Genesis 6:3 states “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.'” This verse comes right before the story of Noah and the flood, and raises an important question – what does it mean that God will not strive with man forever?
There are a few key things to understand about this verse:
- It comes in the context of humans sinning greatly on the earth. Genesis 6:5 says “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.” So God was seeing how far mankind had fallen into depravity and sin.
- “Strive” here refers to God contend with, judge, or correct mankind for their sin. The Hebrew word is “diyn” which means to judge or plead a case. So God is saying he will not continue judging and correcting mankind forever.
- The verse refers specifically to God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit – and how the Holy Spirit will not dwell in man forever. This implies that man’s sinful state makes it impossible for God’s Spirit to continue working among them.
- The verse says man is “flesh” – a reference to the sinful nature of mankind that leads him away from God’s truth and righteousness.
- There is a timeline referenced – 120 years – which may refer to the remaining time before the judgement of the flood happens. Though there are other views on the meaning of 120 years.
Putting this all together, Genesis 6:3 seems to be explaining that mankind had become so sinful and corrupt that God would not allow it to continue indefinitely. There was a limit to how long God would strive with man’s sinful nature and try to bring him to repentance.
God’s Spirit could not remain with man in such a state. So this verse serves as a warning that God’s judgement – the flood – is coming very soon because of man’s depravity. There is a window left (possibly 120 years) for repentance before the judgement falls. But the time for God to contend patiently with man’s sin is ultimately coming to an end.
Some key lessons from this verse include:
- There are limits to God’s patience and grace with unrepentant sin
- Continual sin and rejection of God’s ways leads to the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives
- God always warns sinners before fully enacting judgement
- Flood judgement shows the devastating effects of mankind’s rebellion against God
- All people stand guilty of sin before a Holy God
- God’s desire is always to bring sinners to repentance and relationship with Him
Genesis 6:3 gives us a sober warning against continuing in sin and rejecting God’s ways. There is coming a point when God will cease contending with rebellious mankind and allow the consequences of sin to take effect. The only recourse is to heed God’s warning and repent while there is time. This verse reminds us we need to take God’s coming judgement seriously and spread the message of repentance that can lead people back into relationship with Him.
1. The Context of Genesis 6:3
To fully understand Genesis 6:3, we need to see it in its context. This verse comes right at the introduction to the Noahic flood narrative. Genesis chapters 6-9 give the account of Noah, the ark, the flood, and the re-establishment of God’s creation post-flood. So Genesis 6:3 serves as a key setup verse for this entire flood story.
Genesis 6:3 comes on the heels of a description of how far mankind had fallen into depravity. Genesis 6:5 says “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.” Verse 11 further states “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.”
So there is clearly a major problem being described here – man’s profound sin and rebellion has overrun the earth. Every thought and intention of man’s heart is evil. The earth is filled with violence and corruption.
It is upon seeing the degradation of man described above that God makes the declaration in Genesis 6:3. God sees the rampant sin and declares he will not contend with man forever in such a state. Judgement is coming via the flood. But there is still time left before the floods arrive.
Another key contextual clue is that Genesis 6:3 comes right before the story introduces Noah. Noah is described as “a righteous man, blameless in his generation” (Genesis 6:9). So Noah stands out as one righteous man amongst a totally corrupted generation.
Noah becomes the means by which God preserves life on the earth to repopulate after the flood has washed the earth clean. Noah finds favor in God’s eyes.
So Genesis 6:3 essentially explains why the flood judgement is necessary while introducing the one man who God will preserve through it – Noah. Without seeing Genesis 6:3 in its narrative context, it becomes harder to discern the full meaning of this verse.
2. God Will Not “Strive” Forever
A key phrase in Genesis 6:3 is that God will not “strive” with man forever. The Hebrew word used here is “diyn” which has a range of meanings related to judgment, contending, pleading a case.
This word paints a picture of God patiently striving or contending with man in his sinful condition, pleading with man to repent and change his ways. But there is only so long God will continue in this striving and pleading posture before full judgement is enacted.
Some key ways this term strive or contend is used elsewhere in the Old Testament shed light on its meaning in Genesis 6:3:
- Job 9:3 – “If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.”
- Isaiah 3:13 – “The Lord has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.”
- Jeremiah 25:31 – “The Lord has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh”
These verses help show that “strive” indicates plead, contend, argue, judge – with a focus on God pleading His case against sinful mankind.
Romans 2:4 gives further insight, stating “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
So there is a window in which God contends, strives, and shows patience with sinners, desiring them to repent. But Genesis 6:3 indicates there is an end to that period if people persist in rebellion.
3. Reference to God’s Spirit
Genesis 6:3 specifically mentions God’s Spirit when it states “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever.” This gives insight into the effects of man’s sin.
