For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Illustration
A group of motion-picture engineers classified the following as the ten most dramatic sounds in the movies: a baby's first cry; the blast of a siren; the thunder of breakers on rocks; the roar of a forest fire; a foghorn; the slow drip of water; the galloping of horses; the sound of a distant train whistle; the howl of a dog; the wedding march. And one of these sounds causes more emotional response and upheaval than any other, has the power to bring forth almost every human emotion: sadness, envy, regret, sorrow, tears, as well as supreme joy. It is the wedding march. James S. Flora in Pulpit Digest.
The Bible is not a philosophical book or a list of rules from a tyrannical God. It is a passionate love story from an emotional God who wants the best for His children. God did not have to create us—He wanted to do it. He does not want to condemn us. God wants to shower us with His love for eternity. Thus, He sent His Son to die for us because He wants us to be with Him forever (John 17:24).
God’s emotions are on display throughout the Bible. The Lord is not an unfeeling deity who is indifferent to our circumstances. All our emotions come from God. Our disobedience can grieve the heart of God. In Genesis 6:6, “The Lord regretted that He had made humanity on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” The Lord also laughs. Psalm 2:4 – “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.”
We see God’s anger on display throughout the Old Testament (Jeremiah 7:18). The children of Israel provoked His wrath as they journeyed toward the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 9:7). In Deuteronomy 16:21-22; God expresses His hatred for graven images and warned the Israelites against setting up any graven image to represent Him.
God mourns the death of every believer. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” God is “close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Yet, God rejoices over His children. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” The prophet Nehemiah reminded the Israelites “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). We should also note that God can experience pleasure. In Isaiah 46:10, the Lord says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
The aforementioned emotions are not an exhaustive list of the many emotions of God. Christians should focus on triggering the best of God’s emotions. By obeying His word, we will remain in good standing with His will and bring pleasure to His heart. When tempted to sin we must repent because our sinful actions can grieve His heart and cause His anger to arise.
The love of God was on display when He sent Jesus to die for us. His emotions will be fully revealed during the wedding ceremony between Christ and the Church. There, we will see the Lord smile, sing, weep, laugh, rejoice, and take pleasure over His children.
Let us be intentional about not breaking the heart of God. You and I can make God laugh. We can make Him sing and rejoice throughout Heaven. A happy God leads to a life of favor, power, and prosperity.
Questions for Personal Reflection
What will you do today to make God rejoice?
How can knowing about God’s emotions help your relationship with Him?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I repent for every time I break your heart. Please help me to be more intentional in bringing joy to your heart by obeying your word and honoring your will for my life. Help me to understand and appreciate the passion you demonstrated for me through Christ Jesus so my life can be Spirit-led and Christ-centered.