V1       Many men, resulting in much sin. The people multiply, as God commanded, but they live with out reference to God. (If each family had 4 children, ie: sons and daughters, the total population would be 1 million after ten generations.)

V2       There are two lines; in 5.1-29, the sons of God, and in 4.17-18, the daughters of men. Few trusted in God; the love of many grew cold, their commitment decreased, they judged solely by appearance (“beautiful”), and compromised with evil, and so sin spread. They “chose” without seeking God’s mind.

V3       Man’s longevity also promoted sin; such that God limited man’s life span. We may understand the 120 years in two ways;

-          human life reduced to 120 years by the time of Moses, and was severely reduced immediately after the flood (chapter 11);

-          the flood came within 120 years of these words being spoken.

V4       The Nephilim were another group of men.

V5            Widespread sin;

-          the wickedness of man was great; and

-          “every inclination  ... was only evil all the time”.

Man’s desires and attitudes and actions are all corrupted; he became “desperately wicked” Jer 17.9.

V6-7    The Lord’s response to man, for their sin has become so great. Even animals and birds will be killed with them. (Fish are not to be killed; they are not taken into the ark.)

V8       Enoch has gone, and few maintained faith in God. But Noah stands out as a blameless man.

V9-10 Noah is a blameless man, and a family man. Those who maintain that only the unmarried are holy are not correct.

V11-12            Even the earth is described as “corrupt in God’s sight.” See 2 Pet 3.6; the world that then existed perished; this indicates the depravity into which man had fallen. Through Noah, God warns the people of coming judgment, but the message is rejected and despised.

V13     God spoke to Noah; like Elijah he has to confront wickedness, rather than religious hypocrisy. And, like Elijah, he has to walk godly in such an environment. God reveals His plans to Noah, as in 18.17. God’s plan is to destroy the earth, thus restraining sin.

V14-16            The plan of salvation is God’s design, not man’s invention, and it is the only way to be saved. Thus, the ark pictures the salvation of God in Christ. It is also God’s answer to Satan’s claim to dominate the earth.

            There is salvation and judgment through the flood, and each one has a choice. Man may be judged by the flood; the savour of death to death; of man is saved through the flood; the savour of life to life.

            The ark is made of a tree cut down, just as Christ died on a tree. The ark also bore the judgment of God, as Christ did, but those inside are safe; all in Christ are safe.

V17     “All life ... every creature ... everything ...  “ is destroyed. Noah has this uncomfortable message to deliver.

V18     God’s covenant with the saved, the chosen people; Eph 1.14; 2 Thess 2.13; they are chosen before they are saved.

V19-20            The salvation of two of each species of animal, to keep each alive, pictures the salvation of men from all nations. For them there is life only in the ark; those who enter will leave; all who are in Christ will remain in Him, Rom 8.29-30. Noah does not have the problem of catching animals, for all will come to him.

V21            Provision for the saved. In Christ, we are not only safe, but properly provided for.

V22     Noah is the man of faith, and that means he obeys God.

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