Genesis 6

This is the part of the Bible where man populates the earth. Apparently we hit a population barrier where God is no longer willing (since he is omnipotent it can’t be that he’s not able) to extend our lifespans as outlined in Genesis 5.

And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. – Genesis 6:4

Wow. News to us. There is no mention that he was boosting our lifespan with his spirit previously in the bible. But lets take this statement in two possible contexts.

Option 1: God states that man shall live to be 120 years old. I know quite a few people that did not receive their allotted portion of time. The US census shows that the average life expectancy in 2010 was 78.7 years. Where’s the extra 42.3 years?

Option 2: God states that man shall live to be no more than 120 years old. Once again I will site the oldest person to date with a verified date of birth. Jeanne Calment of France died in 1997 and lived to be 122 years and 164 days. Somehow this French woman figured out a way to get around God’s rules. Hmmmm.

The bible goes on to refer to “giants in the earth” which I will allow to be colorful prose that means “great heroes”. And God looked at us and determined that we were “wicked” and that we only had evil thoughts.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. – Genesis 6:6

Once more for those in the back. God is omniscient. There is no surprise allowed when you know everything. Before he created light he knew it would turn out this way. But God decides he wants a Do Over. But he finds Noah, the one good guy on the planet and taps him to save the creatures of the earth.

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. – Genesis 6:19

Nope. There is no way that you can fit two of each species of animal and insect on a boat of the size they mention. I’m also fairly certain that Noah didn’t have enough frequent flier miles stocked up to make it to all of the earth’s habitable continents to get all of their species as well. But Noah manages to violate the laws of physics somehow and cram everything onto his ark. Onward to Genesis 7.