Scripture
Our verse for today comes from Genesis 6:6, ” And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. “
Background
We’ve all done something that we were sorry for. Perhaps it was just this morning or right before bedtime last night. Or it may have been at seventeen or twenty-five, or some other random point of your life. I expect a regular examining of our hearts brings with it a sorrow over something we did or didn’t do most every day. And we have known regret, that guilty feeling over our mistake that makes us ache to undo or redo or reverse our decision. Those tentacles can reach long and deep. God was sorry that He had made man. Imagine how that would feel if He had said that He was sorry He had made you. Crushing. I was so bad that God, who could have and do anything, was sorry He had made me. But would it change me? I would hope so. I would hope that I would feel so bad for causing God grief that I would vow to live my best. But how long would that last? How long could I keep up that effort? As the frustrations around me mounted, and the world’s ways chipped away at my resolve, how determined would I remain? Not determined enough, for sure. And the thing is, that’s not how God would want me to respond anyway.
Application
When He said He was sorry that He had made man, He didn’t suffer from regret. He wasn’t wishing He had come up with a better plan, or a more pleasing blueprint for man and woman. He was just grieved in His heart for what we had become. And so He had grace on Noah. He was a just man, but certainly not sinless. But Noah received from God the only thing that would spare his life, the only thing that keeps any of us alive. God didn’t give him clearer instructions or point His threatening finger at him to warn him of his doom. He had grace on him and continued the line of mankind through him and his family. I’m still not quite sure how God could be sorry and feel grief, but I do understand not being able to do better and needing grace. And that’s the response I’ll choose when faced with my sorrow for falling short yet again.
Charge
As we seek Him today, ask God to grow your love and obedience and dependence on Him, flowing from an intense awareness of your need for His grace.
Author – Rich Holt | BCWorldview.org
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