Chapter vi, on the sons of God, etc., is next. I beg to remind the
reader we are still in Chaldea, near the Gulf of Persia; near the river Euphrates; near the garden of Eden, where God created man; where we found gold and precious stones; the place where murder was committed; near Arabia, etc. The geographical location is important, and let the reader also remember that the whole tract of land where all these transactions are supposed to have taken place is not so large as any moderate-sized state in our Union.
If you will examine a map of this particular region, it will help to bring the truth to your mind, and add considerably to your understanding. It is also well to bear in mind that in this small territory the art of agriculture was pursued, as well as fruit-growing, sewing was invented and aprons were made, and Eve had an apron before she had a dress, and this high state of civilization existed as soon as man and woman appeared on earth! What a contrast with other barbaric, savage, and uncivilized tribes! Eve had a decided advantage over the young female that was captured when Columbus landed December 12th. She was perfectly naked; so says history.
Verse 2: "The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair; and they took them wives all which they chose."
Sons of God! Was God married? If so, to whom? How many wives had he? How many sons and daughters? Where was God's residence, if he had any? Were his domestic relations pleasant or not? Was his family large or small? Pray give us some information. Our theologians will tell us, "Ah, that has a spiritual meaning."
Verse 3: "And the Lord [not God] said: My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." Who?--God? "Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty." This is a crafty statement, because it shows that the average length of life was the same as it is now, with some few exceptions, and as the fabulous age was past, the only way to get out of the difficulty was to give timely notice that extraordinary ages should not occur again.
Verse 4: "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." Who were these descendants of God that became mighty and men of renown?
After God's sons intermarry with the daughters of men, the affairs of man grow worse, instead of better. And God grows despondent:
Verse 5: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Think of God's sons causing all this wickedness on earth. He ought to have brought them up better. What can we expect of a God that cannot raise his own children properly?
"Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart." This exhibits the profound ignorance of God. Though he made man, he did not know what the various organs in the body were for. He ought to have known that the heart does not think. Its function is to circulate the blood--a truth which was not discovered until 1618 by Harvey, of England.
Verse 6: "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and it grieved him at his heart."
Ha! God has a heart, and he has flesh, and he has sons; he knows what is good, evil, wickedness; repents and grieves; and has domestic relations with--evidently ladies, by whom he has children.
We will not mind the preparations of the ark, or the shipbuilding instructions given by God. A God that knew something of mechanics, shipbuilding, dimensions, measurement, etc.--no wonder theologians call God a designer, an architect. He showed some skill in the construction of this boat.
As soon as Noah had everything prepared, had loaded his cattle, etc., food and provender, God was ready to destroy his own sons and their relations by drowning them.