Genesis

בייה

Genesis 6 Nephilim / Fallen

Our Torah post is in the loving memory of Mr. John and Mrs. Katy Bond. May their memory be for good.

(Genesis 6.4) says, ‘הַנְּפִלִים Hah-Nih Fee Leem – Fallen There were Nefilim [fallen Angels] in the earth in those days; [Some say, giants.] Rashi says in Bereisheit 26.7) ‘They were called נפיליםNephilim because they נפלו naphlu fell and caused the downfall of הפילו hipilu the world.’ (Genesis 6.13) says. ‘And God Said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before me; for the earth is filled with חָמָס Chaw Maws violence because of them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”‘ Their future destruction was about one thousand years away. There was a gradual build-up of evil. The Torah Informs us about the annihilation of all humankind. Why? (Genesis 6.2) says, ‘the son’s [Angels] of God saw the daughters of men that they were pretty; and they took as wives all those whom they chose.’ (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 22.4) says, ‘Rabbi said that the angels who fell from their holy place in heaven saw the daughters of the generations of Cain walking about naked, with their eyes painted like harlots, and they went astray after them.’ It didn’t matter to the fallen if the women were married, young, or old. In those days, people did not show age. Everyone looked young and youthful. Women kept their beauty and vitality. (Genesis 6.5) says, ‘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.’ That was sad and unfortunate! Humanity drifted away from obeying The Torah of The Lord. The day of judgment was almost upon them. By 1176 FC, nearly all the righteous people had departed this world. Some transcended Heaven’s shores without experiencing death.

One-hundred-twenty years before the world’s destruction, God Instructed Metuselach and Noah to preach, ‘Repent of your evil ways, and God will change the decree He made against you.’ Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.16.

It is true that ‘God Waited patiently for the disobedient to repent in Noah’s day while the ark was being constructed, but no one repented’ (1 Peter 3:20). Can we reflect here on the patience of God? (Genesis 6.14 – 16) Shares the architectural plans God Gave to Noah. We read what God Said but may not see God’s Intention. Noah was instructed to build the ark. (Genesis 6.22) says, ‘Noah did according to all that God commanded him.’ One man built the ark. That took a very long time. That was God’s Intention. God Wanted humanity to have a very long time to consider His message of repentance.

The message was and is that God is long-suffering, loving, and patient to those who have wandered, tripped, stumbled, and fallen. Our present and past sins/mistakes need not define us. In our fast-paced age, we do not have one-hundred-twenty years to decide if we will obey God. Still, God Shows restraint in this wicked world. The day of accounting for our sins will be on us sooner rather than later. Example: Humanity expresses its wicked, evil, sinful desires through the daily TRILLIONS of keyword searches. The lust/desire the serpent injected Eve with in (Genesis 3) is rampant in most of humanity. Our world is filled with unmeasurable trouble. I am sorry for presenting such a frightening message, yet there is hope. Our only hope is to follow the path of the Lord written in Ha Torah that leads us up and out of our quagmire.

Even though one is really messed up, the message in Genesis 6 teaches us FREEDOM. It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a lifeline for any problem one has. David, the former Monarch of Israel, shared words of encouragement. (Psalms 37.24) says, ‘Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord Upholds him with his hand.’ (Psalms 145.14) says, ‘The Lord Upholds all who fall and Raises up all those who are bowed down.’ We have a promise, hope, and an opportunity to see our situation turn around with God’s Help.

May we use the tools of Ha Torah to restore, heal, and bring peace to ourselves and others. We can succeed despite past sins and mistakes. We can lift ourselves and others up.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Author