35.u. “When man began to multiply on the face of the land”

 

 

Genesis 6:1  When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

There are numerous thoughts on the Nephilim and where they came from or were a product of.  In general these are two of those paths of thought.

  1. The Nephilim were the heroes of old, men of renown. The people of the world were in a state of moral decay, and had fallen spiritually. The word nephilim is not a name title, and it should have been translated as the “fallen ones.”. It is referring to those who have fallen spiritually and are in moral decline.
  2. The Nephilim (“fallen ones, giants”) were the offspring of sexual relationships between the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:1–4. There is much debate as to the identity of the “sons of God.” It is our opinion that the “sons of God” were fallen angels (demons) who mated with human females or possessed human males who then mated with human females. These unions resulted in offspring, the Nephilim, who were “heroes of old, men of renown”

I don’t find it important to have conclusion on Nephilim coming from sons and daughter of Seth marrying sons and daughters of Cain or sons and daughters of Seth and Cain marrying with fallen angels.  What is important is the moral decay that takes place when God is cast aside and mankind determines their own paths in life. Man, void of God and things of God will always decay to a culture / society that is perverse, its moral compass lost, and where evil is the norm. The longer man lives apart from God the worse his state of mind and affairs. Man, apart from God, will devise plans, ideas, and earthly forms of right and wrong. Though the whole world claim something is right and true, if it is wrong in the eyes of God, it is wrong and false. Though the whole world claim things of God are wrong and false, if it is right in the eyes of God and God ordained, it is right and true. This is why it is important to know things of God, study His Word, and humbly serve, trust, obey, follow, and rely on Him.  When we understand that our sole purpose this side of eternity is to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, it is then we will walk paths that are pleasing to God in whom we find true peace, joy, hope, courage, meaning, satisfaction, grace, mercy, and love.

10.z. “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!”

Micah 4:6   In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalms 38:17    For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.

Isaiah 35:3-6    Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Ezekiel 34:16     I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Zephaniah 3:19    Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

Hebrews 12:12-13    Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

What an encouraging Word today.  In all of the fear and worry being proclaimed by social and mainstream media, some founded and some of it not.  At the end of the day, worry and fear are natural emotions that come upon us when we are taken back from our normality.  It is not bad that we have these emotions but to dwell on them and cling to them, and to believe them to be all that is ahead of us is bad, very bad.  We deny God His Glory.  Our faith and trust and reliance give glory to God.  I am sure there is more glory given to God when faith, trust, and reliance have allowed us to surrender fear and worry.  When fear and worry come upon you don’t let it own you and your thoughts.  Turn your thoughts to the promises and protection of Jesus Christ.  He knows the hairs on our head, the cattle on a thousand hills, and no sparrow drops to the ground but that He knows.  He not only is able to give us reprieve from our fear and worry but He is also able to replace it with joy, peace, comfort, courage, strength, and rest.  That old hymn comes to mind; “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”