Why did God regret making humans?

[David]

Saw this on Facebook today. Thought it was a good question for us to answer:

If God is all-knowing and knew every choice humanity would ever make before creating us…

Why does Genesis 6:6 say He regretted making mankind?

If He knew we were going to fail so bad and we’d cause so much pain and suffering, why did He continue with this plan?!

 

[bobinfaith]

Hello David;

Why did God regret making humans is a question that all of us need to think about. But there are Scriptures that explain.

In Genesis 2:16-17, 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. - KJV

God didn't force us to obey Him, but give each of us the freedom throughout Scripture to choose whether to obey or disobey with consequences and lessons learned of those choices. When we look at Nero, Hitler and the leaders over people who mistreated them with evil, is no different than each of us who made wicked choices that may have hurt others or ourselves.

But there is more to this and would like to learn from other's understanding of this question.

God bless you, David and thank you for sharing this discussion.

Bob

 

[David]

I think Genesis 6:6 doesn’t mean God learned something He didn’t know or suddenly realized He had made a mistake. God knew beforehand what mankind would choose to do. He said “I declare the end from the beginning” Isaiah 46:10.

This verse defines what God’s repenting means: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” Genesis 6:6.

God’s repenting was an expression of grief over mankind’s wickedness. It was not repenting caused by mistake or lack of knowledge. Verse 5 tells us, “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God knew mankind would turn to sin, but knowing ahead of time didn’t make mankind’s sin any less evil or painful.

God did not change His character or plan for mankind. Man had changed by becoming corrupt so God changed how He interacted with man. He went from patience to judgment, but even then “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” Genesis 6:8.

Why didn’t God give up on His plan for mankind? Because God had not given up on His plan. He judged evil, preserved man through Noah, and carried on with His promise that would one day culminate in Jesus Christ coming to earth. Christ was not God’s last minute fix to solve the problem of sin. He “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” 1 Peter 1:20.

Genesis 6 shows us that God does not make mistakes. It reveals how grieved man’s sin makes Him, how He judges sin, and that in spite of man’s sin, He still grants grace according to His purpose.

 

[bobinfaith]

Genesis 6 shows us that God does not make mistakes. It reveals how grieved man’s sin makes Him, how He judges sin, and that in spite of man’s sin, He still grants grace according to His purpose.

Hello David;

You helped distinguish between God's grievance over man's sin, and His grace according to His purpose.

Thank you, brother.

Bob

 

[Yesua888]

Saw this on Facebook today. Thought it was a good question for us to answer:

If God is all-knowing and knew every choice humanity would ever make before creating us…

Why does Genesis 6:6 say He regretted making mankind?

If He knew we were going to fail so bad and we’d cause so much pain and suffering, why did He continue with this plan?!

View attachment 559

Yes, this is a question that has raised its head many times; I've asked God too ...
This is my latest thought about it, starting with:
1. I think God created us and the planet, as a project ... a work in progress. This may sound too worldly but these are the words that came to mind;
2. Then I thought (or Holy Spirit put into my mind), that even Lucifer (the fallen angel) was "made perfectly", yet turned evil;
3. I now believe that God knew when he made "creation" that evil was there, and He let us choose. I believe that God purposely gave us free will (freedom of choice), and wants His Children to come to him, without any coersion : )
It has taken so long for Humanity to get to this stage ... things seem to be ramping up, along with technology.
Could it be that we are nearing the End, and that it is Time for Jesus to return now; that Man has had enough Time, warning and His Grace and Mercy (along the way)?

 

[Yesua888]

I think Genesis 6:6 doesn’t mean God learned something He didn’t know or suddenly realized He had made a mistake. God knew beforehand what mankind would choose to do. He said “I declare the end from the beginning” Isaiah 46:10.

This verse defines what God’s repenting means: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” Genesis 6:6.

God’s repenting was an expression of grief over mankind’s wickedness. It was not repenting caused by mistake or lack of knowledge. Verse 5 tells us, “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God knew mankind would turn to sin, but knowing ahead of time didn’t make mankind’s sin any less evil or painful.

God did not change His character or plan for mankind. Man had changed by becoming corrupt so God changed how He interacted with man. He went from patience to judgment, but even then “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” Genesis 6:8.

Why didn’t God give up on His plan for mankind? Because God had not given up on His plan. He judged evil, preserved man through Naoah, and carried on with His promise that would one day culminate in Jesus Christ coming to earth. Christ was not God’s last minute fix to solve the problem of sin. He “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” 1 Peter 1:20.

Genesis 6 shows us that God does not make mistakes. It reveals how grieved man’s sin makes Him, how He judges sin, and that in spite of man’s sin, He still grants grace according to His purpose.

God has been more than patient with us, and He knows the outcome ...
We are locked into the physical world, and are realising that the "unseen" is more REAL than the physical (tangible).
Afterall, we cannot see electricity, but it is there. We cannot see microwaves, we cannot see radio waves, we cannot see Spirit (some say they can and do)
One can only suspect, that God will be satisfied at the End, when enough of His people (that are numbered), turn to Him. He will be satisfied when His True followers are with Him. This is how I see it, anyway.
Everyone has had so much Time and "evidence" (if you will) ...
Some may argue, "but the bible is just fables, stories".
"Why does God not STEP in when Evil is rampant" ... keep reading ...

 

[David]

Yes, this is a question that has raised its head many times; I've asked God too ...
This is my latest thought about it, starting with:
1. I think God created us and the planet, as a project ... a work in progress. This may sound too worldly but these are the words that came to mind;
2. Then I thought (or Holy Spirit put into my mind), that even Lucifer (the fallen angel) was "made perfectly", yet turned evil;
3. I now believe that God knew when he made "creation" that evil was there, and He let us choose. I believe that God purposely gave us free will (freedom of choice), and wants His Children to come to him, without any coersion : )
It has taken so long for Humanity to get to this stage ... things seem to be ramping up, along with technology.
Could it be that we are nearing the End, and that it is Time for Jesus to return now; that Man has had enough Time, warning and His Grace and Mercy (along the way)?

I think Genesis 6:6 is just the bible showing how much the sin of mankind grieved God’s heart. He still knew the end from the beginning ~Isaiah 46:10 and chose to create and redeem us through Christ anyway.

 

[David]

God has been more than patient with us, and He knows the outcome ...
We are locked into the physical world, and are realising that the "unseen" is more REAL than the physical (tangible).
Afterall, we cannot see electricity, but it is there. We cannot see microwaves, we cannot see radio waves, we cannot see Spirit (some say they can and do)
One can only suspect, that God will be satisfied at the End, when enough of His people (that are numbered), turn to Him. He will be satisfied when His True followers are with Him. This is how I see it, anyway.
Everyone has had so much Time and "evidence" (if you will) ...
Some may argue, "but the bible is just fables, stories".
"Why does God not STEP in when Evil is rampant" ... keep reading ...

I think you are right that God has been patient and He already knows the outcome. The bible says the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance ~2 Peter 3:9. Beyond that I leave the timing and the numbers with Him.

 

[by grace]

God didn't force us to obey Him, but give each of us the freedom throughout Scripture to choose whether to obey or disobey with consequences and lessons learned of those choices.

your exactly right Good news is he still loves us