By Staff
Anger is our response to hurt and disappointment. Anger can be expressed by fits of rage, by a low seething, vengeful spirit, by "checking out" in apathy, or by an inward shutting down called depression. However anger is expressed, it is disabling to us and harmful to others.
People are always anger's first stop but, ultimately, we conclude that whatever happened is God's fault because He could have protected us and prevented whatever happened. Anger never accomplishes much whether it is against people or God, but we persist.
Mercy is the tool of change. First of all, it changes us, and through our heart change, the object of our anger will be blessed by us rather than blasted.
God gets angry (Numbers 11:1, 10) and that's okay. He is God. His anger is a result of Him giving us choices, the freedom to make choices, and our resulting wrong choices.
God's anger can be quickly turned. Time after time in dealing with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, Moses would intercede for the people, God's anger would subside, and mercy would ensue.
A classic example of God's anger overwhelmed by mercy is His dealing with the city of Nineveh in the Old Testament book of Jonah. Nineveh was a wicked city. The people were enemies of Israel. God selected a prophet named Jonah (Jonah 1:1-2) and dispatched him with the message of judgment. Jonah knew God well. Jonah disliked the people of Nineveh and knew the message of impending doom might turn their hearts to God. Jonah ran away from the mission rather than see the mercy of God extended to people he considered enemies.
Through a series of difficult circumstances, Jonah ended up in Nineveh and preached God's message. The people of Nineveh repented before God and the judgment against them was set aside. Jonah was angry with the entire circumstance (Jonah 4:1) and asked God to take his life (Jonah 4:3).
We read the story of Jonah and Nineveh, and conclude that Jonah was very foolish to be at odds with God, but we do the same thing. We believe that there are certain people that God should be angry with and that He should judge them without any prospect of relief. Why should any self-proclaimed enemy of God, a denier of God, or a deliberate rebel against God receive anything but the harshest judgment God could mete out? Why? Because God is a God of mercy.
We read in the New Testament epistle of James, chapter 2, verse 13, that "mercy triumphs over judgment." The Psalmist declared in Psalms, chapter 30, verse 5, that "His [God's] anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." If we desire to be godly, we must be more inclined to mercy than anger.
In the gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32, is the story of two brothers and their relationship with their father. The younger brother was rebellious and foolish. He demanded his share of the estate early, left home, lived in sin, and lost his future fortune. The younger son realized his condition, repented, and went home to his father. The father was full of mercy and received him home joyously (Luke 15:20). There were consequences for the sin of the younger brother, but no exclusion from the love and mercy of the father.
The other brother (Luke 15:25) was not as joyous. He was offended that his father would receive the younger brother so graciously. Jealousy and anger ruled in the heart of the older brother (Luke 15:29-30). The family relationships were broken. The father had good reason to be disappointed and angry with his younger son, but mercy triumphed over anger. The older son did not follow the example of his father.
Jonah and this older brother are examples of people who allow anger to triumph over mercy. They lost any opportunity to be part of God's grand plan of redemption.
God asked Jonah in Jonah, chapter 4, verse 4, "Is it right for you to be angry?" We must answer the same question in every circumstance when we feel wronged or our expectations have been squashed.