G-d’s Emotions

The “Duties of the Heart” deals with the necessity of speaking about Hashem in corporeal terms, with the realization that a potential danger can come from this.
The Talmud uses the expression, דיברה תורה בלשון בני אדם, that the Torah speaks in the language of man. An intelligent person would immediately understand that the “hand or finger” of G-d, is not to be understood literally. He has no physical shape or form. By attaching human qualities, we are better able to understand Him.

The more problematic description of Hashem, comes when emotions are described. When we read that, “His anger was kindled,” or that “He regretted,” or that “He was saddened at heart,” and similar emotional expressions, it can be confusing. One might superficially assume that G-d feels in a way that is very similar to the way a man feels.

This might diminish from the exalted status that Hashem actually possesses. Again, the more astute student will realize that to attribute actual human like emotions to the Creator, is complete foolishness. But every individual is able to make that distinction.

It is a kind of double edged sword. On the one hand, it is necessary for the Torah to speak of Hashem in a manner that the common man can understand. But there must be an awareness that such descriptions be understood in their proper context.
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot tells us that we must know how to answer the heretic. This is a perfect example where the believing Jews must be prepared to answer challenges to the authenticity of the Torah, and the exalredness of G-d.