Gen 6: The corruption of humankind and God's decision to destroy them except Noah, who walked with God

This tells of the increasing corruption and fall of humankind and God's grievance at sin, resulting in His resolution to punish it

• v1: the multiplying of humankind, as a result of God's blessing, has turned into a curse due to the fall, because with it came also the multiplying and increase of sin and transgression
• v2: "Sons of God" = sons of Seth (the supposedly godly) married the "daughters of men" (supposedly fallen race of Cain): but why the sudden change in the meaning of "men" from v1 to 2, when in v1 "man" referred to the human race as a whole? And why would a sin of being unequally yoked produce "Nephilim"? (commonly translated as giants).
• Hence probable interpretation is the sociology mixed view: "sons of God" = typical reference for aristocrats in OT times,"men of reknown" (Gen 6:4). The Aramaic text renders "sons of God" as "sons of nobles", and the Hebrew word for "God" is used in Scripture for men who served as judges (Ex 21:6 - Then his master must take him before the judges)
• The amiss in those marriages was that the men took and married whoever they chose, out of lust.
• v3: God's displeasure: note that it is the flesh and corruption that resists and opposes God's Spirit, and He may hence choose to withdraw His strivings. Even in this however, God still grants a reprieve, deferring judgement and giving time (120 years) for repentance and reformation
• v5: it was the mighty men and men of great renown who were wicked - these men were not only honoured notwithstanding their wickedness, but honoured for it. The transgressions were done intentionally (every inclination...was only evil all the time).
• v6: "The Lord was grieved", or "it repented the Lord" - God was injured and affronted. It is not as though God changed His mind or regretted His decision. Rather, God is after all, a living being, who responds to our actions. He however, does not change His character, person or ultimate plan. This "grieving" or "repenting" refers to His holy displeasure against sin.
• v7: God resolved to wipe off man from the earth, as dirt is wiped off from a place which should be clean. The creatures, originally made for man, hence had to be destroyed with man. Despite everything, God did not disown nor deny that He was their Creator and Maker.
• v8: Noah finding favour in God's eyes showed that God had examined the character of every person in it before He pronounced it universally corrupt
• v9: Noah found favour because he was "righteous", "blameless", and "walked with God". This in no way meant that Noah was perfect (he got drunk!!). The Hebrew word translated to "righteous" in the passage applied also to the use of honest scales and weights (Lev 19:36), judging your neighbour fairly (Lev 19:15), and in the righteous ways of the Lord (Ps 145:17). Hence Noah was righteous because he conformed to the standard set by God even when people around him were immersing themselves in evil. He was righteous because he accepted and used the righteous standard for his living and acting (hence in no way implying perfection). Noah was "blameless", just like Job (Job 1:1), as agreed by even God in heaven (Job 1:8), and yet Job knew he was a sinner (Job 10:6) Hence blameless "among the people of his time" indicates that Noah's righteousness and blamelessness stood out against his fellow peoples' sinfulness.
• v13: "The secret of the Lord is with those that fear Him" Ps 25:14. God communicated to him His purpose and plans, just like He told Abraham His resolution concerning Sodom. This was perhaps so that Noah could preach and warn His neighbours of God's wrath?
• v14-15: God directed Noah to make an ark. This ark was like the hulk of a ship, fitted not to sail upon the waters, but to float upon the waters, waiting for their fall (because there was no destination to sail to). God could have secured Noah by sending his angels, without putting him through any pains, or trouble himself; but he chose to employ him in making the means of his own preservation. This was both to test his faith and obedience and to teach us that none shall be saved by Christ but only those that work out their salvation. We cannot do it without God, and He will not without us. Both the providence of God, and the grace of God, own and crown the endeavours of the obedient and diligent. Hence, grace is God's responsibility and part, and faith is our responsibility and part.
  
• v18: God established His covenant of providence and grace with Noah, making him a great blessing to the world. Noah was a preacher to the men of his generation: he received word from God's mouth, and through his building of the ark (which would have probably taken many years), he built a visible monument and testimony to God's impending judgement.
• v22: Noah's diligence in building the ark can be considered the result of his immense faith in God's word. Building a huge ark on dry land would have seemed ludicrous to the human mind, who might not have believed that God, who made the world, would destroy it again. It was an act of obedience, which would have incurred much expense and sacrifice, all the while probably being ridiculed. It was supposed to be a warning to the world, calling them to repentance and for them to prepare arks, but since he could not convince the world, he condemned them by it: "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Heb 11:7)