Some would argue against the idea that I, a finite, impotent, created being could do anything that would have an impact on God, an infinite, omnipotent, eternal being. I understand and respect the reasoning behind that position. However, it seems to me that the Bible teaches that God does feel emotions. God created me and desires to have a relationship with me. I do not understand that but it is true nonetheless. “The fear of the Lord” is a theme in both testaments. Surely I ought to live in awe of God, fearing and revering Him. Another theme in the Scripture involves my responsibility to behave in such a way that I do not bring grief to God. Just as surely as I should be afraid of what God has the power and right to do to me, I should be afraid of what I might do to bring pain to God.
Ephesians 4:30-32 commands us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, “Do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
(NASU) Clearly, I bring grief to God when I act with bitterness and wrath towards other children of God. Clearly, I grieve God when I refuse to be kind and forgiving towards God’s people.
The Bible speaks much about God feeling emotions especially painful emotions brought on by the unfaithfulness of His people. Over and over again, the children of Israel spat in the face of God in spite of His saving them, providing for them, and loving them. God called them unfaithful and treacherous and issued a painful divorce decree against them. The book of Hosea illustrates their unfaithful behavior. It is impossible to miss the pain that God feels in that tragic record. In an astonishing turn of events this ultimate grief resulted in tremendous love and compassion on the part of God toward His unfaithful people.
In Hosea 11:7-9 God speaks from His heart, “So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him. 8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. 9 I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.” (NASU) His declaration in verse 8 that “My heart is turned over within Me” is a most beautiful phrase and a key to knowing God.
God sees that His people have turned from Him and does not exalt Him. Clearly He is considering doing to them what He did to Sodom, Gomorrah, Zoar, Admah, and Zeboiim.
When God said that His heart was turned over within Him, He employed the exact same Hebrew phrase He used in Genesis 19 to describe what He did to these five wicked cities. The unfaithfulness of God’s people have turned His heart over within Him but His great love for them turned it back over. Next God declared that He would not pour out His great wrath on them and that He would remain their God. Truly He is worthy of our undying praise. May He protect me from bringing grief to Him.
