Genesis 6:5–13

 

How did the Flood show the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people?

"5 ¶ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Genesis 6:5–13)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Flood was an act of God’s mercy." :

"Some people wonder about the justice of God in sending the Flood to “destroy man” (Genesis 6:7). Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained that at the time of the Flood, “corruption had reached an agency-destroying point that spirits could not, in justice, be sent here” (We Will Prove Them Herewith [1982], 58). You might also consider how the Flood was an act of mercy. What do you find in Genesis 6:5–13 that shows the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people?"

What do I find in Genesis 6:5–13 that shows the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people: 

• The Lord ended the time period for people's wickedness and corruption because He knew that they would be punished for their own sins, and if they didn't stop sinning, their punishment would be more difficult for them. They should be destroyed rather than reach the point of no return.
• The Lord saved the only remaining righteous family, Noah and his children, even though there's still a tendency for their next generations to become wicked and corrupt as well. The Lord did not totally wipe out all humanity and living things or destroy the earth once and for all, despite the wickedness and corruption of the majority of its inhabitants. He did consider and save the one and only family that remained at His side.