[Belteshazzar]

annalex said:

“But we know that the scripture is written in such a way to emphasize that both the wicked men and Noah acted on their free will.”

How do WE know that?

then annalex said:

“You original point was that these verses somehow teach absense of free will, and that is flat contradicted by the verse itself, and its immediate context, as I pointed out in my previous post.”

I am beginning to believe that you would argue that black was white if the magisterium told you it was so. Can you not even read plain language? You too are telling God what He means. You are taking God aside and rebuking Him. It will come to no good.

The text of Genesis is completely against you, as is the context of the chapter as a whole, Genesis as a whole, and the Holy Scriptures from beginning to end.

Again, I ask: HOW DO WE KNOW what you so breezily assert.

[annalex]

We know because the wickedness is said to come frome man's heart, not from God. Noah is said to walk with God, not be directed by God.

Further, God is shown regretting His act of creation, and after seeing Noah, changing His mind again. That, too, shows that all the actors in the picture were free agents.

5 And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times, 6 It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with sorrow of heart, 7 He said: I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from man even to beasts, from the creeping thing even to the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noe found grace before the Lord. 9 These are the generations of Noe: Noe was a just and perfect man in his generations, he walked with God.

[...]

13 He said to Noe: The end of all flesh is come before me, the earth is filled with iniquity through them, and I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make thee an ark...

The story is told as if God, the wicked men, and Noah are all three acting on their own will. Let us recall another time where Holy Moses shows God as if confused: when God is looking for Adam after Adam sinned. These literary devices are there so that a student of scripture may know that man has free will, which he can turn to good with Divine Grace.

So this is how we know, from the scripture in front of you.