The Prelude to Divine Judgment and Spiritual Conflict

Genesis 6:1–4 (NASB95) 

1Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 

The opening verses of Genesis 6 reveal a troubling development in human history. The "Sons of God," understood as divine beings or angels, took human women as wives. This union was a breach of the natural order and marked a significant escalation in human wickedness. The Bible shows that this event is the cause for the moral decay described in the following verses, where God observes that human evil has greatly increased. The actions of these heavenly beings corrupted humanity further, accelerating sin and violence on the earth. 

Here, Genesis introduces the reality of spiritual warfare. The battle is not only against our own sinful nature but also against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms, as Paul later explains in Ephesians 6:12. The "Sons of God" represent these spiritual powers that rebel against God’s order. Most of humanity aligns with these demonic forces, deepening the corruption. Such an alignment causes the earth to become so violent, so dark, that it is the precursor to the flood. Recognizing this two-front battle is crucial for the church today, as it shapes how we understand temptation, sin, and the spiritual realities behind them. 

Because of this growing wickedness, God limits human lifespan to 120 years. This divine restriction aims to curb the extent of evil that humanity can commit. It shows God’s mercy in restraining sin’s spread, even as He prepares to bring judgment. 

What about the Nephilim? The Bible tells us that the Nephilim are the hybrid offspring resulting from the union of fallen, wicked angels and the daughters of men. Why does Genesis mention these offspring? The Nephilim will reappear in the biblical narrative when Israel enters the Promised Land. The Nephilim are one of the foes that Israel must fight and eradicate from the land. The writer of Genesis is preparing his audience for these later narratives. 

This set of passages reminds the church that the spiritual battle is real and complex. We face not only our own sinful desires but also spiritual forces that seek to oppose God’s kingdom. The church must equip believers to stand firm through prayer, Scripture, and reliance on Jesus. Understanding that much of the world aligns with these dark powers calls us to live holy lives and to proclaim the gospel boldly. God’s limit on human lifespan also shows His mercy and patience, giving us time to repent and turn to Him. The church today should encourage believers to walk closely with God, resisting evil on every front, and trusting in His power to overcome.