When God Is Angry: What the Bible Says About God's Anger

When speaking about God's anger, we as human beings may not be able to fully understand it. In modern thought, God's anger is often used as a reason for people to discredit God. Verses like Joshua 11:11 are used to portray God as committing genocide. Why did God have to destroy the whole earth with the flood in Noah's time? Why did Ananias and Sapphira die so tragically? If God is love, why can He be so angry?

On a more personal level, we may often think that God is angry with us. When we are sick, our prayers are not answered, or we face the consequences of sin, it all feels like punishment. Regardless of whether our understanding of God's anger is accurate or not, there are indeed times when God is angry. Jesus was angry too. But how should we view God's anger?

God Is Angry Because He Loves Us

One day, I was driving and my five-year-old son was sitting beside me. Because I was focused on the road, I did not realize that he was holding a pair of scissors. I have no idea who left those sharp scissors in the car. Actually, my son was already quite skilled at using scissors. But perhaps out of curiosity or the playfulness of a five-year-old, he put the scissors into his mouth as if he were about to cut his cheek.

When I glanced over, I was shocked but tried to stay calm. Without stopping the car, I slowly pulled the scissors out of his mouth. But once the scissors were out of his mouth, I scolded him quite harshly. My anger startled my son. Inside, all kinds of feelings were swirling. Relief, worry, fear, and above all: anger. I thought, what if I had braked or driven over a speed bump? My son was in danger!

Perhaps the way I got angry cannot be justified. But that anger came from my love for my son. The last thing I ever want to see is him hurt and harmed. When I got quite angry, only one thing was on my mind: I did not want him to do it again!

God's anger comes from His love (Hebrews 12:5-7). He is not angry as a dictator. He is angry as a parent who wants the best for His beloved children. As we look at some of the things that stir God's anger, we will become even more aware of His love for us. Here are some things that make God angry:

1. God Is Angry Because of Sin

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

Imagine something standing between you and the one you love. You cannot be united with that person because of that barrier. I once watched a documentary about parents whose child was addicted to illegal drugs. The child they had loved since childhood changed completely. His future was destroyed. So many times their child wanted to recover and break free from drugs. But just as often he fell back again and was trapped under the influence of illegal drugs. For those parents, drugs separated them from their child. They were deeply angry and hated those drugs.

For God, that barrier is sin (Isaiah 59:2). God hates sin because He is holy. He sets a high standard for us because He knows that we can live holy lives. Did He not create us in His image? Psalm 7:11 says that God is angry “every day.”  Yet, Romans 1:18 above assures us that He is angry at human sin and evil, not at the people themselves. Like the parents in the story above, they hated drugs because they loved their child. God hates sin, not the sinner. He loves us. How do we respond to this?

2. God Is Angry Because of Disobedience

God declared to the people of Israel that the way of life He gave would result in a good life (Deuteronomy 10:13). Like a wise parent, He wanted the people of Israel to obey His decrees because He desired a life full of love, joy, and peace for them (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But if they disobeyed, they would receive punishment and curses (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

When I read the verses above, I am reminded of how I warn my children. “Little one, don't touch this electrical outlet, okay? You could get electrocuted and hurt. If you don't obey, mommy and daddy will have to discipline you.” God wants us to obey because He knows what is best for us. He is angry as a parent who wants to protect the people He loves from danger.

3. God Is Angry Because He Is Jealous

In marriage, a husband and wife promise to be faithful to one another. Then, if one of them turns to someone else, is it possible for the other spouse not to be jealous? If that spouse loves them, surely they will be jealous!

The Bible is not at all ashamed to state clearly that God is a jealous God. He is jealous because He loves us, and He is jealous because He knows that He alone is God. He does not want us to worship something that does not exist or that is a manifestation of demons (1 Corinthians 10:20).

“Therefore the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.” (1 Kings 11:9) Imagine how God felt when Solomon turned away from Him!

Today we may not worship gods or other deities. But without realizing it, do we worship something other than God in our lives? Perhaps we love our work too much. Perhaps we are chasing financial success too hard? Or perhaps there is someone we idolize too much? God does not want us to spend our time on all those things because He knows that He alone is the very best for us!

The Forgiving God

“But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15)

God's anger is righteous anger. Unlike human anger, which is often colored by our sinful nature, He is angry as a loving and powerful Father. Yet, like in the story of the prodigal son, He is also a Father who forgives generously. Who forgets all our transgressions and lavishes us with new opportunities.

The Word in 1 John 1:9 states it very clearly, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we come to Him and ask for forgiveness, He does not forgive only some of our sins. But all of them!

However, we must not misunderstand God's anger and the natural consequences of sin. When we sin, there are consequences we must bear. A thief must serve his sentence behind bars. A person who engages in casual sex may not be able to escape the consequences of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. But God does not hate people who sin. The one thing He desires is for us to repent and return to Him. -