Does God get emotional? Does that sound strange? It isn’t. We talk about God’s emotions all the time. Isn’t love an emotion? God is love, but the Bible also says that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). That begs the question: does God have other emotions? What are the emotions of God? Is there more than love and hate? Does God get sad? How does God feel compassion? Is God mad at you? Does God ever feel afraid? Surprise? Fear? Is God emotional? What does that mean for us who are made in His image? These are just some of the questions that we walk through in today’s episode.
Today, welcome Dr. David T. Lamb to the show to discuss his new book, The Emotions of God (IVP, 2022). Dr. Lamb is the MacRae Professor of Old Testament Dean of the Faculty at Misso Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Lamb has extensive teaching experience, including cross-cultural projects in Nigeria, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He is the author of The Historical Writings: Introducing Israel’s Historical Literature (Fortress, 2016), Prostitutes and Polygamists: A Look at Love, Old Testament Style (Zondervan, 2015), God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? (InterVarsity Press, 2011), Righteous Jehu and His Evil Heirs (Oxford University Press, 2007), The Story of God Commentary 1, 2 Kings (Zondervan). Dr. Lamb worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship from 1986-1999, serving as campus staff, team leader, and area director.
If we are to unlock our mission, we need to know who the God we serve is and we need to know who we are. We are not machines, and God has called us in our full humanity to follow Him with the entirety of who we are. Our emotions are a gift and come from Him. Without understanding properly who He is, we can’t understand who we are, and if we can’t understand who we are, we can’t understand what He has called us to be and do. It’s a conversation that delves deep into the heart of God and helps us to fulfill the mission He has for us.
And check episodes that help us understand the Bible better:
#26 Randy Richards: Misreading Scripture With Individualist Eyes
#77 Michael S. Heiser-Naked Scripture, the Supernatural, and Scared Evangelicals
#88 Tremper Longman III, Pt. 1-The Bible You Need Is The One You Read
#89 Tremper Longman III, Pt. 2-Scripture, Psalms, and Nourishing Your Soul
#101 Esteban Shedd: Creative Communicators Engaging Global Urban Culture
#106 Donald Whitney: Praying the Bible
#111 John Plake: Scripture Engagement, Trauma, and Transformation in Chaotic Times
#150 Kevin Vanhoozer: Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 1
#151 Kevin Vanhoozer: Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 2
Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.
God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!