Does God have emotions?

Does God have emotions? Maybe that's not the right question to ask. Maybe a better question is this: is He affected by our behavior and circumstances, or is He rather stoic (unmoved) by it all? Several of our passages today seem to indicate that God is very much affected.
The first is found in Exodus 32. God has just met with the people on the mountain and displayed His glory. The mountain shook, smoke and fire rose to the heavens, God spoke and delivered the Law to His people. It must have been a terribly moving experience for all the people; one that you think would make a lasting impact.
Unfortunately, however, it was not long after this that the people urged Aaron to make some kind of idol, or representation of their God, thereby breaking at least the second commandment. How could this be? And what was God's response? He immediately spoke with Moses declaring to him what was happening "down below" and then revealing His feeling about the whole thing, He said, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you." God was most certainly affected by the rebellion of His people and was ready to wipe them out and start over again.
John 11 offers a different kind of movement in God's heart. It is a movement of compassion. This time Jesus is confronted with death. He is confronted with the sorrow of His dear friends Mary and Martha at the loss of their brother. He was confronted with the weeping of their friends as well. Does such a scene move the heart of our Lord or would He go along His way unaffected? The passage is clear. In verse 33 and following it says that "he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.....Jesus wept." Even the Jews observing Jesus could only conclude: "See how he loved him!"
Is it not comforting to know that we have a God and His Son that are moved by our circumstances and our behavior. The book of Hebrews affirms that we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness... God understands our griefs and our sorrows. In the biggest way He identified Himself with them when He came to earth, experienced all that it means to be human (except for sin) and then mounted the cross. Even His wrath is comforting because it shows that God understands how harmful our rebellion is and how much God wants us to walk in His ways which are best. When He sees us walking in harmful ways He will not just sit idly by - in some way He will activate His wrath in order to redirect our path.
Brother and sister in Christ, we have a God who is personal. He is affected by His creatures. May that thought urge you to draw near in obedience and give you confidence in the challenging times that your Lord is near.