Exploring the Emotions of God

 

Yesterday in our exhortation, we looked at where God expressed deep sorrow for having created man. 

It raised the question in my mind at least, of whether God has emotions. 

Emotions are complex psychological states that encompass a range of feelings, responses, and behaviors. When we express our emotions, it’s all about helping us to respond to and interpret what’s going on around us. Then this influences our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others.

Many people would think that emotions are something that only humans have. But animals have emotions as well. 

If you know anything about animals, you’re a dog lover for example, you would know by the dog’s behavior when he or she is welcoming you home or whether they’re afraid of the thunderstorm.

We know God is not man, He is not like man, He is God.

Numbers 23:19 (Amplified version) says, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?"

This is emphasized in 1 Samuel 15:29, Hosea 11:9, and Isaiah 55:8-9.

As mentioned yesterday, this may appear to be contradictory, but it is not. We spoke about God repenting or being sorrowful or regretting several times that He made man. This was in response to man’s disobedience and not literal changes in God’s character, for He is unchanging in nature. He is faithful, reliable, and consistent in character.

Throughout the Bible, we are shown that God does have emotions. It’s an aspect of His character. And today I want to look at several emotions that God openly expresses.

1. **Love** - John 3:16: "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life."

2. **Compassion** - Lamentations 3:22-23: "It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

3. **Grief/Sorrow** - Genesis 6:6: "The Lord regretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart."

   - Isaiah 63:10: "But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned to be their enemy, And He fought against them."

4. **Anger** - Exodus 32:10: "Now therefore, let Me alone and do not interfere, so that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you (your descendants) a great nation."

   - Romans 1:18: "For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth."

5. **Joy** - Zephaniah 3:17: "The Lord your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

   - Luke 15:7: "I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

6. **Jealousy** - Exodus 20:5: "You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."

   - Deuteronomy 4:24: "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire; He is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]."

7. **Patience** - 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

So what do these range of emotions say about God?

Yes, of course—That even though He is supreme, He relates and connects to us, His children, on a personal level. This is the language we understand—that God expresses emotions of love, compassion, sorrow, anger, joy, jealousy, and patience.

There may  be other emotions of God that you can reference. But I encourage us to see these expressions as God’s deep and abiding connection to us, reflections of His perfect and holy nature. 

Let us be comforted and inspired by the fact that the God who created the universe wants to guide us with His love, His patience, and His compassion. 

Let’s open up our hearts and receive that today.

aub - 18 June 2024

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