The Anger Of The Lord

THE ANGER OF THE LORD

By John C. Carpenter

In the book of Exodus, Moses wrote, And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I a not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs (Exodus 4:1-17).

In verse 14, the word kindled is translated from the Greek word charah, which means to glow or grow warm, to blaze up, have anger, be displeased, grieve, be hot or incensed, or to be wroth. God's anger at Moses was hot, extreme, and incensed wrath and displeasure with possible feelings of antagonism towards Moses. Wow! Talk about getting into trouble! Moses was, as we might say, in over his head with the Lord. We can ask, though, if God was that angry with Moses, can and does God get that angry with us? What do the scriptures say?

GOD HAS MANY EMOTIONS

The holy scriptures clearly teach us that God has many emotions, including anger. First of all, the scriptures make it clear that God is a jealous God. Paul wrote the church in Corinth, Would to God ye could bear with me a little my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-2). There is such a thing as a Godly jealousy. God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14), and the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24).

God not only is love, but He experiences the emotion of loving. Most of us are very familiar with the classic verse about God's loving nature described by the apostle John: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The apostle Paul wrote the church in Rome, God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). To the church in Ephesus, Paul also wrote, God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4-5).

God also feels and expresses the emotion of joy. For example, the prophet Zephaniah wrote, The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing (Zephaniah 3:17), while the prophet Isaiah says, For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee (Isaiah 62:5). God's great joy is also found in Jeremiah 32:41 and Psalms 37:13. Jesus also responded to Judas, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:10-11).

God is also a God of compassion. In his psalm of praise, David said, The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy (Psalms 145:8). We also learn from the psalmist, Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psalms 103:13-14).

Because He is God, and functions according to His own will, He can and does periodically repent, or change His mind or thinking. The psalmist teaches us, Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants (Psalms 135:13-14). The LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left (Deuteronomy 32:36). The prophet Jeremiah exhorts us, If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them (Jeremiah 18:8).

Periodically, God does also experience the emotion of grief. Because of the corruption He saw on earth, God was greatly grieved: GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them (Genesis 6:5-7). The psalmist also teaches us, How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! (Psalms 78:40).

Although surprising to we humans, the scriptures also teach that God can hate. We read, These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness tat speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth (Psalms 11:5).

The scriptures also teach us that God experiences grief and sorrow. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:36-39). In Genesis, we read, And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart (Genesis 6:5-6).

God also has the capacity to be greatly moved in His spirit. Just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, we are told, Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned [Greek, embrimaomai, to snort with anger, to blame, have indignation on, to sigh with chagrin, or murmer against] in the spirit, and was troubled [Greek, tarasso, to be stirred or agitated] (John 11:30-33). At the death of Lazarus, Jesus clearly felt anger to the point of agitation. As we have also noted, God is capable of many emotional responses to the issues of life.

GOD'S ANGER AND WRATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Without a doubt, God experiences and displays numerous emotions; but we should ask, does God ever get angry to the point of vengeance and destruction? Yes, the God of heaven does get angry and full of wrath. In the old testament, the psalmist, David, tells us, God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors (Psalms 7:11-13). Apparently, God gets angry every day with selected individuals.

In Deuteronomy, God became very angry with Israel for its idolatry. Speaking to Israel, Moses referenced the anger and wrath of the Lord: I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also. And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time (Deuteronomy 9:19-20); And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked [Hebrew, qatsaph, to crack off, burst out in rare, extreme displeasure, or become wroth] the LORD to wrath (Deuteronomy 9:22).

While in the wilderness, Israel murmered against the manna God was providing for them: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased (Numbers 11:6-10).

Again, God was angered by the whoredom of Israel: And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger [Hebrew, aph, to breathe hard, become enraged, angry, forbearing, or experience suffering] of the LORD was kindled against Israel (Numbers 25:1-3).

Again, referring to the nation of Israel regarding their rebellion and idolatry, God reacted, through Ezekiel, Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 22:31).

GOD'S ANGER AND WRATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

God's anger is evident in the new testament as well. Connecting God's wrath with man's unrighteousness, the apostle Paul wrote the church in Rome, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:16-20). Does God get angry and, so to speak, hot under the collar to the point of wanting to hurt or destroy? According to the teaching of the scriptures, you bet He does.