The presence of God’s Spirit brings conviction, guidance in truth, help in overcoming sin, and power for godly living. So the Spirit departing or no longer abiding with man means all these benefits are lost. Man’s heart becomes wholly darkened.
1 Corinthians 6:19 explains that believers’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. But persistent immoral sin defiles this temple leading to the Spirit’s departure.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 instructs believers “Do not quench the Spirit.” Resisting God’s Word and will causes the Spirit to be quenched and His influence diminished.
In Genesis 6, man’s rebellion had reached epic levels, perhaps quenching the Spirit’s work almost entirely. So God decrees the Spirit will not dwell with or abide with man in this state forever. The Spirit cannot remain in such an environment.
4. Reference to Man as “Flesh”
Describing man as “flesh” in Genesis 6:3 highlights man’s fallen sinful nature. Similar phrasing is used in Genesis 6:12. To be “in the flesh” indicates one lives for sinful earthly desires rather than for the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-8 draws out this contrast: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit…For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
Man in Genesis 6 was fully in the flesh – steeped in earthly sinful desires and hostile toward God. Theyrejected God’s Spirit and ways.
So Genesis 6:3 indicates that man in the flesh cannot continue in this state forever. Judgement must come.
5. Time Period of 120 Years Referenced
Genesis 6:3 concludes with a reference to man’s days being 120 years. There are three main views on the meaning of this 120 years:
- Lifespan Limitation – God is decreeing that man’s lifespan will now be limited to 120 years going forward. Prior to this, early Genesis genealogies include men living over 900 years.
- Time Until Judgement – The 120 years refers to how long until the judgement of the flood comes. Noah preaches during this time. But man’s time is limited.
- 120 Jubilee Cycles – This suggests 120 cycles of 50 years refers to God patiently waiting this whole length of time for mankind to repent.
The 120 years are likely one of the first two options – lifespan limitation or time until judgement. Either helps convey man is living on borrowed time and needs to repent before it is too late.
6. Major Lessons from Genesis 6:3
This key verse offers some sobering lessons for all people to reflect upon:
- God Sees All Sin – Just as with Genesis 6, God still sees all the sin and rebellion done on the earth today.
- Repentance is Needed – Like the window to repent before the flood, we all have a window to repent before God’s ultimate judgement.
- Sin Grieves God’s Spirit – Persistent sin quenches the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and distances us from God.
- Don’t Delay Repentance – There were likely scoffers who doubted judgement would come in Noah’s day. Don’t make the same mistake today.
- God Patiently Contends – God continues pleading with sinners to repent, desiring relationship.
- Judgment Will Come – There is an end to God’s patience. Judgment comes to all who refuse to repent.
- Time Is Limited – No one knows when their opportunity to repent may end. Today is the day of salvation.
Genesis 6:3 presents a balanced view of God – perfectly holy and demanding justice for sin, yet also patient and not wishing any to perish but all to come to repentance. It highlights the urgent need to turn from sin and yield our lives to our Creator.
7. Implications for Today
While Genesis 6:3 spoke specifically to the people of Noah’s day, this verse still has important implications for people today. Here are some key applications:
- We must guard our hearts against persistent sin and rebellion which corrodes our fellowship with God. What fellowship with the Spirit are we grieving or quenching (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19)?
- God still calls people everywhere to repent from sin and turn to Him – that call must be heeded today (Acts 17:30).
- No one knows when their opportunity to repent may end – tomorrow is not promised (2 Cor 6:2).
- Believers must reflect God’s patient, contending Spirit by preaching the gospel boldly yet graciously to all.
- Churches should have a healthy fear of God matched with deep love for the lost.
- Jesus’ return is certainly coming – are we diligently making our lives count for that day?
May Genesis 6:3 motivate each of us to treasure God’s offer of salvation, repent of all sin, and walk closely with Him while there is still time.
8. How Genesis 6:3 Points to Christ
On the surface Genesis 6:3 may seem like only a word of warning and judgment. But in the larger context of Scripture, this verse also offers hope and points ahead to Jesus Christ.
The coming judgment on man’s sins foreshadows the ultimate judgment for sin that God placed on Christ at the cross. Though undeserved, Jesus bore God’s full wrath for the sin of all who would believe (Rom 3:25, 1 Pet 2:24).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, those who repent and believe can be made righteous before God, a status unattainable by man’s own efforts (2 Cor 5:21).
The reference to the Spirit not remaining in man forever ahead to the sending of the Spirit to permanently indwell all believers beginning at Pentecost (John 14:16-17).
Though man’s flesh leads to death, all who are in Christ have been freed from sin’s power and made alive in the Spirit (Rom 8:1-4). The righteous requirement of the law is fully met by those now walking according to the Spirit and no longer the flesh (Rom 8:4).
So Genesis 6:3 ultimately finds its answer in the gospel – the only means by which man can be made righteous before God. May this verse direct us to cling to Christ our ark of salvation and live by the Spirit He freely gives.