This chapter is full of information about the early days leading up to the flood, Noah’s building of the ark, and the reasoning that God expressed for such a tragedy. In the midst of all that is shared with us is an interesting note. The verse reads, “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
As our attention is attracted to God’s decision about sending the flood, we must observe that God was grieved in his heart. Have you ever taken into consideration how you affect God? Perhaps it would be good for all of us to bear in mind that the life we live here on earth has a direct connection to our creator that could cause him grief. Paul admonishes us to not grieve the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4: 30)
A large question is before us in this text. What does it mean that God repented? God is absolute holiness and purity! When Jesus was walking here on earth, he was a perfect and pure lamb sacrificed on the cross for our sin. There is no way that any kind of evil fantasy could be ascribed to God or for something that he did wrong. Even though we recognize the truth of this statement, it still leaves us wondering what is meant that God repented.
When a human being repents, the situation is unique to his own sinful problems. Since we cannot save ourselves, we need Jesus to be our Savior. The process of salvation must include the direct effort man does as a turnabout, turns his back on his former lifestyle, and walks toward a holy path. We all realize that there can be no salvation without repentance; without man in faith turning about toward God so that we might be reconciled to what was originally intended for the placement of man on the earth. We can simply say that when a person repents, he makes an about-face. God did not repent while observing the evil man, and his repentance is entirely different than what you or I must do.
Let’s go back to the statement in Genesis that we already mentioned. God was grieved in his heart. That grief affected him in a monumental way. It caused him to reconsider his plan and his motive for man. He did not need to make a confession of something. However, God did decide about his earlier creative actions. When God repented, it was a grief because of the misery of humans, because of what we have been, what we have done. John Calvin, theologian many days in the past, declared that the writing of this text is to give us a better reference point to our understanding of God. The idea of God repenting does not suggest any kind of veritableness in his nature or purpose.
This statement is an anthropomorphic expression showing us as God looked down on mankind right before the flood, he assumed a changed position in respect to the changes that man did to himself. If we can only be touched by God’s grief, we could better understand how that God is not rigid or unmovable when considering the state of mankind’s nature. Let us learn from this verse how that outside of the Holy Spirit’s influence we are brooding over evil continually. It is the nature of mankind to prefer sin over purity. It is a challenge for us to seek God so that our nature is submitted to his nature.
Christian Writer 