Genesis 6—The Days of Noah

I. Why is the study of the days of Noah so

relevant to today?
A. The days of Noah mark a significant
event in human history.
1. It tells us something of the nature of
God. There is an end to His patience
and longsuffering (Gen. 6:3; I Pet.
3:20).
2. It marked a “new beginning” in
human history.
a. In Adam and Eve God populated the
earth from two people.
b. In Noah and his family God populated
the earth from eight people (I Pet.
3:20).
3. It has significance in the world of
geology and science.
B. The days of Noah are prophetic of the
end times (Mt. 24:36-44).
Jesus prophesied that the days prior to
the return of the Lord would resemble
the days of Noah in some way. Jesus
focused on three similarities between
the days of Noah and the days
preceding His return.
1. The judgment of God will certainly
come on the earth.
a. In the case of the days of Noah it
was to come in the form of a flood
upon the earth.
b. In the case of the end times it will
come when Jesus returns at the
Second Coming.
2. The judgment of God will come when
everything seems to be proceeding as
usual (Luke 17:28).
3. The judgment of God will be escaped
by those that are ready and faithful
(Heb. 11:7; I Th. 5:4-6).
II. What are the things that characterize
the days of Noah?
A. The days of Noah are described for us
in Genesis 6:1-5, 11-13).
1. There was a population explosion (6:1).
2. Marriage vows were taken lightly
(6:2; Mt. 24:38).
3. The focus of man was on seeking
pleasure (Gen. 6:2; Mt. 24:38;
Compare Luke 12:19).
a. There was a focus on satisfying the
physical appetites of man.
b. This will be true of the end times as
well (II Tim. 3:1-5).

4. The earth was filled with violence

(6:11, 13)
 5. The moral climate was one of
wickedness (Gen. 6:5).

6. Mankind had lost his way and become

corrupt (Gen. 6:11-12).

7. The spiritual climate was one of

darkness (Gen. 6:5-6).

B. The days of Noah are a prophetic

example of what we can expect in the
last days prior to the return of the Lord.
III. Why would God be so apparently harsh
in His judgment on man?
A. The people in the days of Noah had
powerful testimonies.
1. They had the testimony of the
Cherubim and flaming sword.
2. They had the testimony of the mark
of Cain as a warning to all.
3. They had the testimony of Adam and
other Godly men and women.
4. They had the testimony of the
translation of Enoch.

5. They had the testimony of the ark.

B. The people in the days of Noah had
strong warnings.
1. They had the prophetic preaching of
Enoch (Jude 14-15).
2. They had the prophetic naming of
Methuselah (“when he is dead it shall
be sent”).
3. They had the preaching of Noah (II
Pet. 2:4-5).
 4. They had the signs of the times (Mt.
16:1-4; Luke 19:44).

C. The people in the days of Noah had

the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Gen.
6:3; II Pet. 3:9).
IV. How did Noah stand out in his
generation?
A. Noah found grace in the eyes of the
Lord (Gen. 6:8).
1. Noah was a righteous and just man
(Gen. 6:9; Ezek. 14:14, 16, 18, 20).
2. Noah was a perfect man (Gen. 6:9).
3. Noah walked with God (Gen. 6:9;
Amos 3:3).
4. Noah was a preacher of righteousness
(I Pet. 3:18-21; II Pet. 2:4-5).
5. Noah was a man of faith who trusted
God (Heb. 11:7).
6. Noah feared the Lord and walked in
obedience to Him (Gen. 6:22; 7:5, 9-
16; Heb. 11:7).
7. Noah was a worshipper (Gen. 8:20).
8. Noah was a faithful priest in his home
(Heb. 11:7; II Pet. 2:4-5).
B. Noah’s name is used in a rather unique
way in this chapter (Gen. 6:8-13).
1. Five is the number of GRACE. The
fifth time his name occurs in the Bible
it says, “Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8).
2. Six is the number of MAN. The sixth
time his name occurs in the Bible it
says, “This is the genealogy of Noah”
(Gen. 6:9).
3. Seven is the number of PERFECTION.
The seventh time his name occurs in
the Bible it says, “Noah was a just
man, perfect in his generations.”
4. Eight is the number of NEW
BEGINNINGS. The eighth time his
name occurs in the Bible it says,
“Noah walked with God.”
5. Nine is the number of FRUITFULNESS.
The ninth time his name occurs in the
Bible it says, “And Noah begot three
sons.”
V. How is the Ark seen as a type of the
Church?
The ark of Noah was the place of God’s
provision or place of refuge from the
coming judgment.
A. The ark provides us with a wonderful
type of the Church.

1. It was built by God’s initiative (Mt.

16:18).
2. It was designed by God. God provided
the pattern.
3. It was made up of many trees built
together (I Pet. 2:5).
4. It had many rooms or compartments
(Gen. 6:14; John 14:2, 23).
5. It had an atonement (pitch) covering
(Gen. 6:14).
6. It only had one door into it (Gen. 6:16;
John 14:6).
7. It was a place of the presence of God
(Mt. 18:20; Eph. 2:22).
8. It was available for clean and unclean
animals (Acts 10:9-16).
9. It was a place of food or provision.
10. It was the God ordained means for
people to escape judgment (Compare
Acts 27:31).
B. The ark was big enough to fulfill its
purpose.
1. It was measured in cubits.
a. It was 30 cubits high, 50 cubits wide
and 300 cubits long. A cubit is
approximately 18 inches or one half
of a meter.

b. It would be approximately 15 meters

high, 25 meters wide and 150 meters
long.
 2. It was a big box.
a. The cubic volume of the ark would be
approximately 1,500,000 cubic feet or
56,250 cubic meters.
b. This size would be equivalent to
approximately 522 standard box cars
or nearly 600 standard size shipping
containers.
c. It has been estimated that this size
would accommodate approximately
125,000 sheep.
C. The ark was prepared in advance of the
flood (Genesis 5:32 with Genesis 7:6).
VI. What are the theories concerning the
“giants” of Genesis 6?
There are two primary issues and three
main theories involved. All of the
theories have difficulties with which to
deal.
A. View #1
1. This view is that the sons of God were
the offspring of the godly line and the
daughters of men were individuals from
the ungodly line.
2. The problem with this view is that is
does not explain the unique nature of the
offspring created from their union. Some
have suggested that “giants” merely
means “tyrants” and that “mighty men”
means “champions.” However, it still
does not explain why these offspring are
singled out as men of renown.
B. View #2
1. This view is that the sons of God were
fallen angelic beings who somehow
interacted sexually with women of the
human race producing an unusual
offspring.

2. The problem with this view is whether

or not such a union between a human
being and a spirit being is possible.