The Microcosm of Our Depravity, that Majesty of His Divinity

Genesis 1-6 is often refered to as a microcosm of world history. God creates, man sins, God selects a form of redemption for some, they escape His wrath while the Earth is judged, a new creation mandate is given (to Noah), and life with God is made possible.

Here's how the chapter describes the corruption of the Earth which demanded judgment.

Genesis 6:1–8 (ESV) When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

It is not small coincidence how the world became completely corrupt. Men of God (those of Seth's line) decided to take as wives the daughters of Cain. Why? Theologians believe it was for the cultural advancement they represented. Cain's line, while godless in many respects, was truly successful by outward appearances. If you read Cain's genealogy, it is filled with industrialists, artisans and business moguls. It would appear these were marriages for what the men of God could get out of these women.

What we have in the Gospel of Christ is the exact opposite!

Jesus is the true man of God who does not find a wife desirable for what "she could get him" or what "she would make him." No, perfection cannot be improved upon. Plus, the bride of Christ is totally undesirable. She is full of holes and laced with sinful tendencies. There is nothing we bring to Christ's benefit, we only bring our sin.

Nothing in my hand I bring, 
simply to the cross I cling; 
naked, come to thee for dress; 
helpless, look to thee for grace; 
foul, I to the fountain fly; 
wash me, Savior, or I die. 

In a weird way, Genesis prefigures Christ by contrasting Him with the evil heart of man that God would not endure - a self-seeking husband completely removed from the Christ we see in the Gospels. The Christ who loved the women of notorious character and men of shameless endeavors. The Christ who finds sinners and makes them friends and then makes them righteous with His blood.

We are beneficiaries of all that He is! God does not save you because "he needed a family in this big 'ole universe." He saved you to demonstrate the glory of his self-giving love that epitomizes who He is!

1 John 4:8 (ESV) God is love.

While God regretted making man on the Earth and was grieved, God freely gave His Son up for us all so that the glory of our redemption could outshine the horrendous evil of our hearts.

How great the Father has chosen to love us!