Paul continues, Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:1-5). Even under the new covenant, God the Father can and does become angry.

SOME REASONS WHY GOD BECOMES ANGRY

At times, and for varying reasons, God does become angry with mankind. What are some of the reasons for His anger? First, idolatry and false worship cause Him to become angry. In 1 Kings and a prophecy against Jeroboam, we read, But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone (1 Kings 14:9-10). In Exodus, chapter 22, after Israel pressured Aaron into making the golden calf, the anger of the Lord waxed hot.

Injustice and oppression also anger the Lord: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). See Psalm 82, which also connects injustice and oppression with God's anger.

God is also angered by pride and self exaltation. He especially hates A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17). Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished (Proverbs 16:5).

Hard heartedness, stubborness, and rebellion also anger God to wrath. Through the psalmist, God warned Isreal, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest (Psalms 95:8-11). For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king (1 Samuel 15:23). The apostle Paul adds,after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds (Romans 2:5-6).

God also hates and is angered by hypocrisy and false religion: Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves [Greek, lestes, to plunder, a gang member who ambushes and robs people, or robber] (Matthew 21:12-13). God rejects offerings made without heartfelt repentance and justice (Isaiah 1:11-17), God criticizes religious leaders for their hypocrisy and emptiness (Mat 23:27-28), and in Mat 24:1-51, God warns about false prophets and false religions.

God also hates pride (Isaiah 13:11-13), the sowing of discord (Pro 6:19), and complaining (Psa 78:30-31, Num 11:1-3).

God is angered by those who mistrust Him. In Numbers 32:11-13, we read, when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them (Numbers 11:1-3).

In Deuteronomy 7:1-6, it is apparent that God also became angry with Israel when they allowed other nations to influence Israel to depart from their God and follow other gods. God is also angered by those who help the wicked (2 Chron 18 – 19:2), and when those who claim to be His forsake Him (2 Kings 22:17).

Unbelief in His Son also angers the Lord. John teaches us, The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:35-36).

God responds with anger at His adversaries: God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet (Nahum 1:2-3). God reserves vengeance and wrath for His enemies.

God also hates stiffnecked rebellion. God said to Israel,Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD (Deuteronomy 9:6-7). Surely, Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry... (1 Samuel 15:23). Referring to Israel, God also said to Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked [declining and grievous] people (Exodus 32:9).

God of heaven also hates it when we humans put Him to the test (Num 13:32-14:4), when we are filled with unbelief (Num 14:27-35), and when we submit to false gods (Num 25:1-11.

God also hates and is angered when we betray Him. In Judges, we read, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies (Judges 2:11-14).

When we display a lack of reverence and respect to the Lord, this also angers Him: David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error [negligence, fault]; and there he died by the ark of God (2 Samuel 6:5-7).

Injustice and crime also anger God the Father (2 Sam 12:1-14), as do disobedience (1King 11:9-10, 2 King 17:13-18).

God is angered with those who engage in wicked practices. God hates wickedness, and will recompense those things with anger and punishment. In John we read, And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables (John 2:13-15), and in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul also reminds us, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:16-18). Clearly, ungodliness and unrighteousness result in God's hot, fierce anger.

In His anger, God shall eventually and rightfully judge the nations. At His appointed time, the Lord instructs us thatout of his mouth goeth a sharp sword [the Holy Spirit], that with it he should smite [to knock fatally] the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Revelation 19:15). God's final judgment shall involve fierceness and wrath, and He shall smite the nations.

Last that we will mention, rejecting His convenants also anger God. Moses wrote, Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them: And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book (Deuteronomy 29:25-27).

GOD CAN AND DOES PERIODICALLY REPENT OF HIS ANGER

As we have learned from the scriptures, God not only has many emotions, but can and does, at various times and for various reasons, become angry. Fortunately, though, the scriptures also teach us that God does now and then repent [change His mind and respond differently] of His anger and wrath, according to His own will and purposes. We must also never forget that the Lord is patient, loving, forgiving, righteous, just, and longsuffering.

The book of 2 Chronicles may have been written by Ezra, a priest and scribe, but the exact author is not known for sure. In 2 Chronicles, we find a solid example of God's changing His mind. The text reads, Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak (2 Chronicles 12:6-7). When Israel humbled themselves, God repented of His intentions and vowed not to destroy them, but grant them deliverance. God's righteousness was seen, and His wrath was not poured out upon Jerusalem.

