"And it repented the Lord that He had made man (Adam) on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart (Gen. vi. 6). Rabbi Berachiah says that when God was about to create Adam, He foresaw that both righteous people and wicked people would come forth from him. He reasoned therefore with Himself thus: " If I create him, then will the wicked proceed from him; but if I do not create him, how then shall the righteous come forth?* What then did God do?
He separated the ways of the wicked from before Him, and assuming the attribute of mercy, so He created him. This explains what is written (Ps. i. 6), " For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall be lost.* The way of the wicked was lost before Him, but assuming to Himself the attribute of mercy, He created him. Rabbi Chanina says, " It was not so! But when God was about to create Adam, He consulted the ministering angels and said unto them (Gen. i. 26), ( Shall we make man in our image after our likeness V They replied, ( For what good wilt thou create him?* He responded, (That the righteous may rise out of him.* This explains what is written, For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall be lost.
God informed them only about the righteous, but He said nothing about the wicked, otherwise the ministering angels would not have given their consent that man should be created.*