:1-2; there we read, “the sons of God co-habited with the daughters of men,” (literally, “the sons of God took for themselves women”). This mysterious account seems to be referring to a perverse union between fallen angels (“the sons of God”) and human women (“the daughters of men”)—note Job 1:6, a passage in which angels are identified as “sons of God.” We may also note Jude 6, which speaks about “angels who did not stay within their own positions of authority, but left their appointed place.” According to Genesis 6:4, this perverse union produced “Nephilim,” that is to say, “men of renown,” men of superhuman strength and exploit.

As the LORD looked upon the totally degenerate state of the world, he declared: “My Spirit shall not contend with man forever, for man is mortal.” The Holy Spirit will not endlessly convict men and seek their repentance; there comes a point when men are consigned to the divine judgment. The Day of Judgment is set: it shall come after a period of 120 years, and then shall come the Flood.

As the LORD looked down upon the world in its degenerated condition, we read the incredible words, “the LORD felt remorse [literally, “the LORD repented”], that he had made man on the earth, and it brought grief to his heart” (Gen. 6:6).

God, who is immutable (unchangeable) in His being and moral attributes, always and constantly possesses the most intense revulsion towards evil and delight in righteousness. God’s moral attributes are fully and perpetually actualized, (as opposed to having to be “turned on” or “turned off” as the varying circumstances warrant).

In Genesis 6:6-7, Scripture expresses the fact that evil conduct encounters God’s righteous and perpetual displeasure—His most intense revulsion towards evil, whereas obedience encounters His most intense delight. No change has, or could, occur with regard to God’s immutable moral attributes; it is precisely because those attributes are immutable that evil conduct elicits a different response from the Almighty than does obedience.

God’s “repenting” of having created beings who have devoted themselves to evil is expressing His perpetual abhorrence of evil, (which is fully actualized in God at all times), as it manifests itself in the presence of the evil perpetrated by creatures whom He intended to exhibit and reflect His righteousness.

The LORD, being a divine person, does, indeed, possess and exhibit emotions. When His immutable moral attributes of righteousness and justice are offended by the sinful conduct of mankind, it does cause Him to express the emotions of regret and grief. The fact that the LORD should exhibit “regret” over creating a being who has become devoted to evil reveals the depths of God’s immutable moral revulsion toward evil.

In contrast to all that the LORD saw when He looked upon the world, and His reaction to it, stands verse 8: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” Proverbs 11:20 states, “Those who are perverse in heart are detestable to the LORD; but those who are blameless in their way are his delight.”

Live a distinctly Christian life, and thereby bring joy to God’s heart.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

Because you are a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you must live a distinctly Christian life in the midst of this ungodly world. As you do so by the grace of God, you will both enjoy God’s favor as well as bring joy to God’s heart. Our Lord Jesus expressed this very truth in John 15:10­ 11;

¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you [i.e. so that we may be the object and the source of Christ’s own joy], and your joy may be made full. Jn. 15:10-11

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What do we learn about Enoch from Genesis 5:21-24? Explain the source of his spiritual life. See Heb. 11:5 What especially stands out about Enoch’s life? See Gen. 5:22 Is the same thing true of your Christian life as was true of Enoch’s?

²¹After Enoch had lived sixty-five years he became the father of Methuselah. ²²After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and there were born to him other sons and daughters. ²³Now altogether Enoch lived three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴Enoch walked with God, then he was removed from the earth; for God took him away. Gen. 5:21-24

⁵By faith, Enoch was taken so that he would not experience death; and he was not found, because God took him. Before he was taken it was testified of him that he was one who was pleasing to God. Heb. 11:5

2. What advantage does the N.T. Christian share with Enoch that was not the privilege of the typical O.T. believer? Contrast Psl. 115:17 with 2 Cor. 5:8 What accounts for this difference?

¹⁷The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence. (Psl. 115:17) ...⁸we are willing to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8)

3. From Genesis 5:28-31, what do we learn about Lamech? What is especially characteristic about his life? Does your Christian life exhibit the same trait? With regard to this trait, what incentive and assurance are provided for us in such passages as Romans 5:5 and 1 Peter 1:3-4?

²⁸After Lamech had lived a hundred and eight-two years, he gave birth to a son. ²⁹He named him Noah, saying, This one shall give us rest from the work and hard labor of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed. ³⁰And Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after the birth of Noah, and there were born to him other sons and daughters. ³¹Now altogether Lamech lived seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died. Gen. 5:28-31

⁵Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom. 5:5

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in accordance with his great mercy has begotten us for a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴for an inheritance that is imperishable and cannot spoil and is permanent, reserved in heaven for you... 1 Pet. 1:3-4

4. Describe the contrast between the LORD’s view of sinful mankind (as reported in Gen. 6:7) and His view of Noah (as reported in Gen. 6:8). What was characteristic of Noah’s life and what enabled him to live such a life? See Gen. 6:9 What counsel is provided for us and what command is given to us in Genesis 17:1? What worthy prayer is suggested to us in Psalm 19:12-13?

⁷And the LORD said, I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the ground; both man and beast, as well as creeping things, and the birds of the heavens; for I regret that I have made them. ⁸But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Gen. 6:7-8

⁹This is the record of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, one who was blameless in his day; Noah walked with God. Gen. 6:9

¹...the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless'. Gen. 17:1

¹²Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³Also hold your servant back from committing willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Psl. 19:12-13

5. As the LORD looked down upon the world in its degenerate state, how did He react? See Gen. 6:6 What does this tell us about God’s moral nature and His personality? What effect should Proverbs 11:20 have upon our lives? What does the Lord Jesus tell us brings joy to His heart, and what further result does such conduct produce? See John 15:10-11 Do you want to bring joy to Christ’s heart?

⁶And the LORD repented that he had made man on the earth, and it brought grief to his heart. Gen. 6:6

²⁰Those who are perverse in heart are detestable to the LORD; but those who are blameless in their way are his delight. Prov. 11:20

¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you [i.e. so that we may be the object and the source of Christ’s own joy], and your joy maybe made full. Jn. 15:10-11