Noah and the Father’s Love

Genesis 6:5-7:24


The reading for today is about Noah and the great flood --- a familiar story for many of us.  As I read this story I kept coming back to Genesis 6:5-8.  These verses describe mankind’s “wickedness on the earth” and God’s response.  Verse 6 especially got my attention, stating “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”  This is from the NIV translation.  Other translations say God was sorry or regretted that he had made man and that his heart was grieved and even broken.  My study bible has a note that says “Man’s sin is God’s sorrow” and directs you to Ephesians 4:30 where Paul directs us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God”.  


It is amazing to me that Almighty God can be pained or sorrowful because of our sinful behavior and disobedience.  But that seems to be the case in this story.  And yet, when I consider God as a loving Father who sacrificed His Son for our redemption, why am I surprised?  Just as obedience shows our love for God, disobedience (sin) grieves his heart. 


Over the past several weeks we have been singing a song at church that seems to give a good summary to these thoughts.  I have included a link below.  Please take a moment to listen closely to the lyrics, especially the second verse, and give thanks that we have a Father that loves us “beyond all measure”.


“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us"

Palm Sunday

Luke 19: 28-44

Though we may be familiar with the story of Jesus mounting a donkey and making his way through the streets of Jerusalem, have we truly considered the condition of his heart? As I read the words in Luke 19, I paused for a long time on the phrase, “he wept over it.” Though Jesus knew his ultimate destiny, the human piece of him likely could not be somewhat hopeful that the world would realize what they were doing and rest in the peace of the Lord.

The vision I have of Jesus weeping as he journeyed through the city is hard on the heart. His strength, grace, and peace were immeasurable, and his love for man unreasonable considering how they behaved, yet He

wept for them, knowing what they were missing. Jesus knew what was to come, but he rode into Jerusalem anyway.

According to: www.thisisyourbible.com, it is recorded specifically in the bible that Jesus wept twice, once when Lazarus died in John 11, and again in Jerusalem as he entered the city in Luke 19. Consider however, Hebrews 5: 7: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” His prayers were so sincere and intense that it would have been impossible to hold back tears. Isaiah 53:3 illustrates Jesus as “….a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering.” Deep sorrow and suffering accompanied with heartache bring forth genuine, heartfelt tears. So even though there are only two times Jesus is recorded publicly weeping in the bible, understanding his heart clearly reveals frequent cries to God for the love, grace, and forgiveness of his people….that’s us.

Jesus prayed, pleaded, begged, and mourned for us. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Read/Listen to Luke 19: 28-44

Watch Music Video “By His Wounds” by Third Day     -It is intense, but real!