Genesis 6:5-7 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… I. THE CAUSES OF THE CORRUPTION. 1. Original sin. This the prime cause; from this fertile source of evil arose many fruits, each of which in its turn and place strengthened and intensified the wickedness. 2. Pride. This would be fostered by growing numbers and wealth of men. If they were expelled from the garden, had they not now many and fenced cities? To this may be added pride of individual strength, which the flattery of others might inflame. The Nephilim and their redoubtable progeny would be regarded as leaders and champions. 3. Sensuality. Sons of God and daughters of men. Even to the better trained mere beauty, devoid of piety, became a snare, The result was godless and ill-trained children, who in their turn became the progenitors of a yet more sinful race. 4. Idolatry, which diverted the attention from the holy God, and fixed it on human qualities, etc. II. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE CORRUPTION. 1. In regard to each individual. From the heart outwardly through all the life. The heart includes "conscience and consciousness, will and desire, intellect and emotion, understanding and affection." 2. In regard to the race. All flesh. There were few exceptions. God never left Himself without witness (Enos, Enoch, Noah, etc.). 3. They were thus corrupt, notwithstanding the preaching of Noah and the example of Enoch. 4. The wickedness of man various. Idolatry. Violence. Violence the effect of idolatry. 5. Till now all men spoke one language. III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CORRUPTION. God, beholding, resolved to destroy man. Sceptics say the experiment failed — that men are as bad now as they were before. Before it can be said to have failed its object must be defined. It was punitive rather than remedial. As a punishment it did not fail. The story of the deluge stands out in history as a Divine protest against sin; and as a substantial proof that God is able, when and how He pleases, to destroy the earth in the last great day. To furnish a proof of the possibility of the future judgment seems to have been another object (2 Peter 2:4-6; 2 Peter 3:3-14). Another purpose served by the deluge is to illustrate and certify the reward of godliness. This seen in the character and preservation of Noah. The Divine estimate of sin and holiness one of the most important things for the world to know. (J. C. Gray.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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