My Spirit Shall Not Contend Forever

Genesis 6:1-8
Key Verse 6:3

“Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

Recommend reading Genesis 4:16-5:32 and compare the line of Cain and the line Seth for better context of what is happening in today’s passage as well as Galatians 5:16-26.

Look at verses 1-4.

1. What was happening during this time? Who were the ‘sons of God’? (Gen 4:26) Who was ‘man’ and who were the ‘daughters of man’? (Gen 4:23-24)
2. What was the Spirit doing through the line of Seth prior to this passage? (Gen 5:28-29)
3. How were the sons of God choosing their wives? In what sense were the sons of God undermining the Spirit’s work?
4. What did God say regarding his Spirit and man? What did God call man in verse 3? Why didn’t the Spirit want to continue to abide in man? What does it mean for the Spirit to ‘abide’ or ‘contend’ with man?
5. Who were the Nephelem and what did they represent?

Look at verses 5-8.

6. What did God see happening?
7. How did this make God feel about man?
8. What was God’s decision based on His regretfulness?
9. Why do you think Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord? (6:22)