Genesis 6:5 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.
Man’s universal response to God’s good creation of life and abundant blessing was, and still is, disobedience and sin, wickedness and increasing evil. This sinful response was evidenced not only in outward criminal works, but also the inward thoughts were only evil continually. Since Adam fell both violence and sinful thoughts increased, intensified, and became widespread. Life was miserable. Wickedness was great and the heart thoughts were only evil continually.
Things got so bad that even God, who knows everything, had to make inspection to prove how terrible human response had become. He looked carefully at mankind, not to learn something, but to make sure all knew the judgment was just. Yes, it was bad! Divine judgment was the only option.
This historic human event was written ”for our learning.” not so that we might agree that they were bad people, but that we might understand and say, ”I am the sinner. I am the one who justly deserves a terrible, eternal judgment. We need to feel and be convicted that God’s judgment is just and fair. The more clearly we see our own sin in the Flood Judgment and the coming Fire Judgment, the more gratefully and appreciatively we receive the grace and salvation of the gospel.