Do Not Make God Feel Hurt

An example of how Jehovah's feelings can be hurt is found in the account about the days of Noah.  At that time, "the earth became filled with violence.   So God saw the earth and, look! It was ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth."  How did God feel as he surveyed the depravity and the violence?  "Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth," says the Bible, " and he felt hurt at his heart." (Genesis 6:5, 6, 11, 12)  God felt regrets in that the conduct of humans had become so evil that he had a change of attitude as regards the wicked preFlood generation.  Because of his displeasure  over their wickedness, God turned from the attitude of  the Creator of humans to that of a destroyer of them. 

(I think I would have a lot of regrets if I were him and still would. Take a real good look at the people in it;  rape, thievery, immorality, adultery, murder, pornography, deceit, corruptness, the making of movies of evil and violence just to  name a few. Of course some or a lot of people only look through rose colored glasses or have their heads in the ground or somewhere else, because they don't want to see it or admit that anything is wrong with, not just this world, but the government as well. And all this and more is caused by Satan.) 

Jehovah also felt distressed when his own people, the ancient nation of Israel, persistently ignored his feelings and his loving direction.  The psalmist lamented:  "How often they would rebel against him in the wilderness, they would make him feel hurt in the desert! And again and again they would put God to the test, and they pained even the Holy One of Israel." Yet, "he was merciful; he would cover their error and not bring ruin. And many times he made his anger turn back, and he would not rouse up all his rage."  (Psalm 78:38-41)  ( Note: There were a couple times that he did show his rage, when a few did something that really got him angry and he punished the ones that did.)  Even though the rebellious Israelites rightly suffered the consequences of their own sinfulness, the Bible tells us that "during all their distress  it was distressing to [God]." -Isaiah 63:9. 

Regardless of the ample evidence of God's tender feelings for them, the people of Israel "were continually making jest at the messengers of the true God and despising his words and mocking his prophets, until the rage of Jehovah came up against his people, until there was no healing." (2 Chronicles 36:16)  Ultimately, their stiff-necked pattern of rebellion "made his holy spirit feel hurt" to such an extent that they lost Jehovah's favor.  (Isaiah 63:10)  The result?  God justly withdrew his protection, and calamity befell them when the Babylonians conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem.  (2 Chronicles 36:17-21) How sad when people choose to pursue a sinful course of life that is offensive and distressing to their Creator!

The Bible leaves us in no doubt that God is deeply pained by unrighteous conduct.  (Psalm 78:41)  Things that are  offensive-even detestable -to God include pride, lying, murder, practicing magic, fortune telling,  ancestor worship, loose morals, homosexuality, marital unfaithfulness, incest, and the oppression of the poor. -Leviticus 18:9-29; 19:29; Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 7:5-7; Malachi 2:14-16. 

How does Jehovah feel about idolatry? Exodus 20:4, 5 states:  "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them."  Why? because an idol "is a thing detestable to Jehovah." (Deuteronomy 7:25, 26) (Note: This includes Buddhas, rosaries, crosses in churches, necklaces, spending too  much time with sports, games, pictures of Jesus, God or the Virgin Mary,  or anything that keeps one from worshiping God.)  The apostle John warned:  Little children, guard yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21)  (Note:  that goes for adults as well.) And the apostle Paul wrote:  "My beloved ones, flee from idolatry." -1 Corinthians 10:14.

Next time: Seek God's Approval

From the Watchtower magazine, 2004