On Monday, July 6, 2009, my mom took the 6 boys to Lake Ella. It was getting dark like a storm was approaching and it was extremely windy. As they were sitting at a picnic table eating McDonalds “happy meals,” Joel (age 6) randomly exclaimed, “We need to pray!” My mom was slightly amused, but said okay and had all the boys close their eyes. Joel squinted his eyes very tightly and said, “God… Why are you angry? I want to play in the pool today. And please protect my sister on the airplane. Amen.” My mom thought that maybe he was joking around, but when she peeked her eyes open, she realized he was very intense and serious with his eyes squinting tightly shut.
When my mom told me this story, we all chuckled at how cute it was, and my first thought in my mind was to ask my mom if she told him that God wasn’t angry. But then I realized something. How did I know God wasn’t angry? If He was, why was he angry? That is a part of God’s heart we often shy away from. Why on earth would I tell this 6 year old warrior that God isn’t angry when I have no idea if He is or not. I refuse to influence his beliefs on the character of God. Many will be offended in the last days because they thought they knew who God/Jesus was… but this Jesus will come with fire in His eyes, pouring out His rage over His enemies. Rage—Judgment—Vengeance—Anger—Wrath. These are words that the society and culture I live in have taken away from the Christian dictionary describing God, and many will be offended.
But God does have anger. He is slow to anger. His anger does not last forever. But the anger of God can arise against a person, a nation, a group of people for different reasons – establishing high places worshiping idols, a lack of justice, disobedience, covetousness, complaining, and more.
God is merciful and quick to love, abounding in loving kindness. But He still has anger. It is up to us to be that intercessor, standing in the gap -- Pleading with the Living God to turn aside His anger over a nation or people or a person. We are called to cry out for mercy.
If I listed every verse I found discussing the anger of God, it would take at least 17 pages with size 12, Times New Roman font.
Ask yourself. Would you have been quick to tell Joel that God isn’t angry… that He only loves? Does this blog offend your mind and reveal your heart and your false mindsets? It makes me cringe even as I write it… I know I need to retrain my mindsets— to bring every thought captive into the obedience of Christ.
Num 32:13 NKJV - So the LORD's anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.
2Sa 6:7 NKJV - Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for [his] error; and he died there by the ark of God.
Neh 9:17 NKJV - They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You [are] God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
Isa 13:13 NKJV - Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.
Jer 3:12 NKJV - Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the LORD; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I [am] merciful,' says the LORD; 'I will not remain angry forever.
Zep 2:3 NKJV - Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger.
When my mom told me this story, we all chuckled at how cute it was, and my first thought in my mind was to ask my mom if she told him that God wasn’t angry. But then I realized something. How did I know God wasn’t angry? If He was, why was he angry? That is a part of God’s heart we often shy away from. Why on earth would I tell this 6 year old warrior that God isn’t angry when I have no idea if He is or not. I refuse to influence his beliefs on the character of God. Many will be offended in the last days because they thought they knew who God/Jesus was… but this Jesus will come with fire in His eyes, pouring out His rage over His enemies. Rage—Judgment—Vengeance—Anger—Wrath. These are words that the society and culture I live in have taken away from the Christian dictionary describing God, and many will be offended.
But God does have anger. He is slow to anger. His anger does not last forever. But the anger of God can arise against a person, a nation, a group of people for different reasons – establishing high places worshiping idols, a lack of justice, disobedience, covetousness, complaining, and more.
God is merciful and quick to love, abounding in loving kindness. But He still has anger. It is up to us to be that intercessor, standing in the gap -- Pleading with the Living God to turn aside His anger over a nation or people or a person. We are called to cry out for mercy.
If I listed every verse I found discussing the anger of God, it would take at least 17 pages with size 12, Times New Roman font.
Ask yourself. Would you have been quick to tell Joel that God isn’t angry… that He only loves? Does this blog offend your mind and reveal your heart and your false mindsets? It makes me cringe even as I write it… I know I need to retrain my mindsets— to bring every thought captive into the obedience of Christ.
Num 32:13 NKJV - So the LORD's anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.
2Sa 6:7 NKJV - Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for [his] error; and he died there by the ark of God.
Neh 9:17 NKJV - They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You [are] God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
Isa 13:13 NKJV - Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.
Jer 3:12 NKJV - Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the LORD; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I [am] merciful,' says the LORD; 'I will not remain angry forever.
Zep 2:3 NKJV - Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger.
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