Title: Decision Making During Times of Grief / Topic: Grace and Judgment

Today’s Reading: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8; Luke 3

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Emphasis added)

Observation: The depth of emotional grief expressed by the Lord here always surprises me. I tend to think of God as emotionally “reserved”. Any parent who has had a child commit shameful acts habitually can relate to the Heavenly Father's anguish as written in these words. He recognizes that the people he has made are beyond redemption and he must destroy these whom he created and loves. Can there be any greater grief than to have to cut off your own kids because they persist in evil conduct? This is so difficult that many parents seem to prefer to continue to enable their evil children to live dishonorable lives. The other extreme is to have no grace or forgiveness toward a child who has been a prodigal. But even in his grief, God finds one good man and his family and spares them from the judgment that is coming. God, being perfect, knows when to judge and when to have grace.

Application: I take away two lessons from these verses. First, that God understands every kind of grief that I will ever experience in life and therefore can be a perfect comfort for me when I am in distress. Secondly, I must depend on God and look to him to guide me in control of my emotions because I have a sin nature that tends toward wanting revenge when I have been hurt or betrayed. God's judgments are pure and untainted by such motives. When he judges, it is to either restore the disobedient person back to righteousness or deliver consequences that will spare others hurt, damage or negative influence by the offender he knows is too arrogant to ever repent. Without his guidance I can be unrighteous by either not setting proper limits for someone because of an unhealthy love for them or by not extending grace when they need it. Only God can make the perfect decisions as to what actions will do the most good.

Prayer: Father, help me to come to you in all my moments of distress to find comfort and wisdom in how to relate to everyone who offends me, especially those whom I love deeply. I thank you that you are perfect in every way and One on whom I can fully depend.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.