The fall of human

The Fall of Human Genesis 6: 1-13

Rev.Sajesh Mathews

Enoch for Jewish People is a sage, scribe, scientist and a visionary who even intercedes for fallen angels. Enochic Literature is considered as one of the Apocalyptic Literature which explains the visions and imageries. In the Book of the Watchers, an Enochic apocalypse from the third century BCE, the "sons of God" of Gen 6:1-4 are accused of corrupting humankind through their teachings of metalworking, cosmetology, magic, and divination. Annette Yoshiko Reed has done a research on the 'book of watchers' which explains the fall of angels in relation with Human beings. She published a book titled "Fallen Angels and History of Judaism and Christianity". The first part of the text (Genesis 6:1-7) has a mythical root. This segment is the brief version of an apocalyptic literature, which is from J source. Genesis chapter 4 and 5 convey the histories of long period. Chapter 6: 1-7 is a called as a sandwiched text which is text in between Enoch and Noah. The crux of the text is the fall of Human and God's intervention in the human fall.

1. God’s pain on Human Fall

"When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose" (Genesis 6: 1-2). The text begins with this controversial note. These verses are always neglected from interpreting because of the reason that it sounds like God has sons. There are so many mythical stores that describe the physical relationship between angels (heavenly beings)and human beings. Contemporary readings of the bible and biblical scholars counter the argument of its mythical root and introduce the key references and evidences of who were called as sons of God.

There are three prominent and popular views regarding the mythical reference of

Sons of God and daughters of human.
a. Cosmologically mixed races view. it refers the relationship between Angels or heavenly beings and Human.
b. Religiously mixed races view. it refers to Godly Sethites and Worldly Cainites.
c. Religiously mixed races view. it refers to male aristocrats and beautiful female commoners (Genesis 6:4)
Among the popular views, the dominant and logical view is that the Sons of God are descendants of Seth and daughters of human are the descendants of Cain. Genesis chapter 4-5 provide the hint of this arguments that it is not about sons of God or any other semi-divine beings. It is about two categories of descendants from Cainites and Sethites. Cainites were selfish, earthly and wicked. Sethites had all kinds of good qualities. They lived with the image of God and kept a devotion, Holiness and consecration. In Genesis 4: 26 gives the reference that it was from the Seth period people turned to God. "Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26).
God’s pain has increased because Sethites and Cainites had intermarriages (verses 1&2) which were not the divine plan. It resulted a generation of wicked people. Nephilim was one among the those fallen people who lost the image of God. Therefore it is not about the sons of God and daughters of Human which is referred in verse 1 and 2 but it is the Sethites and Cainites. It is here God becomes painful. The chosen text shares God's pain on human wickedness. Verse 6 shows that God regretted that he made human on Earth. God is painful by seeing the atrocities and wickedness of human beings. In nutshell the text focuses on the fall of human and the text explicitly refer the sin that the people committed. The fall of human is covered and justified these days. We need soothing gospel that satisfies our desires. Churches often forget to preach about Sin and judgment. We need to understand how God is painful by our sinful behavior.

2. God's redemptive act in response to Human fall

Noah was chosen to be saved because God found favor with him.Enoch also walked with the lord so God took him without even facing death. why were they saved? It was because of their life that made them to be saved. it was a criticism that the dominant churches from the history began to sell forgiveness of sin. if sinners are not there then the religious people will have no work. Sin is preserved and judgment is taught because people will become fearful to the church and they will be active participants. Confession is also not the license to commit sin. God is always against sin not the sinners. Does God love sin or sinners? Jesus ate with sinners but preached against the sinful nature.Therefore nobody can justify the mistakes or Sin. We blame on genes, heredity, environment, circumstances and all our prejudices. We do even blame by saying that it is the original sin that made us to commit sin or it is the evil that is very powerful who is making us to be sinners. Jerriton Brewin has written a book titled, "God in the teeth of Suffering" which initiate a discussion whether evil is a creation of God and evil is powerful. The book also shares the mythology of fallen angel who became the evil/ satan. The book addresses the question whether evil is powerful.Ifevil is powerful how God is omnipotent. Jerriton says whether evil exists or powerful or not, God exists in the midst of human suffering. Hence we cannot justify that it is the work of the evil. Remember sin is always Sin. Sin cannot be justified. But sinners will have a hope if they confess. The life of David is the best example.it shows how God forgives and is faithful to those confess their sin The text also locates in the dualism of Body and spirit. It is the influence of Semitic religions and Greek cultures which taught that the body is sinful. 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.” (Genesis 6: 3). For Jewish community the spirit and body are two different realities. Body and spirit cannot be separated. We share the image of God and we breath the breathe of God. There is an indwelling spirit in the body. Genesis 3 portrays how the Adam and eve had a fall by disobeying. In chapter 3:6 we read that when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. The similar act is repeated in the second fall that is referred in chapter 6. When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose" (Genesis 6: 1-2). Taking wives means misusing (Genesis 12:15, 2 Samuel 11:2-14). People who lived there failed in their marital life and relationships. Genesis 6: 11 and 12 talk about how human have become corrupt and wicked. We are not the silent spectators of all wickedness. We are called to address our own failure and the wickedness, and fight against the violence and atrocities we witness in the world. Crucifixion of Jesus was his final victory over all powers of darkness and wickedness. Jesus made salvation available for all those who receive forgiveness. Cross is like Noah ark, a saving boat for the humanity to come back from the wicked nature. Noah and Enoch showed an exemplary way to be changed and transformed.