Genesis 6:5-6 "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. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."
"Every imagination of the thoughts of (man's) heart was only evil
continually." Again, I go back to the beginning. "And God
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26)
But we read after the fall of Adam, "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty
years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image..." (Genesis
5:3) I bring this distinction to show God's design for man was not that
of wicked living; rather, He created Adam in his own image of sinlessness.
Now we come to the word that could throw us off course if we are not careful.
The word, repent, as used in this passage means to have a deep sigh. Have you
ever been in a place where you did not like what was happening and all you
could do was give a deep sigh of sadness? That is the meaning of the word
used here concerning God.
Actually the word is explained in the same verse. God was not changing His mind
concerning mankind. We read in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change
not..." No, He was not changing His mind, but He was grieved at what was
taking place. Also, let us be reminded that God knew this was going to happen.
He did not cause it, but He knew it even before He created Adam. You can know
something is going to happen and still be grieved (saddened) by what is taking
place. No doubt, it grieved God that He destroyed everyone except Noah and his
family. But God would not allow the wickedness to continue as it was in that
day.
What is our lesson today? Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve
not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption." We are to seek to walk in the will of God rather than our own
desires and designs. This is the entire lesson from yesterday and will continue
throughout. We find it written quite clearly in Romans 12:1-2, "I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."