“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” (v5). The beautiful, good world God created had become completely polluted through sin. Humanity’s constant violence, evil, and suffering “grieved” God, and He decided to wipe the earth clean (v6, 11). He chose not to eradicate humanity completely but instead to restart the population with Noah, who was “righteous, blameless in his generation” (v9). 

 “But I will establish my covenant with you ...” (v18). God’s covenant with Noah, like later covenants, was based on His own initiative of mercy. We can count on His powerful kindness, which calls to flee the destructiveness of sin and receive His redemption