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"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

So the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I an sorry that I have made them.' " - Genesis 6:5-7

I don't understand why He would feel sorry for what He did.

Furthermore, there was no mention of sea creatures being killed nor being saved on the arc. Were they spared? Why?

If I receive thumbs down, I'll know there are people who would rather rate it as bad before attempting to answer the question.

I'm just trying to clarify on these matters. It's an honest question.

2006-11-18 12:51:04 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Feeling sorry for what one does implies regret. How can He regret what He did if He knew what would happen? (God is omniscient)

2006-11-18 13:00:15 · update #1

That was some interesting advice, Design Kat. However, I never said I was Catholic, or that I believed the bible was the word of God, or that I believed God even existed.

I just asked a question because I was confused about what the book meant.

2006-11-18 13:04:44 · update #2

16 answers

Hebrew word translated “felt regrets” pertains to a change of attitude or intention. God is perfect and therefore did not make a mistake in creating man. But He did have a change of mental attitude as regards the wicked pre-Flood generation. God turned from the attitude of Creator of humans to that of a destroyer of them because of his displeasure over their wickedness. He was sorry that the wickedness of man called for a great destruction of life, but he was obliged to act in order to uphold his righteous standards. The fact that he preserved some humans shows that his regrets were confined to those who had gone bad in word and deed.

As for the sea creatures--like fish--there was no need for them to be in the ark. According to Genesis, God said that he will destroy only those that breath through their nose--not their gills. Genesis 7:22.

2006-11-18 12:59:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Well I can not speak authoritatively for God on this matter but as I remember the events up to that point human kind becane selfcentered and ignored God and God's teachings. The rest of the occupants were placed here for human pleasure and survuval/use so there is no need to keep them. THe fish were in the sea so they probably would survive but maybe not. A flood to that extend would lower the salt content of the ocean and kill all of the salt water fish and the fresh water fish may havethe problen that it would still be too salty for them.

This is a story that I prefer taking a step back to view. I see God's anger/upset as a way to relate to that side of our personalities and finding connection wiht God. Now in the bigger picture of the story God is also showing that this is not the best behavior and ends up not destroying everything. i.e Noah and the Ark. THere are many stories of God becomming angry about our bad behavior and if you follow the stroy through there is forgiveness and restoration at the end.

From a view of God as parent it would be like intentionally wrecking the car. not and accident but on purpose. you parent(s) would be livid but they would calm down, remember how much they love you and forgive you in time.

2006-11-18 13:13:34 · answer #2 · answered by mike g 4 · 0 0

God has complexity... He can see the end from the beginning and in a sense see the greater good that will be ... and yet be 'sorry' for the violence in the world of Noah's day and what it would lead to

Some of these descriptions of God being sorry are anthropomorphism's... a way of trying to convey to use a glimpse of God lisping in the limitations of our language... I think AsYong below hit the nail on the head as far as sorry

As far as sea creatures... many sea creatures would survive a flood not needing to be on the ark... the year of the flood would have been massively catastrophic wiping out most of the land and sea dinosaur and causing many sea extinctions and the environment that followed with the ice age that followed would have been a much different world than when people and animals lived great ages and many animals grew to large sizes because of it

you could say Jesus was somewhat grieved in a sense in the garden of olives and sweat drops like blood over the idea of suffering and dying... and you could say at the same time "He who for the joy set before Him endured the cross" as it does in Hebrews... people are complex and capable of conflicting emotions and God is more so complex than us, only perfect

2006-11-18 12:56:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

Dear Daniel,
I gave you a thumbs up because you asked some good questions.

I'll answer in part now with more tomorrow.

Starting with the sea creatures - Everyday my 1 yearold grandson and I look at a huge book telling the story of Noah's Ark. It shows the land animals walking into the ark and all of the sea creatures swimming around the Ark. This is only my hunch but the sea creatures were saved in the water while the people and and land animals were saved IN the Ark.

