Redeemer Church Mauritius
One of the least favourite things we like to think about is the anger of God. Yet, this is one of the words God uses to describes himself. God is slow to anger, meaning that he gives people many opportunities to repent and to change direction when they are pursuing their own agenda. Yet, he does not leave the guilty unpunished – everyone is still accountable for their own sin. How do we avoid the slow burning anger of God? We stand in the place where that anger has already been felt. We place ourselves at the cross where Jesus died. We believe that Jesus took our place and that we can experience the wonder of a relationship with God without fear – because Jesus has already been the object of God’s slow burning anger.
Exodus 34:6-7 NIV
1. The burning nose
The bible word we translate as anger literally means to have a burning nose which is a very graphic picture of what anger feels like.
2. Example 1: The desire for a king
Israel wanted a king like the other nations and eventually God gave them what they wanted.
1 Samuel 8:4–9 (NIV)
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
3. Example 2: The desire for idols
Israel worshipped all the gods of the surrounding nations and eventually God sent them into exile to worship there.
Isaiah 2:6–9 (NIV)
You, LORD, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs. Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So people will be brought low and everyone humbled— do not forgive them.
4. Slow to anger and Jesus
We wanted God out of our lives and chose death, so God abandoned Jesus and allowed him to die on the cross.
Matthew 27:45–46 (NIV)
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Matthew 27:48–50 (NIV)
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Remember:
He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:14 (NLT)