Genesis 6:6-7 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 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.”
When God completed His work of creation, He looked at it and said that it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). But now the Bible says that He was grieved (or sorry) that He had made humans. What is the reason for His grief and why such a severe judgment? The reason is the magnitude of human sin: “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” (v. 5). Our sin and disobedience grieves God’s heart.
On the contrary, our obedience and right walk with Him gives Him joy (cf. Job 1:8). How are we living our lives: according to His word bringing Him glory and honor or are we bringing Him grief? What would He be feeling as He is looking down on us today? The grief in Genesis 6 is brought collectively by humanity in general. Individuals can also grieve God. For instance, in 1 Samuel 15:11, God says, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Are we grieving God corporately—our church, family, etc.? Are we grieving God in our individual lives? Let us reflect and see where we might have fallen short so that we can work toward overcoming, with the help of the Holy Spirit, those things that bring God grief. Paul too admonishes the Ephesians and us to not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
May the Lord help us live—corporately and individually—in such a way that brings Him smile on His face and not grief, and the joy of life!