2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Calendar
WHY DID GOD ‘REPENT’?
NOV 3
Genesis 6:5-7
Memorise Numbers 23:19 "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth"
WHY DID GOD ‘REPENT’?
Today’s reading has a particular statement that perhaps might seem a bit strange and hard to understand. It tells us that as God looked at the terrible wickedness of man upon the earth, "it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). What does it mean that God "repented"? Does this mean that He had sinned in creating the world and then allowing them to fall into wickedness? Was God sorry for what he had done and thus felt a need to ‘make amends’ for His wrong? Now we know that God is perfectly holy, and can never sin. His eyes are too holy to even behold evil, not to mention commit any sin of His own. So how are we to interpret this description of God repenting?
In the Hebrew Bible, there are two main words that are translated as "repent". The first one "shub", used in passages like 1 Kings 8:47 and Ezekiel 14:6, 18:30 expresses the basic idea of turning, and carries the common idea of repenting from sin and wickedness. The second word "nacham" is one that carries the idea of regret or sorrow, and is used here in Genesis 6:6. There are also other instances in which it is used on God, such as in Jonah 3:10. In such occurrences, we understand that it is used in the sense of what theologians describe as "anthropomorphism". This is a personification of God as a man with human attributes, emotions, characteristics or physical qualities which God uses to help us understand His actions better. In this context, it certainly does not mean that God is repenting from any sin, but expresses His feeling of grief and sorrow over the evil and wickedness of man. He rues over the fact that man have turned into such a deplorable state of evil, and in human terms, almost seems like he regrets even the decision to make man in the first place.
Of course God in His grace and mercy did not wipe man out completely, but would save one family, and continue the human race through them. Yet through this we see a very important spiritual lesson. When man falls into sin, and so wilfully rebel against Him, God is very grieved. He looks down upon man with sorrow and compassion, and like a loving father, His heart is saddened by the fact that His children refuse to obey Him. We must realize that when we sin, we grieve God as well.
Thought: Does it grieve us, when we grieve God?
Prayer: Lord, help me never to test the limits of your longsuffering, but by your grace, may I learn to live a life that brings you joy and not sorrow.
Posted in Teens RPG
Genesis 6:5-7
Memorise Numbers 23:19 "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth"
WHY DID GOD ‘REPENT’?
Today’s reading has a particular statement that perhaps might seem a bit strange and hard to understand. It tells us that as God looked at the terrible wickedness of man upon the earth, "it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). What does it mean that God "repented"? Does this mean that He had sinned in creating the world and then allowing them to fall into wickedness? Was God sorry for what he had done and thus felt a need to ‘make amends’ for His wrong? Now we know that God is perfectly holy, and can never sin. His eyes are too holy to even behold evil, not to mention commit any sin of His own. So how are we to interpret this description of God repenting?
In the Hebrew Bible, there are two main words that are translated as "repent". The first one "shub", used in passages like 1 Kings 8:47 and Ezekiel 14:6, 18:30 expresses the basic idea of turning, and carries the common idea of repenting from sin and wickedness. The second word "nacham" is one that carries the idea of regret or sorrow, and is used here in Genesis 6:6. There are also other instances in which it is used on God, such as in Jonah 3:10. In such occurrences, we understand that it is used in the sense of what theologians describe as "anthropomorphism". This is a personification of God as a man with human attributes, emotions, characteristics or physical qualities which God uses to help us understand His actions better. In this context, it certainly does not mean that God is repenting from any sin, but expresses His feeling of grief and sorrow over the evil and wickedness of man. He rues over the fact that man have turned into such a deplorable state of evil, and in human terms, almost seems like he regrets even the decision to make man in the first place.
Of course God in His grace and mercy did not wipe man out completely, but would save one family, and continue the human race through them. Yet through this we see a very important spiritual lesson. When man falls into sin, and so wilfully rebel against Him, God is very grieved. He looks down upon man with sorrow and compassion, and like a loving father, His heart is saddened by the fact that His children refuse to obey Him. We must realize that when we sin, we grieve God as well.
Thought: Does it grieve us, when we grieve God?
Prayer: Lord, help me never to test the limits of your longsuffering, but by your grace, may I learn to live a life that brings you joy and not sorrow.
Posted in Teens RPG