Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 7/16/2003

Question
why in Genesis does the LORD say and i quote..
"And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart."its in genesis 8
My question is why would the LORD say he is sorry? Isnt the LORD suppose to know all the shall happen in the beginning and end? Why would he be sorry if he knew that this is what would happen? Im really lost on this and it is troubling to me to read this. Please help me understand.

Answer
Nicholas, I would not be too troubled about this passage.  You must remember that God expresses Himself in anthromorphisms or shapes/forms of man.  His thoughts and ways are higher than ours and it is tough to squeeze some things into our finite minds. (Isa 55:8,9)

Try and imagine how you would explain a complex concept or process to a very small child and the difficulty in making sure he understands what you are saying. You would try and take things the child already knows to illustrate the concept and yet the child may still not fully understand. Doing this you have a taste of what it is like for God to try and explain Himself to man, expecially fallen man, whose spirit is damaged by sin and hence His comprehension of God limited (seeing through a glass darkly.) (I Cor 13:12)

Just so you see that the word translated as repent has several meanings I give you this from Strong's.

5162  nacham (naw-kham');a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself):
KJV-- comfort (self), ease [one's self], repent).

God often changes His dealings with man because man changes the way man responds to God.  When man sins God changes His mind about the way He will treat man, i.e. in judgment.  When man repents in that he changes his mind about God and sin and returns to God then God changes His thoughts about man and the way He treats Him, i.e. grace and mercy and redemption.

God is not insinuating that He made a mistake when He made man and is sorry for it in that way or that His initial intent for man was wrong.  

He is trying to convey to us the sorrow over man's sin that He has and indeed as best as we can understand it, He was sorry that He made man.  Yes, He knew Adam and Eve would sin, but He wanted man to love and fellowship with and He knew that ultimately He would have some who would enter into fellowship with Him here and eternity thus so He made man knowing the end result.  

I can somewhat relate.  As I look at the world around me and see where it is going I am somewhat sorry that I had children and now grandchildren though I love them all. I am sorry that they will have suffering in this life, but take comfort in that they will also have God's blessing as they are obedient to Him and one day will be with Him in glory if my grandchildren receive Christ.  On one hand, I rejoice in the love I have for them and their love for me though I am sorry that I brought them into this sin sick world.  

Is this the conflict of spirit that God is expressing here? I do not know.  He spared Noah and His family when He could have just as easily destroyed everyone and started over or not make any other "man" at all.  Thus, He is angry and grieved over the state of mankind and yet His love and grace finds Noah.  

God's justice requires death for sin and yet His mercy wants to forgive. That conflict is resolved in the Cross where justice prevailed in that the innocent died for the guilty paying the debt and mercy raised Christ from the dead and freed us.

God's righteousness is sorry that man was created but grace was found for Noah.  Justice was done in the destruction of the rest of the race, but mercy spared Noah.

God's character is so complex that we just cannot totally understand it.  Instead of seeing the whole multi-faceted diamond all we see is one facet at a time and sometimes only half a facet.  It is somewhat like being at a railroad crossing.  We see the cars passing and see some coming and going and for a split second dead in front of us while the crop duster flying overhead sees the whole train at the same time.  

I just see this passage as trying to show us a couple of God's facets at the same time but one frame at a time because it is all we can "see" in our current state.  When we stand with Him in glory this question will most likely not come up but if it does our new "eyes" will see it perfectly.

Blessings unto you as you study the Word and allow Him to show you things at the speed you can understand them.  Do not be troubled, but have faith.  "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"  Yes, He has, does and shall!  Maranatha!!