Do not grieve the Lord
by Craig Heidenreich
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The Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:6,8).
Read Genesis 6:5–22
For the next four days, we will reflect on the flood and the life of Noah.
Is the flood story in these chapters a historical event or just a myth (as many might claim)?
Well, it certainly wasn’t a myth to Jesus! He refers to the ‘days of Noah’ as a significant example of how the end of time will unfold upon his return.
Curiously, even secular anthropologists are astonished at the hundreds of versions of the flood story that appear among cultural groups worldwide. Clearly, the memory of this event was deeply lodged in the hearts of people as they spread out and repopulated the earth.
As we read Genesis 6 today, I would like to reflect on verse 6, particularly the statement that the Lord was ‘grieved in his heart’ as he observed the people he had made.
I’m no Hebrew scholar, but I’m told the word used here for grief embodies profound sorrow. What a picture of our Heavenly Father, who has such strong feelings about his creation.
I suppose we can keep these things at arm’s length by thinking that the people of Noah’s day were particularly bad; however, Paul states in Ephesians that it is possible to ‘grieve the Holy Spirit’.
We read the following in Ephesians 4:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice (v 30,31).
I’m sure there are a number of ways we might grieve the Lord, but this verse focuses on some behaviours and attitudes that grieve the Lord, which are common to the human condition. Let’s keep short accounts and not drift into bitterness!
Dear Lord, forgive us when we grieve you by speaking badly of each other and sensitise our hearts again to follow in your ways. Just like Noah, who ‘found grace in the eyes of the Lord’, we thank you that you extend grace to us through Jesus. Amen.
Craig is married to Beverley. They have recently moved to Kapunda in South Australia after purchasing a ‘renovator’s delight’, which keeps Craig occupied most weekends. He says who needs to go to the gym when you can knock down some walls!
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