Shalom. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
It is both wise and spiritually enriching to study the character of God so that we, as His children, may grow in Christlikeness and strive toward perfection, just as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Today, we will explore one particular attribute of God that may seem surprising at first glance, but carries a profound lesson for how we should conduct ourselves as believers.
Let us begin in the book of Genesis. After God completed the creation of the heavens and the earth, He declared everything He had made to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Yet, just one chapter later, we read these striking words:
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
—Genesis 2:18 (ESV)
This raises an important question: If all of God’s creation was declared “very good,” how can something suddenly be “not good”? Was there an error in creation? Was something left incomplete?
The answer is no. God was neither surprised nor uninformed. In fact, Genesis 1:27 reveals that humanity—male and female—had already been conceived in His mind and purpose from the beginning:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
—Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
So why does God, who is omniscient, speak as though He is just realizing Adam’s need? Theologically, this reveals a divine teaching method. God is not showing ignorance, but modeling humility and deliberation. He intentionally presents the situation in a way that invites reflection. He is teaching us that the willingness to acknowledge the need for improvement is not weakness—it is godliness.
Too often we equate change or correction with failure. But in God’s nature, we see that embracing correction is a divine virtue. It is a gift that leads to greater completeness and maturity (Hebrews 12:10–11). If we live our lives with no desire to grow, no pursuit of deeper transformation, we are rejecting one of the core attributes of God: the love of continuous improvement.
Now consider another striking example. When the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah reached its peak, God revealed His plan to Abraham. But notice how God approached the situation:
“Then the Lord said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.’”
—Genesis 18:20–21 (ESV)
Think about that. The all-knowing God says, “I will go down and see.” Why would God, who sees all and knows all (Hebrews 4:13), need to “go down” to verify something? Again, this is not an admission of uncertainty, but a display of divine patience, justice, and mercy.
God models for us the importance of not making rash decisions based solely on reports or appearances. He does not act impulsively. He gives room for investigation, for mercy, and even for intercession—because within the doomed cities, there was still a righteous man: Lot. And because of this intentional delay and divine deliberation, Lot and his family were spared (Genesis 19:15–17).
Had God rendered judgment immediately upon receiving the report—without pausing to “go down”—Lot would have perished along with the rest. This shows us that God’s justice is always measured, and His mercy is always active, even in judgment (2 Peter 2:7–9).
What Should We Learn from This?
Many of us ruin relationships, destroy reputations, and make damaging choices because we react too quickly to what we hear or see. We pass judgment the moment we receive information, without investigation, reflection, or prayer.
For instance, if you hear that a friend or family member has spoken against you, don’t be quick to retaliate with anger or resentment. Even if the accusation is true, practice divine patience. Create space between the information and your response. Ask: What caused them to speak this way? Could I have played a role in their frustration? That kind of reflection opens the door for reconciliation, forgiveness, and intercession.
The same principle applies in church matters. If you hear something troubling about your church or its leaders, don’t make hasty decisions like leaving the fellowship. First, bring it to God in prayer. Seek counsel from spiritual mentors. Remember, God shared His plan with Abraham—He invites us to process concerns in community, with wisdom and discernment (Proverbs 11:14).
This applies equally to your workplace, family, or social circle. Even if the information is true, godliness calls for calm, discernment, and Spirit-led responses—not emotional reactions. Create room between what you hear and how you respond. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you (John 16:13). You may find that what initially stirred your anger could become a path to healing, or that what seemed offensive could be an opportunity for growth.
A Final Encouragement
Make it a discipline to build “space” in your heart. Not everything that comes in needs an immediate reaction. It is better to process a hundred offenses and respond wisely to one, than to react to all and regret them later. If even the Lord chose not to act instantly on the reports He received, who are we to rush our judgments?
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
—James 1:19 (ESV)
May the Lord give us the grace to imitate His patience, humility, and wisdom in all our decisions.
Shalom.