Topical Bible: Anger: Justifiable: Moses

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Moses, a central figure in the Old Testament, is often depicted as a leader who experienced moments of justifiable anger, particularly when confronted with the disobedience and rebellion of the Israelites. His anger is portrayed as a righteous response to the people's sin and a reflection of God's own displeasure.

The Golden Calf Incident

One of the most notable instances of Moses' justifiable anger occurs during the incident of the golden calf. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites grew impatient and fashioned a golden calf to worship. Upon descending the mountain and witnessing their idolatry, Moses' anger was kindled. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this moment in Exodus 32:19: "As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain." Moses' anger here is seen as justifiable because it mirrors God's own wrath against the idolatry of His people.

The Rebellion of Korah

Another instance of Moses' justifiable anger is found in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, as described in Numbers 16. These men challenged Moses' leadership and questioned his authority, leading to a direct confrontation. In response, Moses fell facedown and prayed, demonstrating his reliance on God. When God instructed Moses to separate the congregation from the rebels, Moses' anger was evident as he declared God's impending judgment. Numbers 16:15 states, "Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, 'Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.'" Moses' anger was justified as it was directed against those who defied God's appointed leadership and sought to sow discord among the people.

Striking the Rock at Meribah

While Moses' anger is often justified, there is a significant moment where his anger led to disobedience. At Meribah, when the Israelites quarreled for water, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. Instead, Moses struck the rock twice in anger. Numbers 20:10-11 records, "Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, 'Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink." Although the water flowed, God later reprimanded Moses for not upholding His holiness, demonstrating that even justifiable anger must be tempered with obedience to God's commands.

Moses' Intercession for Israel

Despite moments of anger, Moses frequently interceded for the Israelites, pleading for God's mercy on their behalf. His anger was not rooted in personal vendetta but in a deep concern for God's honor and the spiritual well-being of the people. In Exodus 32:11-14, after the golden calf incident, Moses implored God to relent from His wrath and spare the Israelites, highlighting his role as a mediator who balanced righteous anger with compassion and intercession.

Moses' life exemplifies the complexity of righteous anger, demonstrating that while anger can be a legitimate response to sin and rebellion, it must always align with God's will and purpose.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 11:8
And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, Get you out, and all the people that follow you: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
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Exodus 32:19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.
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Leviticus 10:16
And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,
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Numbers 16:15
And Moses was very wroth, and said to the LORD, Respect not you their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
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Library

Chapter xl
... v.1 said "they sinned," v.2 very likely speaks of a justifiable anger on Pharaoh's ...
of the artificial problem created by criticism is just this: Moses wrote of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xl.htm

Homiletical.
... So Moses, meekest of men, armed the hands of the Levites for ... The wrath of Phinehas
was justifiable. ... Thus, anger very often is made the minister of good deeds.". ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/iv homiletical.htm

Aaron, his Office no Palliation of his Sin, 61.
... Anger, ill effects of in a priest, [13]51. ... Deceit, when justifiable, [106]37,
[107]38. ... Moses, held responsible though he had deprecated his office, [271]61 ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/aaron his office no palliation.htm

The First Book
... against my servant Moses?" And the anger of the ... is written: "The Lord spake unto
Moses and unto ... distort Scripture for his purpose, perhaps justifiable in this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the first book.htm

The Sermon on the Mount
... institutions that had been committed to them through Moses. ... there is an indignation
that is justifiable, even in ... Such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 31 the sermon on.htm

Rom. vii. 14
... for it to receive concupiscence, and anger, and pain ... punishments that took place
before would not be justifiable. ... nature, and that the Law of Moses praises it ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xiii rom vii 14.htm

Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects.
... Anger, darkens the mind's eye, [348]490. Angry, in what sense God is said
to be, [349]248, [350]527. Anima, animus, mens, [351]475. ...
/.../on care to be had for the dead /doctrinal and moral treatises index.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... the Word, and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and He is gone; I
tempted the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and He ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm