God is slow to anger, but at some point he has had enough and his anger is aroused. If God seems like he got angry quickly, it is only because we don't understand how sinful we are! Even the sins of our heart our an offense to God. Think of how much sin that is!
Jeremiah 17:9 says: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
God sees all that sin, but he does not destroy us for every sin as we deserve. We see throughout scripture that God is patient with wickedness so that all might have an opportunity to repent. There is a line of wickedness that only he knows. When it has been reached he sends judgment. It is then that his anger "burns" and is terrible yet holy and pure.
1 Thess 2:16 "...In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." Gen 15:16 "...the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." Matt 23:32 "Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!" Gen 19:13 "we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
But God's anger is different than our anger. When men get angry, they enjoy hurting others.
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20
But even in his anger, God's desire is that people repent and be saved rather than suffer his judgement on them.
Ezekiel 33:11 says: 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'
From Colleen: if God is slow to anger, why does the Lord's anger burn against people?
ReplyDeleteGreat question Colleen!
ReplyDeleteGod is slow to anger, but at some point he has had enough and his anger is aroused. If God seems like he got angry quickly, it is only because we don't understand how sinful we are! Even the sins of our heart our an offense to God. Think of how much sin that is!
Jeremiah 17:9 says: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
God sees all that sin, but he does not destroy us for every sin as we deserve. We see throughout scripture that God is patient with wickedness so that all might have an opportunity to repent. There is a line of wickedness that only he knows. When it has been reached he sends judgment. It is then that his anger "burns" and is terrible yet holy and pure.
1 Thess 2:16 "...In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last."
Gen 15:16 "...the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
Matt 23:32 "Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!"
Gen 19:13 "we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
But God's anger is different than our anger. When men get angry, they enjoy hurting others.
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20
But even in his anger, God's desire is that people repent and be saved rather than suffer his judgement on them.
Ezekiel 33:11 says: 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'