Its Cause. The marriage of the sons of God and the daughters of men ( Genesis 6:1Genesis 6:2 ).
Its Effect on the Human Race. Men forgot God and became giants in wickedness ( Genesis 6:3Genesis 6:4 ).
Its Effect on the Creator. "And the LORD repented that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" ( Genesis 6:6 ). The word "repent" always describes a change in something. There is a sense in which God cannot change ( Matthew 3:9 ; James 1:17 ). He is always God, omnipotent and eternal. There is a sense in which He changes His purposes toward us, otherwise forgiveness would be impossible ( Jeremiah 31:34 ; Hebrews 8:12 ). God has declared that the soul that sins shall die ( Ezekiel 18:4 ), but the sinner who turns from his sins and obeys the Lord, has the promise of salvation ( 2 Peter 3:9 ). God therefore changes His purposes toward men, but He is always God!