The Grief of God

Genesis 6:6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

I Samuel 15:10-11 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed my commandments.”

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?”

God has grief!

Even though God knows the end from the beginning,(Isaiah 46:10, Ecclesiastes 3:11). He is omniscient, omnipresent, is never surprised by our choices and even made provision for the errors of our ways from the beginning. (I Peter 1:20) Do I fully grasp this knowledge? No!  It is a bit like calculus to me. I understand the basic concept that it helps us find the area under a curve but I understand its application on a VERY elementary level.

Grieved over Unbelief

When I read Genesis 6:6, I saw like Jesus who wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, and was “grieved in His heart for the hardness of their (man’s) hearts, (Mark 3:5) God the Father had sorrow in His heart. Like the disappointment of a Daddy with a son or daughter who has made poor choices or a sibling who tries to warn of impending dangers, the heart of God is also grieved.

Grief Deep Sorrow

The definition of grief is “deep sorrow, especially caused by someone’s death.” The grief the Triune God feels is for the death of His creation made in His own image. As Jesus hung on Calvary’s cross, the Father could not bear to see His only Son die. He turned away. However, it was not from the sin and shame of mankind He bore, He had witnessed this for centuries. His compassion for you and I prevented God the Father from intervening in the sacrifice Jesus chose to accept. Jesus was redeeming you and me from death and hell. Yet, He loved His Son and watching Him die caused great grief.

Grief on Friday afternoon

Easter is a time of celebration. On Resurrection Morning, Jesus overcame death and hell. Finally, He used the keys and Satan was defeated. We must, however, not forget Friday afternoon. The sacrificial Lamb of the world was slain. The perfect and lasting sacrifice: Slain, murdered, cut down, brutalized, crucified, humiliated, shamed, tortured, and taunted.

A Parent’s Grief

As a parent, have you ever grieved over your children and their choices. Have you shed tears of sorrow knowing you could not spare them consequences that may be devastating to your family. Or, have you stood at the grave of your child. Have you been so overcome all you could do is turn away. ME TOO!! This is gut wrenching. It is not normal. It was never meant to be normal. Moreover, we were made for the Garden and eternity. Not this world of sorrow with its sin and death and trial and tribulations.

Grief over disappointment

As a daughter, I disappointed my parent, made them cry. I hurt them and let them down. I did not live up to the potential God placed in me or the expectations they had of me. The expression on their faces was enough punishment for me (it wasn’t all I got, but it was enough) to never want to disappoint them again. When we fail to live according to God’s Word, though not surprised, He is disappointed and like an earthly father who loves enough to discipline, God our Heavenly Father loves us and disciplines us. The discipline is painful. However, when the discipline brings about the desired change in character then it is considered positive and beneficial.

Then Came The Morning

Scripture does not tell us of the reunion between Christ and His Father on Resurrection morning. But I have a sneaking suspicion it was glorious. Redemption’s work was FINISHED! The church (The Bride of Christ) had been chosen. Now the entire world could now have fellowship with God, the Almighty. How Jesus stayed on earth forty days following resurrection is beyond me. I am sure He was so ready to be Home.

Am I Grieving Holy Spirit

This Easter, may we all ask ourselves the hard question: Am I causing the Father to have sorrow in His heart because He created me? Am I like the people following Jesus around full of hardness of heart? Am I grieving the Holy Spirit because I will not accept the gift so freely given for my eternal life? We can be like the one thief on the cross who turned to Jesus in his final hours and asked His forgiveness. Jesus told the man, “Today, you WILL BE with ME in Paradise.” His last breath on earth was his first breath back in the Garden. The place he always belonged. No more suffering!!!!!

Take a few minutes to worship through song and prayer. Don’t skip this. In conclusion, He is worthy of our praise!

 

 

The Garden Call (SATB Choir) by Joseph M Martin/Brad Nix YouTube

 

 

No More Night by David Phelps on YouTube

Father,

I come before Your Throne in thanksgiving and praise for the gift of Jesus who saved me by His death, burial, and resurrection.  I am free to enter Your Holy Presence as You originally created man to do in the Garden because of His sacrifice. Lord, Your sorrow is my eternal joy and I am forever grateful. Thank You, Father, for the promise of no more night, no more sorrow, no more tears, no more grief, no more death! Father, I look forward to the life You intended for Your highest creation: me and all mankind. Thank you for the breath you breathed into us and for making us the house of Your Spirit. Lord, be glorified in me and the life I live before others each day.

I pray this humbly and in the majestic name of my Savior, Jesus.

AMEN

For further reading:

“ Experiencing the Resurrection and the Life “

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/03/29/experiencing-the-resurrection-and-the-life/