I believe that as we read, teach, and preach the story of Noah and the flood is guided primarily by our perception of our God who created the world. For instance, if we perceive God as being an angry God full of wrath and vengefulness then we will see the God of the flood as being a mean God who just can’t wait to come and smite His children for rebelling against Him. If we experience God as an egomaniac who needs our constant worship to feel good about Himself then we will most likely encounter the flood story through the eyes of a God who is throwing a mega temper tantrum because His children have turned their backs on His plan and are no longer worshiping Him. If we believe God to be an aloof deity who created the world and then turned His back on us when Adam and Eve sinned against Him so He went away and abandoned us then we will most likely experience the God of the flood as a monstrous God who couldn’t wait to kill everyone and everything upon returning from His absence and finding us so full of sin. However, I believe if we read, teach and preach this story with fresh eyes and hearts we will discover a loving God whose heart was completely broken and filled with pain at the thought of destroying His children. I believe this story says more about what God decided not to do than what God chose to do.