How bad was it?

Genesis 6

Just how bad did it get that God would put an end to the very thing in which he found unspeakable joy?

Things got so bad with people that he regretted having created humans. So bad that he decided to limit human life to 120 years. So bad that he decided to wipe out the species except for one family.

That must have torn his heart apart. People were so detached from Him that they spent their lives living only for their own pleasures. Self-indulgence kept people from living in right relationship with God so much that there was no point in allowing them to live long. So, God gave each person enough time on earth to decide whether to choose life with God, or not.

But first, God had to wipe the slate clean. The people on earth had already made their decision, they would be self-indulgent. There was going to be no repentance for them. So, he ended their lives.

God isn’t unjust. There was one person who hadn’t given in to evil. Noah had a right relationship with God. Therefore, God decided to spare him and repopulate the earth with him and his family.

In the midst of such disappointment God remained faithful to Noah. In the midst of great sadness, God remained longsuffering in order for the progression of humanity to come to complete manifestation. In the midst of corruption, God made merciful changes so that people wouldn’t spend a millennium trapped in sin.

And, in spite of the near loss of humanity, God found a way to begin anew.