Holy Devotion
Bible Devotional
Genesis 6:1-2 - Lust

Scripture:

Genesis 6:1-2
1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
NASU


Thoughts:

There has been much speculation and mythology popularized around these verses.  Who are the "sons of God?"  Many theorize that these are fallen angels.  However, that is not at all clear from reading the text and would generate more questions than answers.  For instance, how does a spiritual, non-physical being, marry a human?  What nature results when an eternal being and a mortal one produce an offspring?  These make for blockbuster movies, but don't pan out in real life. 

I think a better view is to understand these sons as men of the godly line of Seth (those in the lineage of Christ).  Who are these daughters of men, then?  They are just that, women born from anyone on the face of the Earth.  What I believe is happening here then, is that the godly line, those that followed God, were intermarrying with those who did not:  for example, the descendants of Cain.  Rather than being careful to marry among those who worshiped God, they married whomever they wanted; whomever they found physically attractive.  In short, these godly men gave in to lust.  Indeed, God found that all were corrupt, except Noah:

Genesis 6:5-8
5 Then 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. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The 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." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
NASU

Prayer:

Lord, lust is as much of a problem today as it was all the way back to the time of Noah.  Help us who are Christians today not to follow in the footsteps of these ancient men of God.  Help us not to let our hearts desire such things. 

For those of us who are married, give us eyes only for our spouses.  For those of us who look forward to marriage, may we commit to keeping our eyes for our future spouses, waiting for you to bring them, not window shopping while we wait.

Amen

 
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