“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
(Genesis 6:5)
From the moment God declared, “Let us make man in our image” in Genesis 1, humanity’s descent into depravity by Genesis 6 is staggering. Though created pure and sinless, mankind plummeted to a state where every thought, intent, and imagination was utterly corrupt. The hearts of Adam’s descendants (all but Noah) were consumed by evil. The depth of man’s depravation reveals the devastating impact of sin, how it strips away any illusion of human goodness apart from God’s grace. This context sets the stage for the flood, a divine act of judgment that demonstrates both God’s holiness and His mercy in preserving a remnant for redemption.
Moses’ statement in Genesis 6:5 is a stark assessment of humanity’s condition. Sin infected every person; none escaped the corruption inherited from Adam’s fall. “We receive three evils from Adam’s fall: first, imputation of his sin; secondly, corruption of our nature; and thirdly, death.”[1]
Our own experience confirms this. Despite our best intentions, we stumble repeatedly, our reason clouded by deception, entangled in errors, and overwhelmed by difficulties. Paul exposes our inadequacy in 2 Corinthians 3:5, denying “that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim something as coming from us as if it really did.” He describes our fundamental inability to conceive anything truly good without divine intervention. Our minds, left to themselves, are devoid of righteousness, incapable of aligning with God’s holy standard.
Genesis 6:5 and 8:21 affirm that “every imagination of the human heart is solely evil,” a truth that humbles us before God’s judgment. John Calvin captured this reality, stating, “If whatever our nature conceives, instigates, undertakes, and attempts is always evil, how can that which is pleasing to God, to whom holiness and righteousness alone are acceptable, even enter our minds?” Our thoughts, plans, and efforts, apart from God, are mired in vanity and waste. This truth drove David to pray repeatedly for understanding to grasp God’s commandments (Ps. 119:12, 18, 19, 26, 33, 64, 68, 73, 124, 125, 135, 169).
David’s prayers reflect an acute awareness of human insufficiency. Even though he was a man after God’s own heart, David sought continual guidance, knowing his nature could not sustain godliness without God’s help. Paul echoed this dependence, praying for the churches to be “filled with the knowledge of God in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” to walk worthily before him (Col. 1:9-10; cf. Phil. 1:9). Our minds require the Spirit’s light as surely as our eyes need the sun to see. Without God’s grace, we remain blind, our hearts bent toward evil, unable to conceive or pursue what pleases Him.
So the flood was God’s righteous response to humanity’s corruption. Yet, in this act of judgment He preserved a remnant, pointing forward to the ultimate salvation through Christ. The flood teaches us to fear sin’s consequences and to cling to God’s grace, which alone delivers us from destruction. It calls us to seek the Spirit’s guidance to walk in righteousness and to trust in the One who provides the only escape from our fallen nature.
Contemplations:
- Humbled by my inability. Lord, we must always remember that though You tell us we ought to do something, we should be humbled by the fact that it has not been placed within our ability to do it unless by and through the Holy Spirit. Augustine noted that spiritual illumination is as necessary for us to understand the things of God as the light of the sun is necessary for our eyes to see. So help me rely on Your grace to understand and obey Your commands.
- Dependent on Your light. Lord, my heart is prone to wander and my thoughts tend to stay clouded by sin’s deception. I need Your Spirit to enlighten my understanding that I may see Your truth clearly and follow Your path. Open my mind to Your Word, that I may walk in Your light and not stumble in the darkness of my own reasoning.
- Seeking continual guidance. David said, “With my whole heart I have sought thee; let me not wander from thy commandments!” (Ps. 119:10). Although he had been reborn and had grown in true godliness, David confesses that he needs continual direction at every moment. He even prays elsewhere that a right spirit, lost by his own fault, would be restored (Ps. 51:10). I echo his plea, asking for Your constant guidance to keep me steadfast in Your ways.
- Trusting Your mercy. The flood reveals Your hatred of sin and Your power to judge, but also Your mercy in sparing Noah. I see in this my own need for salvation from my corrupt nature. Help me trust in Your provision through Christ, who delivers me from the wrath I deserve. Let the reality of Your judgment humble me and drive me to Your grace, where I find forgiveness and the strength to live for You.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
Holy and righteous God, You are the Creator whose purity shines brighter than the sun, whose justice upholds the universe, and whose mercy spares the guilty. Your holiness demands judgment against sin, yet Your love provides redemption through Your Son. I worship You for Your righteous character, revealed in the flood as You cleansed the earth of its corruption while preserving a remnant for Your glory. Your wisdom and power astound me, governing all things with perfect justice and unfailing compassion.
I confess that my heart mirrors the depravity You judged in Genesis 6. My thoughts have often been consumed by selfish desires, straying far from Your righteousness. I have trusted in my own reasoning and my failures to seek Your guidance have led me into error. Forgive me for assuming I could find goodness within myself. Cleanse me through Christ’s blood, renewing my mind to depend wholly on Your grace.
With heartfelt gratitude, I thank You for Your mercy displayed in the flood. Thank You for sparing Noah, a righteous man, showing that Your grace prevails even in judgment. This act foreshadows the salvation I have in Christ who bore Your wrath in my place. I am grateful for Your Spirit, who opens the eyes of my mind to see Your truth, as David prayed repeatedly in Psalm 119.
Thank You for revealing my insufficiency that I may rely on Your strength. Your Word, sharper than any sword, exposes the evil of my heart while pointing me to the cross, where redemption is found. Thank You that, despite my fallen nature, You have provided a way of escape through Jesus, who delivers me from the flood of Your righteous anger. Thank You for the promise of Colossians 1:9-10, that I may be filled with Your wisdom to walk worthily before You. Your patience with my weakness overwhelms me, as You continually guide me toward holiness.
Lord, I plead for Your ongoing grace to live in light of this mercy. Illuminate my mind daily by Your Spirit, that I may discern Your will and walk in Your truth. Guard me from self-reliance and teach me to seek You as David did. Strengthen me to live humbly, trusting in Christ’s sufficiency for every task. And use me to proclaim Your gospel, that others may know Your saving grace.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Genesis 6:5:
Proverbs 6:18; Matthew 15:19; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21.
[1] William Lyford, The Instructed Christian, (Philadelphia, PA: WM Hudson, 1847) 239.