In Exodus, we read where God regretted the grief, trouble, and wickedness He had planned for the nation of Israel: And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented [Hebrew, nacham, to breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, comfort, ease one's self or regret] of the evil [Hebrew, raah, bad, natural or moral evil, affliction, calamity, distress, grief, hurt, trouble, wickedness, or wretchedness].which he thought to do unto his people (Exodus 32:9-14).

Regarding Israel's lack of faith and trust in God, we read, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath (Psalms 78:31-38).

The King of Nineveh wondered, Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not (Jonah 3:9-10).

In his blessing of the Lord, the psalmist, David, glorified the Lord with these words: The LORDexecuteth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever (Psalms 103:6-9).

Another example of God's repentance is found in 1 Samuel: Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night (1 Samuel 15:10-11), and, as is mentioned, in Jeremiah, God promises, If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it (Jeremiah 18:8-:9). God changed His mind regarding the evil He thought to do.

TO AVOID GOD'S ANGER, DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT

Clearly, as we have seen, God can become angry with us; but, as we also see, He can and does periodically repent of His anger and wrath. If we have any common sense, we should prioritize our behavior by doing those things that please Him and draw Him to us - not anger Him and alienate Him from us. Let us look at a few of those things that please the Lord.

Number one, if we want to please God, we should humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of the Lord, and turn from our wicked way. Ezra teaches us, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Two, in order to avoid God's wrath, although it sounds harsh, believers should be willing to deal harshly with those who trouble the church with sin (Joshua 7:24-26). Despite the fact that we acknowlege that we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), Jesus, Himself, teaches us, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican (Matthew 18:15-17). Sadly, as most of us know, for the most part the church is failing in disciplining those who trouble the church.

Three, in order to please God, believers must be willing to confess our sinfulness. John reminds us, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:6-9).

Four, to avoid God's wrath, unbelievers must acknowledge and confess that Christ died for our sins, and through Him we have forgiveness and salvation. In short, unbelievers must understand, accept, and have faith in Christ and the gospel message to avoid God's wrath and receive eternal life.

The scripures teach us that God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), and delivered us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Indeed, through Christ, we have redemption through his blood [death], the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7). Isaiah summarizes, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed [restored to God the Father]. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Five, in order to please God, we should acknowledge that God is merciful and will not stay angry witih us forever. David reminds us, The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever (Psalms 103:8-9). He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him (Psalms 103:10-11).

Six, forgiving sin is also pleasing to God the Father. Jesus specifically taught For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). We should be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Again, Paul reminds us, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also so ye (Colossians 3:12-13).

Seven, what is also highly pleasing to God the Father is humility. James tells us, Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:9-10). Paul wrote the saints in Philippi, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:3-8), while Peter tells us,all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Regarding humility, look what God requires of us: O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8). Even Jesus was so obedient to His heavenly Father that He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Oh, that we might walk humbly before our God.

Eight, God also desires our obedience, and is well pleased when we are obedient to Him. For example, Jesus taught, If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15), whereas in Isaiah, we read, If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it (Isaiah 1:19-20). As Israel was, we are commanded to love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always (Deuteronomy 11:1), and the apostle reminds us, and as Jesus taught, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love (John 15:10).

Nine, in order to please God and avoid His anger and wrath, we must have faith and trust in the Lord. Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). As Paul expressed, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Ten, having love and compassion for others is pleasing to God the Father. Jesus taught Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40), and regarding compassion, the apostle Paul taught, be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Peter also taught, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, becourteous (1 Peter 3:8).

Eleven, God is pleased when the believer strives to live a holy and sacrificial life. Paul wrote the church in Rome, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2). The believer in Christ is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). Peter also exhorts us, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). God demands our behavioral obedience and holiness.

In conclusion, we can accept the fact that although God may become angry with us from time to time, we must also never forget who God is; that The LORD God, [is] merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation (Exodus 34:6-7). Nevertheless, the apostle John teaches a simple and wise truth: we should still strive to keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22). AMEN.

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD

A Judeo-Christian Bible Study

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”

(Galatians 6:7-10).

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart

from evil"

(Proverbs 3:5-7).

“A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday”

(Psalms 37:1-6).

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