Topical Bible: Disobedience to God: Provokes his Anger

Bible > Topical > Disobedience to God

◄ Disobedience to God: Provokes his Anger ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Disobedience to God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, illustrating the consequences of turning away from His commandments and the resulting provocation of His righteous anger. The Bible consistently portrays God as holy and just, and disobedience is seen as a direct affront to His divine authority and holiness.

Old Testament Instances

In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently disobeyed God, leading to His anger and subsequent judgment. One of the most notable examples is found in the account of the golden calf in Exodus 32. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the Israelites crafted an idol and worshiped it. God's anger was kindled against them, and He declared to Moses, "Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them" (Exodus 32:10). This incident underscores the seriousness of idolatry and disobedience.

Another significant example is King Saul's disobedience in 1 Samuel 15. God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed. However, Saul spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. As a result, God expressed His regret for making Saul king, saying, "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions" (1 Samuel 15:11). Saul's disobedience led to the loss of his kingdom.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned Israel and Judah about the consequences of disobedience. In Jeremiah 25:4-7, God sent His prophets to warn the people, but they did not listen. "Yet you have not listened to Me," declares the LORD, "so that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own harm" (Jeremiah 25:7). The people's persistent disobedience ultimately led to the Babylonian exile.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, disobedience continues to be addressed, with an emphasis on the spiritual consequences. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, speaks of God's wrath against those who suppress the truth through unrighteousness. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18). This passage highlights the universal nature of God's anger towards disobedience, not limited to a specific people or time.

The author of Hebrews warns believers about the dangers of disobedience by referencing the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15). This serves as a caution to remain faithful and obedient to God's voice.

The Nature of God's Anger

God's anger is not capricious or unjust; it is a response to sin and disobedience. It reflects His holiness and justice. In Nahum 1:3, it is written, "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished" . This verse emphasizes that while God is patient, His justice will ultimately prevail.

Call to Obedience

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent call to obedience as a means of avoiding God's anger and receiving His blessings. In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, God sets before the Israelites a blessing and a curse: "A blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God" . Obedience is portrayed as the path to life and prosperity.

In summary, disobedience to God provokes His anger, as seen throughout the biblical narrative. The Bible calls believers to heed God's commandments, recognizing His authority and holiness, and to live in a manner that honors Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 78:10,40
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 3:8
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
... what we have written throughout this book provokes, in some ... Greek word as in
1:Thess.5:9) unto disobedience. ... says, "How awful doth the majesty of God appear in ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter five the sovereignty of.htm

Matt. xii. 9, 10
... saith, "Having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your ... vote him out
of his office? ... done, he is even profited; for nothing so provokes God, as for ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xl matt xii 9.htm

A Divine Colloquy Between the Soul and Her Saviour Upon the ...
... The wantonness of my flesh provokes thee to wrath, O ... My disobedience hath deserved
a great revenge, but his ... what can man deserve to suffer, which God, made man ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/a divine colloquy between the.htm

The Fifth Commandment
... can you expect should grow up but weeds of disobedience. ... Would you have God bless
your children, and do you ... defraud or take a false oath, it provokes the child ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 5 the fifth commandment.htm

Ephesians ii. 3-Jan
... by persuasion, he wins us over; "disobedience" or "untractableness ... is "prepared for
the devil and his angels?" (Matthew ... Because nothing so provokes God to wrath ...
/.../homily iv ephesians ii 3-jan.htm

Earnest Expostulation
... And what think you of the sin which provokes God? ... This adds an excessive venom to
man's disobedience. ... is committed in the sight of God, from whose eyes nothing ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/earnest expostulation.htm

The Beloved Pastor's Plea for Unity
... look on him without abhorrence, for he provokes the Lord ... them to have the nature
of the children of God? ... were heirs of wrath, children of disobedience, even as ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the beloved pastors plea for.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE. ... takes pleasure in the preservation of
his own ordinance ... way of contempt, ingratitude, or disobedience, is forbidden ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

Rom. xi. 7
... nor those to be elated, but he also provokes them to ... giveth men the name of children
of God, and so ... of the devil, and so too children of disobedience, of hell ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xix rom xi 7.htm

Summa Theologica
... Whether one angel knows another? Whether an angle knows God by his own natural
principles? ... Whether the first man saw God through His Essence? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/