His first response isn’t anger. It isn’t flying off the handle or casting judgment. Perhaps this is why a consistent refrain about God’s character is that he is slow to get angry with people (Jonah 4:2; Joel 2:13; Nahum 1:3; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 103:8; 145:8).

His first response is not passive either. God doesn’t throw his hands up in the air, giving up on people in their messes. He doesn’t just abandon people to their brokenness, even when He is angry.

Instead of either of these ditches, God remains active in a posture of curiosity and retains the intention of making space for others to act with Him.