Topical Bible: Anger: Sinful: Moses

◄ Anger: Sinful: Moses ►

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Moses, a central figure in the Old Testament, is often remembered for his leadership and faithfulness to God. However, his life also provides a poignant example of how anger, when not controlled, can lead to sinful actions and significant consequences.

Instances of Sinful Anger:

1. Murder of the Egyptian: One of the earliest recorded instances of Moses' anger is found in Exodus 2:11-12. Witnessing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses' anger flared, leading him to kill the Egyptian and hide his body in the sand. This act of violence, driven by anger, forced Moses to flee to Midian, altering the course of his life. The Berean Standard Bible recounts, "After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand" (Exodus 2:12).

2. Striking the Rock at Meribah: Perhaps the most significant instance of Moses' sinful anger occurred at Meribah. In Numbers 20:7-12, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the Israelites. However, frustrated with the people's constant complaints, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff. The BSB states, "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" (Numbers 20:11). This act of disobedience, fueled by anger, resulted in God forbidding Moses from entering the Promised Land.

Consequences of Sinful Anger:

Moses' anger had profound consequences, both personally and for the people he led. His initial act of murder led to years of exile, while his disobedience at Meribah prevented him from completing his mission of leading the Israelites into Canaan. These events underscore the destructive potential of unchecked anger, even in the life of a man chosen by God for a great purpose.

Lessons from Moses' Anger:

Moses' experiences serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing anger to dictate actions. Despite his close relationship with God and his role as a leader, Moses' moments of anger led to sin and significant repercussions. His life illustrates the importance of self-control and obedience to God's commands, highlighting the need for reliance on God's strength to overcome human weaknesses.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 20:10,11
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Waters of Meribah
... That burst of anger is a grave symptom of lessened love for the sinful murmurers;
and lessened love always means ... The people are not changed, but Moses is. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the waters of meribah.htm

Moses the Type of Christ.
... the infinite difference between the best of a sinful race and ... Moses was the meekest
of men, yet it was for ... is meritorious, who has removed from us God's anger. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon ix moses the type.htm

The Faith of Moses.
... a help to him to overcome the sinful temptations of ... The self-confidence of Moses
has been fully subdued. ... Not until the anger of the Lord is kindled against him ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

The Duty of Self-Denial.
... to be; he will exceed the right limit, his anger will degenerate ... mind; but he is
the greatest of a sinful race who ... or Moses, who gave the Law, and died in the ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon vii the duty of.htm

Psalm XCIX.
... That perhaps the early life of Moses was sinful; for he ... But He punished them not
in anger, but in mercy: He punished them that He might perfect what He had ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcix.htm

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
... of the altar, that God spake to Moses: 'Thou shalt ... at once followed by the awakening
of sinful lust and of ... is called temper, with its fruits of anger and strife ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-fourth day holiness and cleansing.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... the sophistries of unbelief, the seductions of sinful pleasure. ... in the Book of
Deuteronomy, in which Moses sets good ... not spare him, but then the anger of the ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Psalm XC.
... which He has fixed a limit to the sinful life of ... Moses seems to be reciting it:
"Their years shall be ... that is, Thou hast not dissembled Thine anger: "and our ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xc.htm

The King's Farewell
... in honour of Moses, would have killed Moses in honour ... to hear Jesus hurling such
names at even the most sinful. ... is nothing so terrible as the anger of gentle ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the kings farewell.htm

The Plagues of Egypt
... And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Say unto Aaron, Stretch ... merciful anger, a useful anger,
an anger exercised for ... Lord Jehovah stooping to die for sinful man, and ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon x the plagues of.htm