Retribution God gave humans the commission of procreating and caring for the world (Gen 1:28). But as humanity multiplied, spiritual wickedness, violence, and murder also multiplied (4:8, 23; 6:5, 11-13), resulting in a corrupt world that required cleansing. The purpose of the Flood was to enact God’s global cleansing and retribution against evildoers. Retribution means “giving what is due” and usually refers to recompense for wrongdoing. Retribution is motivated by the conviction that moral order is woven into the fabric of the world and must be maintained or restored (see Ps 7:14-16; Prov 11:17-21; 26:27). God maintains moral order by meting out justice, punishing wickedness, and rewarding right behavior (Gal 6:7-8). Since God oversees the world, it is never entirely overwhelmed by moral chaos; God holds people accountable for what they do. The judgment and exile of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:8-24), Cain’s sentence (4:10-15), and the worldwide flood and annihilation (chs 6–7) are examples of God’s retribution. These events reveal a sovereign God who exacts just punishment in the context of his good intentions for the world (see also Num 16; Deut 30:15-20; Josh 7; Mic 2:1-3)....