The concept of the anger of God is a significant theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His righteous response to sin and disobedience. While God's anger is a demonstration of His holiness and justice, it is also something to be deprecated, or avoided, by His people. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings that underscore the importance of living in a manner that does not provoke the divine wrath.

Biblical Instances of God's Anger

1. The Flood: One of the earliest and most profound examples of God's anger is found in the account of the Great Flood. Humanity's wickedness had become so great that "every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). In response, God expressed His regret for creating mankind and decided to cleanse the earth with a flood, sparing only Noah and his family (Genesis 6:7-8).

2. The Golden Calf: In Exodus 32, the Israelites' idolatry with the golden calf provoked God's anger. Despite having witnessed His mighty acts in Egypt, the people quickly turned to idol worship. God's wrath burned against them, and He threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded on their behalf (Exodus 32:10-14).

3. The Wilderness Wanderings: Throughout the Israelites' journey in the wilderness, God's anger was kindled multiple times due to their rebellion and lack of faith. Numbers 14:11-12 records God's frustration with their persistent unbelief, leading to the decree that the generation that left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land.

4. The Exile: The persistent disobedience and idolatry of Israel and Judah eventually led to God's anger manifesting in the form of exile. The prophets repeatedly warned the people of the impending judgment, yet they continued in their ways. As a result, both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were conquered and taken into captivity (2 Kings 17:18-20; 2 Chronicles 36:16-17).

Teachings on Avoiding God's Anger

1. Obedience and Faithfulness: The Bible consistently calls for obedience to God's commandments as a means to avoid His anger. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 presents a clear choice between blessing and curse, contingent upon obedience to God's laws.

2. Repentance: Repentance is a key theme in averting God's wrath. The account of Nineveh in the book of Jonah illustrates how genuine repentance can turn away divine anger. When the people of Nineveh repented, God relented from the disaster He had threatened (Jonah 3:10).

3. Intercession: The role of intercession is highlighted in several instances where God's anger is averted. Moses' intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14) and Abraham's plea for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32) demonstrate the power of righteous intercession in staying God's hand of judgment.

4. Righteous Living: Proverbs 15:1 teaches that "a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Living righteously and cultivating virtues such as humility, patience, and love are essential in maintaining a relationship with God that is free from His anger.

The New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the anger of God is still present but is often viewed through the lens of Christ's redemptive work. Romans 1:18 speaks of God's wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, yet the provision of salvation through Jesus Christ offers a means of escape. Believers are encouraged to live by the Spirit, producing the fruit of righteousness, and thus avoid the wrath to come (Galatians 5:16-25; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

The anger of God, while a sobering reality, serves as a call to holiness and a reminder of the seriousness of sin. Through obedience, repentance, intercession, and righteous living, believers are called to deprecate the anger of God and live in the light of His grace and mercy.Exodus 32:11
And Moses sought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why does your wrath wax hot against your people, which you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 6:1
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 38:1
O lord, rebuke me not in your wrath: neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 74:1,2
O God, why have you cast us off for ever? why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 64:9
Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech you, we are all your people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Aaron, his Office no Palliation of his Sin, 61.
... Ahab, God's mercy in dealing with, [9]95. ... Anger, ill effects of in a priest,
[13]51. ... Applause in church deprecated by Chrysostom, [16]223. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/aaron his office no palliation.htm

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians the Creator the Father of ...
... [5686] How ready to forgive Ahab, the husband of Jezebel, the blood of Naboth, when
he deprecated His anger. ... [5689] Now, if Marcion's god has exhibited or ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xi the second epistle to.htm

How Christ Performed the Office of Redeemer in Procuring Our ...
... say, that he bore the weight of the divine anger, that, smitten ... aright how much our
salvation cost the Son of God. ... to hell at the time when he deprecated death ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 16 how christ performed.htm

1 Cor. xvi. 10
... store for him, and when thou hast again and again deprecated and besought ... the bad
opinion of the hearer, and will provoke God to more anger against himself. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xliv 1 cor xvi.htm

Ephesians iv. 3-Jan
... as deeming the thing a matter to be deprecated; no; for ... he will be possessed by his
anger, and ruin ... not forbearing to thy neighbor, how shall God be forbearing ...
/.../homily ix ephesians iv 3-jan.htm

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome.
... Anger must not master the soul, when it punishes a ... We attain to a perfect stature
in God, when we ... Gregory always deprecated the externalizing and isolating of ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/gregory the great bishop of.htm

Acts v. 17, 18
... which is really a thing to be deprecated, cannot be ... I do not mean to commend this;
God forbid! ... with evils; folly, vainglory, numberless lusts, anger and passion ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xiii acts v 17.htm

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... that they had been committed to his hands by God. ... bonds, and thou wilt straightway
stay thine anger; remember that ... think this a thing to be deprecated, but one ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

On the Soul and the Resurrection.
... When she made this request, and I had deprecated the suspicion ... taken from us, how
shall we be united to God? If anger is to be extinguished, what arms shall we ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the soul and the 2.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... of the latter kind they always most earnestly deprecated. ... more careful in their desires
to appease God, and anxiously ... evidence of his mercy than of his anger. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

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