Does God have emotions?

As you read scripture, does it seem to you that God is static, motionless, unchanging, and unemotional? Many have used Malachi 3:6 to claim that among His many other attributes, God is immutable (unchanging) and impassible (unemotional). Let us consider a few instances I can recall from the Scriptures.

If you believe that prayer changes things, then you can’t really believe that God is unchangeable. Do you remember King Hezekiah? (2 Kings 20) God sent Isaiah to him and told him to set his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed with tears, and God heard his prayer. Before Isaiah could get out of the palace, God told him to go back and tell Hezekiah that God had heard his prayer and would give him another 15 years of life. There are many times in scripture where God relented and changed His plans in response to the prayers and intercession of His people. His plans to destroy Nineveh were changed when the people repented at Jonah’s preaching.

The idea that God is unemotional is also at odds with how the bible writers describe Him. He is grieved by the wickedness of men before the flood, and He burns with anger at the idolatry of the Israelites when they make the golden calf. Most of all, love is an emotion. How can you view God as unemotional when “God is love?” (1 John 4:8; 16)

I believe that God does change and that He does experience emotions in response to those creatures He cares about. God experiences the future with us as we make decisions that affect our future and the future of those around us. Our decisions can bring Him joy or pain in the moment of time in which they are made.

What then does this Malachi 3:6 mean?

It does not mean that the contents of his knowledge does not change or His feelings do not change. It means that His character does not change. His love does not change. He is not a good God today and an evil God tomorrow. The verse actually says how He does not change: He does not consume them for their disobedience. The next verse says: In spite of their unfaithfulness and disobedience, God continues to be faithful, merciful, gracious, and willing to forgive if they will only return to Him.

Comments

Jesus Our Advocate Part III: In the Heavenly Courts

The advocacy of the Lord Jesus in our behalf, however, is wholly different from this, though the same general object is pursued and sought, the good of those for whom he becomes an advocate. The nature of his advocacy may be stated in the following particulars: (1.) He admits the guilt of those for whom he becomes the advocate, to the full extent charged on them by the law of God, and by their own consciences. He does not attempt to hide or conceal it. He makes no apology for it. He neither attempts to deny the fact , nor to show that they had a right to do as they have done. He could not do this, for it would not be true; and any plea before the throne of God which should be based on a denial of our guilt would be fatal to our cause. (2.) As our advocate, he undertakes to be security that no wrong shall be done to the universe if we are not punished as we deserve; that is, if we are pardoned, and treated as if we had not sinned. This he does by pleading what he has done

Bread of Sorrows

Bread of Sorrows: When God sends it, it is good to eat it. When we bake it ourselves, it is vain to eat it. When the devil brings it, it is deadly meat “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalms 127:2. Frankly speaking, Rev. Spurgeon expounded on this verse in a very captivating way in his sermon, The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved- delivered on Sabbath Morning, March 4, 1855. I loved this! ‘ The Psalmist says there are some men who deny themselves sleep. For purposes of gain, or ambition, they rise up early and sit up late. Some of us who are here present may have been guilty of the same thing. We have risen early in the morning that we might turn over the ponderous volume, in order to acquire knowledge; we have sat at night until our burned-out lamp has chidden us, and told us that the sun was rising; while our eyes have ached, our brain has throbbed, our heart has pal

Tenderly he watches over you

An old beautiful song by Beverly Shea, reminds us of God's unwavering care for us. Humanly speaking, the thought of His constant guardianship and upkeep is inconsistent with us the yet-sinners. But He loves us still. I have decided to ignore any seeming discrepancy, but to trust His word. For the scripture assures me, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God... casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 Moreover, he promises to continue His past graces towards His people. "The Lord has been mindful of us." Psalm 115:12 . Our preservation proves this, our mercies, our trials, our guidance and our consolations. Everything, even the minutest blessing, represents a thought in the mind of God respecting us. "How precious are thy thoughts concerning me, O God, how great," ( Psalm 139:17 ), and those thoughts go back to an eternity before we came into being. "The Lord hath been mindful of us"; then should

Jaus' Notebook

Search This Blog