Topical Bible: The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Israelites

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The anger of God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often depicted as a divine response to human sin and disobedience. Among the most notable examples of God's anger is His response to the Israelites, His chosen people, who frequently strayed from His commandments and covenant. This entry explores key instances where God's anger was exemplified against the Israelites, as recorded in the Scriptures.

The Golden Calf Incident

One of the earliest and most significant demonstrations of God's anger against the Israelites occurred during their exodus from Egypt. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the Israelites grew impatient and fashioned a golden calf to worship. This act of idolatry provoked God's wrath. In Exodus 32:10 , God expresses His anger, saying, "Now leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation." Moses interceded on behalf of the people, and God relented from bringing total destruction, but the incident resulted in severe consequences, including the death of many Israelites.

Rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea

Another significant instance of God's anger is found in the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, where the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land due to fear and lack of faith. In Numbers 14:11-12 , the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them with a plague and destroy them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they." Again, Moses interceded, and while God pardoned the people, He decreed that the entire generation would perish in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb.

The Incident of Korah's Rebellion

Korah's rebellion against Moses and Aaron is another example of God's anger against the Israelites. In Numbers 16, Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 other leaders, challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. God's anger was kindled, and He instructed Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the assembly so that He might consume them. In Numbers 16:21 , God said, "Separate yourselves from this assembly so that I may consume them in an instant." The earth opened and swallowed the rebels, and fire consumed the 250 men offering incense.

The Plague of Fiery Serpents

In Numbers 21, the Israelites spoke against God and Moses, complaining about their hardships in the wilderness. In response, God sent fiery serpents among the people, and many Israelites died. Numbers 21:6 states, "So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died." This act of divine judgment led the people to repent and seek Moses' intercession, resulting in God providing a means of healing through the bronze serpent.

The Babylonian Exile

The ultimate expression of God's anger against the Israelites is seen in the Babylonian Exile. Due to persistent idolatry, injustice, and failure to heed the warnings of the prophets, God allowed the Babylonian Empire to conquer Judah and destroy Jerusalem. In 2 Kings 24:20 , it is written, "For because of the anger of the LORD, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence." The exile served as a profound judgment and a call to repentance and renewal of the covenant relationship with God.

Throughout these instances, the anger of God against the Israelites serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of obedience and faithfulness to God's commands.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 32:35
And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
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Numbers 11:1,33
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
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Numbers 14:40-45
And they rose up early in the morning, and got them up into the top of the mountain, saying, See, we be here, and will go up to the place which the LORD has promised: for we have sinned.
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Numbers 21:6
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
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Numbers 25:9
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
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2 Samuel 24:1,15
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
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Library

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... exerts upon the wicked was strikingly exemplified in the ... Another equally striking
illustration of God directing the ... O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God ...
... We know how David, through the just anger of God ... to overlook the glorious perfections
which God displays in ... The former is exemplified when we consider how great ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 14 in the creation.htm

Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians.
... of being through ambition contentious against heretics, [81]7 ... and watchfulness,
[483]169; exemplified in the ... 531]106; especially provokes God's anger"like the ...
/.../homilies on galatians and ephesians.htm

The Introduction to the Work, with Some Account of the Nature of ...
... by sensible objects, and guarded against a treacherous ... Heavenly contemplation will
be exemplified, chap.16, and the ... God's "anger endureth but a moment; in his ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter i the introduction to.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... parents, and this more from the implacable anger than the ... not in accordance with
the justice of God that a ... and that nothing of the kind was exemplified in what ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

Life in India.
... this consideration quell the tumult of anger and impatience ... With Thee, O my God,
is no disappointment ... conduct which he himself so eminently exemplified; yet, he ...
/.../rhea/life of henry martyn missionary to india and persia/life in india.htm

Of Civil Government.
... they are enjoined not to provoke to anger, and by ... duty, this ought especially to
be exemplified in the ... men, but, by raising his horn against God, had virtually ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... its cure, [1056]316; the fear of God best quenches it ... than love of money, [1061]389;
or anger, [1062]389 ... therefore excusable but to be watched against, [1064]389 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

part ii
... look upon the images of God's saints, believe ... without falling into despondency, without
anger, meekly and ... existence and most malicious snares against men prove ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... Some of them, perceiving that God had mercy upon me ... He pointedly exemplified the
character set forth by James ... striving to harden his heart against God, many were ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm