This week’s class will focus on Genesis chapter six. Here we begin to see the effects of the “Fall” and the escalation of evil. But, we will also see God’s plan of salvation begin to unfold from the “Seed” promise in Genesis 3:15 through one man named Noah. In this class we will focus on what the Bible teaches, and then discuss how we see that play out in our world, and in humans, still today.

Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors. As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches.

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation overview and Bible study questions below with basic answers for your review and, or to use as a leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Foundations Bible Study, Session Seven: Genesis Chapter Six – Noah’s Ark

Review and Reflection

1.  Prayer Cards:  Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have, and exchange with your table group at the end of the evening.

2.  Review from last week’s class: What is the importance of genealogies, especially the line of Seth?

Focus Verse:

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall [d]bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Genesis 3:15 NASB

From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus – THE SCARLET THREAD!

SHARING THE GOSPEL:

THE SEED IS HE

– HE IS THE SEED!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.””  Genesis 3:15

“So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.”  John 8:28

“From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.”  John 13:19

Bible Study

Each week, we are encouraging you to take some dedicated time and spend it in God’s Word. Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Presentation

Foundations Bible Study

Genesis Chapter Six – Noah’s Ark

Practice Step 3 – Context for the Hermeneutical Method

Chapter Reading for Step #3: Context – What does it say?

Chapter Six

• 6:1-8
• 6:9-14
• 6:15-22

Discuss (summarize) the chapter

Now let’s go over some important concepts and questions for these chapters to help with Step 4 Interpretation: What does it mean?

The Biblical Flood of Noah’s Day

Genesis Chapter Six – Step #4 Interpretation Questions – What does it mean?

Chapter 6:

1. What lead up to God’s decision to destroy His creation at this point in time, and what did he tell Noah to do? Discuss: What do you think is the significance of God giving such detail in the dimensions and building of the Ark, and the “kinds” of animals that he was to bring?

¹“Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that ²the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. ³Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” ⁴The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

⁵Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

¹¹Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹²God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. ¹³Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.”

Genesis 6:1-7, 11-13

From Cain’s murder of his brother Abel, to the bragging of murder by Cain’s descendant Lamech, the hearts of men had grown colder and the influence of evil was worldwide, these are the reasons God wanted to destroy the Earth:

• The wickedness of man was great on the earth (6:5)
• The intent of man’s heart was only evil all the time (6:5)
• The earth was corrupt (6:11)
• The earth was filled with violence (6:11, 13)
• All flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth (6:12)

“Noah found favor in the eyes of God. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:8-9).

• Noah was the only one left who had a personal relationship with God, and God made a Covenant with him (Gen. 6:18).
• Noah would carry the righteous seed of the “Original Promise/Covenant” (Gen. 3:15) through to the post flood world.
• It is through Noah’s descendant Abraham that God would further unveil the meaning of this Covenant to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3.

In Genesis 6:14-22, God gives Noah specific directions for building the Ark…

• God gave specific directions to Noah on how to build the Ark for the survival of Noah’s family and the living “Kinds” that he was to bring.
• These are the dimensions necessary for the Ark to survive in a catastrophic flood.
• We know today that these dimensions mirror modern ship building and would allow, not for sailing or motoring, but for buoyancy, stability and survival of the passengers.
• The Ark was built like a type of barge, capable of surviving extreme tipping and surging.

Concerning “living things”

“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”  Genesis 6:19-22

• God told Noah to bring 2 of every “Kind” of living thing of all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive on the Ark. Birds, animals, creeping things of the ground.
•  The size of the Ark and its capacity was more than adequate to carry the “Kinds” of living things necessary to repopulate the Earth.
• God also told him to take enough food for both his family and the animals, and according the dimensions of the Ark there would have been plenty of room.
• The type of creatures that would not need to go on the Ark would be those who could survive in water (all sea dwelling creatures and water life).

2. What did God say in verse 6:18? What is a Covenant?

God said: “But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall enter the Ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”

• A Covenant is a promise, and God’s Covenant Promise flows through the Bible, culminating in the person of Jesus, the Messiah.
• Biblical Covenants are unfolded as follows:
  • Adamic Covenant (God’s original Promise): Genesis 3:15
  • Noahic Covenant: Genesis 6:18; 8:20-9:17
  • Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis chapters 12, 15 and 17
  • Mosaic Covenant: Exodus chapters 19-24
  • Land Covenant: Deuteronomy chapter 30
  • Davidic Covenant: 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 72, 89 and 132
  • New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-22

3. Going Deeper: Biblical scholars are split on the interpretation of “the sons of God and the daughters of men” (v. 4) and the term “Nephilim.” Research and discuss your findings on this topic – What are the most common views held by Biblical scholars?

Three common interpretations by scholars for the “sons of God and the daughters of men” (Genesis 6:2)

1. Sons of God = the line of Seth, and the daughters of men = the line of Cain (this is the most common Christian interpretation today)
2. Sons of God = angels/demons (early Church Fathers’ interpretation)
3. Sons of God = royal line (Jewish traditional interpretation)

• Most scholars say that the Nephilim were the offspring of the union of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men,” however, some scholars say even though the text implies offspring, it could also mean they were a “people group” not necessarily the offspring.
• The word “Nephilim” also means giant ones, as seen later on in the Old Testament, (for example Goliath).

DISCUSS:

• Step #5 Application for chapter 6: How do I use what I learned? Based on the context and interpretation of chapter 6, we can now discuss how to apply what we have read to our lives and the culture we live in today, including our witness to others.
• The Shelf: Do you have any questions from your shelf?

(Have a place in your notebook or journal to write down questions that arise. This will help avoid rabbit trails or distractions, and you can return to them later on).