The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:5-8

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

God is good and patient, faithful and righteous. And so when God observed that “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” it is only natural that God would be grieved by the sin of the human beings He created for fellowship with Him. Paul writes about this kind of people in his letter to the Romans –

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Romans 1: 21-23

Judgment is certain, but God always provides a way for return and salvation. As Nehemiah noted in his prayer to the LORD –

But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

Nehemiah 9:17b

Because he found favor in the eyes of the LORD, Noah would be used to keep God’s plan for ultimate redemption of mankind alive. While we will not be asked to build an ark, God has provided a way of salvation for each of us so that we can one day experience the fullness of life promised by God.