Gen. 6:1-2,4

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 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.

We have all heard the story of Noah and the ark and of the great flood that destroyed all but 8 people. For a lot of us, it painted a picture of an angry, vengeful God. But a deeper understanding of the scriptures will show otherwise.

In Genesis 3:15 after the fall of man, God promised man that He was sending a Redeemer to "shuwph", (to overwhelm, break, bruise) the serpent's head (rulership, lead, authority), and that the serpent was going to bruise His heel. The term "bruise His heel" denotes war or a battle. In John 13:18, Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9 to describe the treachery of Judas Iscariot, when He states "he that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel against me". Here in Gen. 3:15, it shows that Jesus will achieve victory over Satan, but at a tremendous cost - the cross.

So Satan knew that there was a Redeemer of mankind coming to earth to disrupt and destroy his rulership, thus began his was against anthing that was to be born upon the earth. So does the Bible give some hint into the war that was waged by Satan from the beginning? And why did God feel that a flood was warranted to destroy such a corrupt earth. Better yet, why was the world so corrupt in His eyes that He felt He had to destroy it and start over. I truly believe the answer lies in Genesis 6:1-2.4.

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 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 the sons of God? There are many theories, but the fact remains that these unions produced what the author described as "giants" or the "Niphils", which means a bully, a tyrant, a giant. It appears 3 times in the O.T. It is originated from the word "Naphal" and the main idea is a violent or accidental circumstance or event. These "giants" are known as "Nephilims" or "the fallen ones" and I believe that these unions were an attack from Satan to destroy the bloodline in which the Messiah was to come. This plan was so successful that I truly feel that the flood occurred to protect the way of redemption.

And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth
and it grieved Him at His heart. an the Lord said, "I will destroy
man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man,
and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air; for
it repented Me that I have made them But Noah found grace in
the eyes of the Lord.....

Declaration of Faith

I have abundant favor with God. I am a just and righteous man/woman
and I walk in continual fellowship with Him.
Ps. 5:12; Pro.12:2; II Cor.5:21; I Jo.1:3-9

GEN.1:26-28 KJV

And God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth”. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

When I read this section of scripture there are several questions that come to mind. Whenever I read the Word of God, I always read it in a questioning fashion. Mainly because it helps me to really concentrate and zone in on what I am reading. The first question that comes to mind is concerning the word “image”. What exactly is an “image” and when we hear the term “in our image” what does that entail. “the image of God”. In Hebrew that word comes from an unused root which probably meant “to shade”. It means “ a representative figure, an idol, a phantom. It is used 16 times in the O.T. and is referred to man 5 times. God made man in such a way as to reflect some of His own perfections – perfect in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness and has given us dominion over the creatures. Tselem is not an exact duplicate but only a shadow of a thing represented. The other term, “after our likeness”. Likeness in Hebrew means resemblance, model, shape, fashion, manner, similitude and occurs 26 times in the O.T. So we are representative figures of God on the earth that are to reflect His perfectness in knowledge, righteousness and holiness…

In these sections of scripture God also gave man a mandate. In verse 28 He gives man dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. What does that word “dominion” mean? In the Hebrew “radah” (dominion) means to tread down (as a winepress with the feet), to subjugate, subdue, to crumble, to oppress, to walk on a person, to rule and cause to rule, to reign, to prevail against, to take (as in taking possession of honey from a hive), to scrape out. So we are Representative figures of God on the earth who are to reflect His perfectness in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, and with a mandate to dominate every living thing that moves on the earth. What an awesome responsibility!

In the fall this dominion was forfeited to Satan but Glory be to God dominion was restored back to man in Christ Jesus. Even though man was tarnished by sin as a result of the fall, he still maintains the essential nature of God and is an exact equivalent to “tselem”. So how do we reflect the perfection of God? Ephesians 4 gives us the solution. Paul tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Then in Colossians 3, he tells us, “to put off the old man with his deeds and to put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him (God) that created him (man).

How do we put on the new man? Romans 10:8-10,13 says: “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”.

DECLARATION OF FAITH

I am created in the image and likeness of almighty God. I have been given authority (complete rule and dominion) over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field and every creeping thing on the earth. I am a representation of God’s authority and likeness, and have been given ruler ship of this planet. He has blessed me and commanded me to take dominion over it and subdue it for His glory.