Chapter Summary

Flood announced. Compromise of sons of God with daughters of men.

Discussion Questions for Genesis, Chapter 6

1. Genesis 6:1-4 goes into discussion of the Nephilim or sons of God. The began to marry the daughters, or women, because they were attractive. Who do you think the Nephilim were as they were mentioned in addition to man? What do you think their influence was on humankind? Why?
2. The Lord places a limit on the length of man's days in Genesis 6:3. "Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in[a] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” Why do you think God chose to begin to limit man's days? Beyond the limit in age, what do you think are other consequences of the Lord's decision that His Spirit shall not always abide with man?
3. Genesis 6:5-6 describes that the Lord saw man as being wicked and man's every intentions was evil causing the Lord to regret making man. How does our current society compare with the society before the Flood? If there is hope in our current society, what is it and how much influence does it have in the culture?
4. Genesis 6:8 tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, we have no evidence of Noah's faithfulness to God before building the ark. What do you think were some of the things Noah did to find favor with God? Please remember that God has not made the covenant with Abraham at this time so Noah does not have the law to model his worship of God. To restate the question, what do you think were some of the things Noah did to find favor with God?
5. Genesis 6:15 gives the dimensions of the ark Noah built as the length is 300 cubits, breadth is 50 cubits, and height was 30 cubits. The exact measurement of cubit depends on the culture but it is approximately 18 inches. That would make the ark 450 feet in length, 75 feet in breadth, and 45 feet in height. The scripture later in Genesis tells us Noah was to bring at least two of every living creature and his family on board of the ark. Do you think it was possible for every known species today was on the ark? Why or why not? If not, how did they come into being?
6. Genesis 6:18 says that God formed a covenant with Noah to keep him and his family safe on the ark. Would you have built the ark without the covenant? Why or why not? Would you have built the ark even with the covenant knowing all of your friends and extended family were going to die in the flood? Why or why not?
7. Knowing that God wiped out all living life, how does this affect your belief in God and your worship of Him?
8. Genesis 6:12 states that God determined that all flesh was corrupt including animals since God had Noah save only a male/female of each. How does an animal become corrupt? What does this communicate about a living being's natural tendency?
9. According to Genesis 6, there were three levels in the ark and Noah was to build rooms in the ark. In a general sense, what would be your layout of the ark with all of the animals, Noah's family, and the food needed to feed all on the ark? What are the criteria you are using for the layout? How many rooms do you think were needed?
10. After the flood, Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives were the only humans being on the face of the earth. Many say that Adam and Eve is the ancestors of all of mankind. After the flood, is the statement still true? Why or why not? Would you modify the statement? Why or why not?

Key Words/Phrase

Flood, v. 17.

Characters

Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth.

Strong Verse(s)

8,9,18,22.