God knows of man’s evil thoughts and deeds (Psalm 50:18–20) and yet he lets it be for a time. God does not intervene immediately. He shows patience. The people are given the opportunity to repent. Building the ark took Noah and his followers a lot of time. That is why the apostle Peter calls him a herald of righteousness
(2 Peter 2:5). Noah did not keep quiet during the building of the ark. But do not let man draw the wrong conclusion from this, as if the Creator were never going to react. That danger threatens us as humans. Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4; cf. 2 Peter 3:4).
People are quick to forget or are powerless to react, but it is not thus with God. Even the unwilling Balaam had to say that God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
(Numbers 23:19).
There will be a response in due time. “God must, for His holiness' sake, unmask and punish.”1 He will intervene with punishment. In the lawsuit with his people (Psalm 50:4–6), God will list all the misdeeds they have committed. They will be painfully confronted with all their misdeeds.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.