Genesis 6:5-7 (NIV)

5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." 

8 But Noah found favor (or grace) in the eyes of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (He had taken 7 of all the sacrificial animals) 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done… Never again… shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…

9:12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.

1. God’s care for the whole creation

Gen 9:12 “…the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.”

Romans 8:19, For the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

2. The extraordinary value of human life

5 And for your (man’s) lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”

Gen. 8:21 “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth.

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”