#173: God’s Anger

I love talking about God’s goodness and love. However, His anger is just as evident, impactful, and certain. I see demonstrations of His anger in the Bible, so I know that it is a part of his character. I can’t ignore it. But I struggle to reconcile His anger with His love? How do I explain how His anger is a part of His righteousness? How will knowledge of His anger draw others to Him?

The verses for today troubled me. 

1 Kings 11:9-10 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

In response to this anger, God took action.

1 Kings 11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

As Christians, I do not believe that God intended for us to be walking on eggshells, worried that God is waiting to drop the hammer on us for the smallest infraction. I know for certain that He wants us to live an abundant life and experiencing a vibrant and loving relationship with Him. I have personally experienced this. In order to live this abundant life, we have to have a correct understanding of His anger.

In trying to understand God’s anger, I had to remind myself of some things that are true. God does not sin, so His anger is not sin. God is not vindictive or manipulative in His anger. We fault when we give human motivations to God. Anger in the human heart can be evil, but not in God’s.

Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

There are so many reasons why we get angry. In my own life, I can identify that I have been angry when I did not get my way, did not get what I felt I deserved, or when someone challenged me. In summary, when I get angry it is because of selfish reasons; someone attacked my ego and pride.

I know my God is not prideful, so I know His anger is not rooted in selfishness.

Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

God’s anger and actions related to chastisement are NOT for His benefit or pleasure. His anger is for OUR profit. His anger is not rooted in selfishness or pride. This verse helps me to frame His anger in the proper context. It is so He can share his holiness with me.

As I continued to talk with the Lord about His anger, He brought some clarity by reminding me of a situation. I had a friend that was abused by her mother’s boyfriend. When the daughter told her mother about the injustice against her, the pain, and terror she experienced, her mother took no action. I don’t doubt that this mother had a love for her daughter, however her mother did not get angry with the boyfriend; in fact, she continued the relationship with the man. The lack of action, the lack of anger communicated a lack of love. My friend felt betrayed by her mother and justifiably unloved. The relationship was broken because there was no action or response. 

Psalm 142:6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

When we are brough low by the actions of others, we need to know that God is there for us. We need God to demonstrate His love for us. This requires a demonstration of anger on God’s part. If God did not demonstrate anger toward our “persecutors,” we could question the degree of His love for us. His anger has to be demonstrated toward unrighteousness in order for us to understand His love for us. 

God is love. This is completely true. A demonstration of His anger is every bit a part of His love as His care and protection. While I can’t always explain the demonstration of God’s anger in the Bible, I feel confident that in some way it is a demonstration of His love toward and individual or a nation. His anger can’t be separated from His love.

Looking back at the example of Solomon; God loved Solomon. Solomon chose to wander away from that love “…his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel.” So, God’s anger was a righteous consequence and a demonstration of His love, not a lack of love for Solomon. His love was demonstrated in anger. If God did not respond in loving anger, it could be concluded that He did not care that Solomon had wandered away from His holiness. God’s anger communicated that He DID care, and it communicated love.  

God IS love, and His anger is a full demonstration of that love, not a contradiction. Give thanks to the Lord for His love and for His anger. His anger is a full and complete demonstration of His love for you.

Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Related Bible Passages:

1 Kings 11
Psalms 142
Proverbs 22
Revelation 11, Hebrews 12

Have a face to face conversation with your Lord:

Lord, have I believed that your anger is wrong?

Lord, have I seen a demonstration of your anger toward others and felt like a loving God would not do that?

Lord, in time when I have been angry, when has it been a righteous demonstration of love?

Lord, help me to understand your anger…

If you are interested in having a collection of these devotional conversations with your Lord, consider purchasing the devotional book, Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 1 or Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 2. Book 3 is coming soon! They are available from Amazon by clicking on the titles above.