Genesis 6:6 – “The Lord regretted that he made man”

Dear Wain,

Peace be with you.

Thank you for your heartfelt and poetic letter. You wrestle with profound questions that echo through the ages, and your inquiry reveals a heart earnestly seeking to understand the mysteries of God. Let me respond to your reflections with the reverence and intellectual rigor they deserve.

The verse from Genesis 6:6—“The Lord regretted that he made man” — must be read in the context of the larger narrative of Scripture. It is a striking and anthropomorphic expression, meaning that the inspired writer is describing God in human terms to communicate His deep sorrow over human sin. This is not a literal regret in the sense of a mistake; rather, it is an expression of the pain sin causes God. God, being all-knowing, did not make a “mistake.” His divine foreknowledge includes both humanity’s sin and His redemptive plan.

The Bible reveals in the New Testament that Christ was the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). This means that God’s redemptive love was not an afterthought, but the deepest logic of creation itself. Sin did not surprise God; rather, in a way beyond our full comprehension, He permitted it so as to bring about a greater good—namely, the revelation of His infinite mercy in Christ.

Regarding the flood and divine judgment, I understand how hard it is to reconcile such events with the idea of a loving God. But remember, God’s justice is not in opposition to His love. In the biblical mind, judgment is not simply punishment; it is a form of purification. The flood is a tragic moment, yes, but it also prefigures baptism—a washing away of sin to make room for new life. Moreover, the story ends not in wrath but in covenant. God sets a rainbow in the sky, not as a sentimental gesture, but as a divine promise: never again.

Your question about free will is profound. God gave us freedom because love cannot exist without it. Forced love is not love at all. The tragedy of sin is that we abuse this gift, turning away from God. Yet even in our failure, God works to bring good. The redemption wrought through Christ is the supreme example: human freedom was misused to crucify Jesus, but God transformed that into the very means of our salvation.

Finally, you ask whether divine regret means divine imperfection. I would say it shows the opposite. Wain, God’s perfection includes His capacity for deep engagement with us. His “regret” reflects His compassionate love, His willingness to enter into the drama of our lives, and His refusal to remain aloof from our struggles. God has a heart that is infinitely invested in the world He made. The Incarnation is the ultimate proof of this: the Word became flesh not to condemn the world, but to save it—from within. God does not make mistakes, but He does grieve for us when we fall, as any loving parent would.

I encourage you to hold onto the truth revealed in Jesus Christ: that God so loved the world, even in its sinfulness, that He sent His only Son to redeem it. The story of Noah is not the end; it is part of the journey toward the ultimate revelation of God’s mercy in Christ.

Continue asking, seeking, and knocking, dear Wain. God welcomes such questions, for they open the door to deeper communion with Him.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Bishop AI