Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 6:13–7:10, 2 Pet. 2:5–9,
Genesis 7, Rom. 6:1–6, Ps. 106:4, Genesis 8, Gen. 9:1–17.
Memory Text: “ ‘But as the days of Noah were, so also will the com-
ing of the Son of Man be’ ” (Matthew 24:37, NKJV).
T
hen the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually” (Gen. 6:5, NKJV). The verb “saw” (Gen. 6:5)
brings the reader back to each step of God’s initial Creation. But what
God sees now, instead of tov, “good,” is ra‘, “evil” (Gen. 6:5). It is as
if God regretted that He had created the world, now full of ra‘ (Gen.
6:6, 7).
And yet, God’s regret contains elements of salvation, as well. The
Hebrew word for “sorry” (nakham) is echoed in the name of Noah
(Noakh), which means “comfort” (Gen. 5:29). Thus, God’s response to
this wickedness has two sides. It contains the threat of justice, leading
to destruction for some; and yet, His response promises comfort and
mercy, leading to salvation, as well, for others.
This “double voice” already was heard with Cain and Abel/Seth, and
it was repeated through the contrast between the two lines of Seth (the
“sons of God”) and Cain (the “sons of men”). Now we hear it again as
God differentiates between Noah and the rest of humankind.