How Would You Describe the God Who Flooded the World?

I asked this question to a group of teenagers on a trip to the Ark Encounter a few years ago and the answers they gave were just as expected. They said things like:

God is all-powerful.
God is full of wrath.
God is angry.

And, while all of that is true, provided it is seen in its proper context, the only one of those three descriptions that is actually portrayed in the Great Flood passages in the Bible (Genesis 6 – 9) is that God is all-powerful. Even that is not directly mentioned, but only implied in the fact that He was able to flood the entire world with water. However, nowhere in those four chapters is the LORD God ever portrayed as angry, vengeful, full of wrath, or out for blood.
On the contrary, this is how the Bible portrays God during this evil time in world history:

The LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth (vs. 6)
It grieved Him to His heart (vs. 6)
The LORD said, “…for I am sorry that I have made them.” (vs. 7)

The only God Genesis 6 – 9 presents is one with a broken heart. A God who was experiencing deep pain and inner turmoil. A God who was so hurt that it was as if He was blaming Himself for being the cause of all the suffering that was taking place because He was the One who made mankind to begin with.

It is amazing how the Bible has a way of breaking down traditional viewpoints and revealing the true nature of God. Yes, God was angry over sin and the Great Flood was an aspect of His wrath being poured out on sinners, but accurately studying the Bible is not about us putting our preconceived ideas into the text but simply drawing out of the text what has been recorded and is already clearly present. And in this passage, it is apparent that God is utterly grieved because of the violence, wickedness, and global corruption mankind had chosen to embrace.

Genesis 6:5 says “…that every intention of the thoughts of his [mankind] heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:11 says that “…the earth was corrupt…and the earth was filled with violence.”

Thus, what is seen in Genesis 6 – 9 has more to do with a rescue operation than one of retribution. Again, justice was served upon all those who refused to turn to God and be saved from the coming catastrophe, but the Great Flood that God brought upon the whole world was the only way to save mankind from ultimately and finally destroying themselves.

When the entire global population only ever thinks, dreams, desires and acts upon evil and corruption, the only result is mass chaos and, ultimately, it leads to total and complete destruction. And, if the entire globe is evil, then evil will seek to snuff out the good or, in this case, the righteous because the darkness hates the light. But if mankind destroyed themselves then God would not be a promise-keeping God because He has promised to send the Messiah to save mankind from our sins. Therefore, to both preserve mankind and to keep His promise to send the Savior, God came in at the perfect time with the perfect plan to save mankind from annihilation. Thus, while we often view the Great Flood as a picture of God’s wrath, it is, in actuality, a demonstration of His great mercy and grace upon a broken people in desperate need of a perfect Savior.

About the Author

Cameron Neace is the pastor of Watermark Church. Born & raised in Missouri, he & Caitlin and their two cats, Pierogi & Poptart, have called Union home since 2023. In his free time, Cameron enjoys playing board games, writing, reading, & drinking coffee.