When you look at the brokenness in this world, have you ever wondered how God feels? Genesis 6 gives us a glimpse into His heart, revealing not just His justice but also His grief. It’s easy to focus on the familiar parts of Noah’s Ark—the animals, the rainbow, and the massive boat—but there’s a deeper truth in this passage that speaks to God’s love and sorrow over humanity’s choices.
Genesis 6:5-8 says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created… But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.'”
These words highlight two things: the severity of human sin and the deep heartache it brings to God. It’s easy to read the story of the flood and imagine God as angry and distant, but this passage reveals something different. God grieves. His heart is troubled when He sees the pain, violence, and corruption in the world—and that includes the pain you’ve experienced in your life.
If you’ve ever asked, “Where was God when I was hurting?” this passage assures you: He was there, grieving with you.
Sin’s ripple effect, which began with Adam and Eve’s decision in the garden, had spread like wildfire through humanity. By the time of Noah, wickedness was so widespread that Scripture describes every thought of the human heart as evil. Yet, even in the midst of that darkness, there’s a glimmer of hope: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Noah’s faithfulness stood out in a world that had largely turned away from God.
What does that mean for us today? In a world that often feels just as broken, we are invited to be like Noah—faithful, obedient, and walking closely with God even when it feels countercultural. Noah’s story isn’t just about judgment; it’s about grace. God saw Noah’s heart and provided a way of salvation—not just for him but for his family and, ultimately, for humanity.
And what about God’s grief? It reminds us of His love. He doesn’t sit distant and unaffected by our pain. Instead, He is deeply invested in His creation. The heartbreak you’ve felt in moments of loss or injustice? God feels that, too. His desire is for restoration, and while there are consequences for sin, His heart is always to redeem and to heal.
If you’ve wrestled with the weight of this broken world, know that you’re not alone. God sees you. He knows the hurts you carry, and He grieves those hurts with you. And like Noah, you have the opportunity to walk with Him, to live in a way that honors Him, and to experience His favor and grace even when life feels overwhelming.
God, thank You for revealing Your heart through the story of Noah. Teach us to walk faithfully with You, especially when the world around us feels dark. Help us to remember that You grieve our pain and that Your desire is always to restore and redeem. May we live in a way that reflects Your love and brings hope to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Listen to the full episode of the Hearing Jesus Podcast: The Grief of God