The God who commits genocide?

Genesis 6-9 records the great flood where God destroyed His creation (because it had turned evil). The question I want to address is this: should we take from this story the notion that God commits genocide?

My answer is "No!" I believe to read such a meaning into it is to miss the point. In fact, I believe it to be a powerful story of the love of God towards humanity.

In Genesis 4 we have the first murder. Although the murder itself did not please Him, God still valued the life of Cain so much that he did not want anyone to kill him: God vowed to punish anyone who kills Cain. But, at this stage God did not outlaw murder. That came later.

Fast forward to the flood. God was sad that His creation had turned so evil, so He decides to start afresh, cleansing the world, but keeping alive the only people faithful to Him: Noah and family. I believe that such mass destruction brought so much pain to God because it is at this stage where He makes two promises:

1. He promises punishment for those who would kill another human (God does not wish anything which is made in His image to be destroyed). (Genesis 9:5-6)
   
2. He promises to never flood the earth in such a way again. Ever. (Genesis 9:11)
   

From (1) we can conclude that God loves His creation more than anything - even animals that kill people must die (this is clearer in the New Living Translation). The flood - God's action against evil humanity - must have been so devastating for the Creator that He promises point (2).

God is not a God of genocide: He is a God of love. He loves His creation so much that He hurts so much when He sees it destroyed.