Genesis 6:1-8
‘It came to pass…that the sons of God saw the daughters of men…were fair…. They took them wives…whom they chose…. There were giants (or “fallen ones”) on the Earth…. Also after that, when the sons of God came to the daughters of men, and they bare children to them. The same became mighty men…, men of renown…. God saw t hat the wickedness of man was great…. The thoughts of his heart was only evil, continually… . But Noah found grace!’ Genesis 6:1-8.
Calvin commented: “This narration must be traced to an earlier period than the 500th year of Noah…. The language used…, refers…to a time of repentance…granted to the…world….
“‘There were giants in the earth ‘…. The Hebrew noun… ne philiym …is known to be from the verb… naaphal — which is ‘to fall’…. These robbers, brought destruction and desolation….
“There were also others from among that promiscuous offspring, which was produced when the sons of God mingled themselves with the daughters of men…. The holy seed was defiled by the same corruption….
“They who first exercised tyranny or power in the world, together with an excessive licentiousness and an unbridled lust of dominion, had begun from this race… The mind of those…, was…thoroughly imbued with iniquity!….
“It grew worse and worse, as time advanced…. The inveterate depravity which the children…received…, (was) transmitted from their parents…. ‘But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’
“This…signifies that God was propitious to him, and favoured him…. Men infer with futile subtlety that if men find grace in God’s sight, it is because they seek it by their own industry and merits…. Noah is declared to have been acceptable to God…. Whence, however, did he attain this integrity — but from the prevenient grace of God?…
“This favour was gratuitous mercy! Afterwards, the Lord having once embraced him, retained him under His Own hand — lest he should perish with the rest of the world!”
In his Institutes II:2:25 & I:17:12, Calvin states “the Holy Spirit. ..distinctly declares that ‘ every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually ‘ (Genesis 6:5)…. God…repented of having made man (Genesis 6:6).”
Yet ‘ Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord !’ (Genesis 6:8). Noah, and his whole family (Genesis 6:18).
Let us too remember, also in our old age, that God is gracious to His elect and their family. Even at a time of great wickedness. For God destroyed the wicked. But He saved Noah!
