Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 6:5-7 (New Living Translation)

⁵ The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. ⁶ So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. ⁷ And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.”

There are several items I noticed when reading this passage (this time).

1. When left alone, man moves towards evil
2. God sees us
3. God has feelings based on what we do
4. God reacts

We should take care with how we act because, as in the flood, we may not like how God reacts.

One last thing, I affect God. I don’t want that to read like I have a certain power over God, because I don’t have power over God. God does, however, see me and He has feelings based on what I do. This seems like one of those questions (do I have power over God?) that theologians have discussed for centuries with no conclusion.

God, help me to please you.