2006-11-18 12:59:48 · answer #4 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 0 0

The term is also translated repenteth. What it refers to is a strong changing. God had been patient a long time and now He would strongly change to a new course of action ( so the original language can be understood) We must also realize God knows all things. This did not take Him by surprise. This is what is referred to as God speaking to us in a way to teach us. He is showing that wickedness will not be tolerated, there is judgment for the wicked, and yet often overlooked in this story is His mercy and grace to Noah and his family who represented the Seed promised in the beginning who would be the Savior. God could not wipe out all or He would have failed His promise but this is His way of keeping His Word that we might know that no amount of evil or evil doers will stop His bringing about His kingdom and salvation.

2006-11-18 13:04:02 · answer #5 · answered by beek 7 · 1 0

First I'll answer what it says about the animals. I think if the animals died, God allowed them to die. Man has a body, soul, and spirit. Actually, I think the Spirit is dead because of sin, but I believe it is alive at salvation.

Animals...I've heard that they either don't have a soul or a spirit. It might be both.

Why would God be sorry for creating animals? I don't know, because if animals don't have a soul or a spirit or both, it shouldn't matter. But in Romans 8: 19-22 it says

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now

It says the creature shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption. This passage might mean that creatures were corrupted, maybe by man's sin.

I also don't know why God would feel sorry for making creatures, but that's what I can try about that.

God felt sorry for creating man because of the evil thoughts in man's hearts. I think it just is what it says.

God saved Noah because Noah found grace in His eyes,

I'm not really sure what else to say. I think God felt sorry just because man was so evil.

2006-11-18 13:57:55 · answer #6 · answered by bumblebeebuzz 3 · 0 0

First off, don't take the bible to be the "WORD OF GOD" , even though people would have you believe that Connie Cheung or Giraldo trekked on up to heaven and interviewed God, getting everything down on paper. People wrote the bible, people feel guilty about the bad things they do, and people would have you believe that the things that you do, say, or think that are less than honorable make you bad, bad, bad and going to HELL! It's just a book, a beautiful book to live by, but not necessarily immune from revision. Catholicism is designed to make you feel like a bad person for even being alive. Use your noggin, do some soul searching and research, and form your own opinions.

2006-11-18 13:00:23 · answer #7 · answered by Design Kat 2 · 1 1

Well, if you created man, and looked down on them and saw wickedness, and that their hearts were only full of evil continually, what you would think? I understand completely that God regretted creating man, if that is what He saw when observing His creation. I wonder if He has those same thoughts as He looks at the state of our world today.

Since sea creatures can live in water, no need to have them on the ark *smile*.

2006-11-18 12:57:50 · answer #8 · answered by Esther 7 · 2 0

Think of it this way. God created you, a wholesome and good innocent and placed you in the world. Could he then let horrid nasty and evil people lead you astray, make you life difficult, or cause you and other innocents suffering, No he could not. It is unwise to reflect overtly in such matters. Focus on the good greater YOU. You will find Gods Spirit guiding you from within. There are many good noble and virtuous souls in the world. They wile away their lives happily in perfect harmony and coexistance with their fellow man. If one is targeted upon and hailed as a Prophet, if he does not submit his will and ideology to the prevailing will of the establishment, or State, they are defamed and destroyed up[on some pretext or another. This is one of the reasoning behind the Judge not principle lest you yourself be Judged. We tread carefully upon this topic, in danger of a thousand hells creatures demanding or claiming exoneration. It is a justice reserved for the righteous and honourable. Find truth, beauty and light in your little world. If you seek faults and flaws you will find them in rank and file. It is preferable then to see only good in others, and if a notion offends you, to avert your gaze and focus upon pleasant things.

2016-05-22 02:01:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

God knows whats going to take place because he is outside of time that doesn't mean he can't feel sorry are upset when a certain event takes place. He gives us freewill. He was upset with man because their thoughts were continually evil.

2006-11-18 13:32:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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