In the Days of Noah Gods, Heroes and Floods Romans 3:3-4 3 What then? If some were unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not nullify God’s faithfulness, will it? 4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” Genesis 6:1-4 6 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. “Sons of God” In Greek Mythology, the Titans were heavenly beings who came down to earth and had children who were “gods” and “giants”. They were banished to Tartarus. (As also in 2 Peter 2:4.) In the Septuagint, the Greek word for Nephilim is “gigantes”. This could just as easily be translated “sons of the gods” since Elohim is already plural. Mythology is the stories of “heroes of old”. The word “old” here is better translated “ancient” or “from another age”. 1 Enoch 6:1-3 1 And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto 2 them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men 3 and beget us children.' 1 Enoch 8:1-3 1 And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all 2 colouring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they 3 were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjaza taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, Armaros the resolving of enchantments, Baraqijal (taught) astrology, Kokabel the constellations, Ezeqeel the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun, and Sariel the course of the moon. And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven . Genesis 6:5-7 5 The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” Genesis 6:8-12 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. Genesis 6:13-17 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. Add a footer Genesis 6:18-22 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Add a footer 13 2/16/2020 Add a footer Trees Scientists have researched the redwoods carefully, and have not found even one that has died of old age, sickness, or insect attack. It is significant therefore that no redwood tree has been found older than about 4,000 years. There are, though, many sequoias and redwoods in the 3,000 year-old range. The most famous sequoia tree, ‘General Sherman’, located in the Sequoia National Park in California, is about as high as a 27-storey building. It has been around for something like 4,000 years. But as tall and old as many sequoias are, they are not the oldest tree. A bristlecone pine in the White Mountains of California has this honour. It is more than 4,000 years old. Why then, are none found much older than 4,000 years? Did you know that stories about a worldwide flood are found in historic records all over the world? According to Dr. Duane Gish in his popular book Dinosaurs by Design, there are more than 270 such stories, most of which share a common theme and similar characteristics. 15 2/16/2020 Add a footer Flood Stories—Miao The Creation On the day God created the heavens and earth. On that day He opened the gateway of light. In the earth then He made heaps of earth and of stone. In the sky He made bodies, the sun and the moon. In the earth He created the hawk and the kite. In the water created the lobster and fish. In the wilderness made He the tiger and bear, Made verdure to cover the mountains, Made forest extend with the ranges, Made the light green cane, Made the rank bamboo. Flood Stories—Miao Man On the earth He created a man from the dirt. Of the man thus created, a woman He formed. Then the Patriarch Dirt made a balance of stones. Estimated the weight of the earth to the bottom. Calculated the bulk of the heavenly bodies. And pondered the ways of the Deity, God. The Patriarch Dirt begat Patriarch Se-teh. The Patriarch Se-Teh begat a son Lusu. And Lusu had Gehlo and he begat Lama. The Patriarch Lama begat the man Nuah. His wife was the Matriarch Gaw Bo-lu-en. Their sons were Lo Han, Lo Shen and Jah-hu. So the earth began filling with tribes and with families. Creation was shared by the clans and the peoples. Flood Stories—Miao The World Wicked These did not God's will nor returned His affection. But fought with each other defying the Godhead. Their leaders shook fists in the face of the Mighty Then the earth was convulsed to the depth of three strata. Rending the air to the uttermost heaven. God's anger arose till His Being was changed; His wrath flaring up filled His eyes and His face. Until He must come and demolish humanity. Come and destroy a whole world full of people. Flood Stories—Miao The Flood So it poured forty days in sheets and in torrents. Then fifty-five days of misting and drizzle. The waters surmounted the mountains and ranges. The deluge ascending leapt valley and hollow. An earth with no earth upon which to take refuge! A world with no foothold where one might subsist! The people were baffled, impotent and ruined, Despairing, horror stricken, diminished and finished. But the Patriarch Nuah was righteous. The Matriarch Gaw Bo-lu-en upright. Built a boat very wide. Made a ship very vast. Their household entire got aboard and were floated, The family complete rode the deluge in safety. The animals with him were female and male. The birds went along and were mated in pairs. When the time was fulfilled, God commanded the waters. The day had arrived, the flood waters receded. Then Nuah liberated a dove from their refuge, Sent a bird to go forth and bring again tidings. The flood had gone down into lake and to ocean; The mud was confined to the pools and the hollows.