Why does God seem so angry in the Old Testament? And why does He always destroy the Israelites, the very people He created and chose? Why doesn’t He just forgive them? Isn’t He the God of love?
I’ve grown up hearing these questions my whole life when it comes to God. Things like this made me believe in the idea that there was the wrath of God versus the peace of Jesus. These ideas grew into assumptions that God was the one who was always full of anger and wrath, while Jesus was our friend, brought peace, and never acted out in anger…or at least not as intensely as God did.
Have you ever had similar thoughts like this too? How could the God who is love (1 John 4:16), not act in love, especially in the Old Testament? From Genesis to Malachi, there was so much hurt, betrayal, and destruction. The wrath of God was ever present, but why? Is God truly vengeful? Does He really act out of malicious intent? Not the God I know…and I hope you can get to know Him in the same way too.
Why Is God So Angry? [The Beginning]
God’s hurt and anger unfortunately started from the very beginning, but was for good reason. As seen in Genesis 2:16-17, we learn of a command God gave to Adam and Eve.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”’
This is where it all began. Adam and Eve betrayed God by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It was one simple request He gave, and yet, they disobeyed.
Did You Obey Your Parents as A Child?
I can easily think back to many times when my parents told me not to touch or do something while they were away, but I didn’t listen. Then I saw their faces of deep disappointment, and it broke me. As normal humans, we should feel remorse, apologize, and hopefully won’t disobey again. Our punishment could sometimes lead to grounding, or maybe the temporary loss of a privilege. There were consequences for disobeying my parents.
But think about the weight of an instruction given by God. And what of the consequence that would follow if you are disobedient to Him? For God, the difference between obedience and disobedience is life or death. Ultimately, Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world.
Corruption. Darkness. The perfect world that God had intended from the start of creation had now been tainted.
The Consequences of Disobedience
But why is this important? God could no longer be with His creation. Adam and Eve severed their connection with God when they brought sin into the picture with their disobedience. Our God, who is holy, cannot be amongst what is evil…amongst sin.
Think about our world today. There are those who selfishly choose to disobey laws and instructions that have been given to keep us safe, without thinking about any of the consequences. Recently, I have seen several fatal car accidents in the news. The drivers made the decision to drive while intoxicated and their actions led to the death of others. Once a decision is made to this severity, there is no going back. Adam and Eve were only the beginning of God’s heartbreak, and from there it didn’t stop.
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
In Exodus, God made a covenant with His chosen people through Moses. But it wasn’t just any normal covenant.
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Exodus 19:5-6
God had just delivered the Israelites from 400 years of slavery and was giving them a chance to become His treasured possession. Through this holy nation, God wanted to restore what had been lost so that He could dwell among His creation again. They were nation that was born into sin, but given the opportunity to become holy once more. And to then be the ones to lead the rest of the world to holiness and reconnection with its Creator.
If you were given the opportunity to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation that was specially chosen by God, what would you do? It’s definitely a chance that should not be wasted. When God makes a covenant with someone, and they’ve accepted the covenant, He expects them to keep it.
Just like how when we sign a contract, both parties are expected to keep their end of the deal. But if one side doesn’t, we call it “breaking” the contract. That party broke the promise they made. And even though we usually skip over the terms and conditions for everything nowadays, there are still consequences if we break the agreements we make.
The Natural Consequence that Follow
Not only did God perfectly lay out the blessings the Israelites would receive if they obeyed and kept the covenant, but He also made it clear what the consequences would be if the Israelites were to disobey (Deuteronomy 28).
Just like Adam and Eve’s consequences were not sudden, if they disobeyed, they would experience the consequences that would follow in a natural progression. When you deliberately leave a place of protection, this allows for evil and destruction to harm you. If you turn your back on God and leave Him for other idols or gods, God will no longer protect you. And once that protection is gone…you’re on your own to face the consequences.
So if someone broke a promise with you, or even greater – if someone broke a contract, something you had to agreed to in blood – how would you feel? What about for God? Could we say that His anger is justified? Absolutely.
He warned and pleaded with His chosen people to listen to His commands for their own protection, and they still chose to disobey. When reading through the Bible, try to put yourself into God’s shoes. Do you feel the heartbreak? The continuous warnings but still suffering the betrayal of His trust? His anger only grew as a result of the actions of those He longed to be with.
The Justifiable Anger of God
So now let’s look at the Bible again. Do you think the Israelites continuously kept or continuously broke the covenant they had made with God? Well let’s think…how much do you see the wrath of God throughout the Old Testament? Flip through page after page in the Old Testament…are they trying to follow God or are they constantly turning away from Him?
Cheating on God
The covenant made between God and His chosen people is likened to a marriage. Two parties coming together, vowing to honor, love, and respect the covenant made between the bride and the groom.
However, the covenant that was made wasn’t enough for the Israelites. The unfaithful partner showed its true colors and brazenly rubbed their betrayal in God’s face. The Israelites continuously broke the very first and most important commandment of them all, and put other gods before the True God. In doing so, they allowed other idols and teachings and ideas of the world to infiltrate their minds and hearts, drawing them even farther away from God.
“And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”
Ezekiel 8:6
How would it make you feel if your spouse were openly cheating on you? It would break you to the core, right? Someone that you made promises with, had planned your future together, trusted with your whole heart and being. They’ve assured you that they’ll never leave or forsake you, they’ll never betray your trust…and then you walk in and see them with someone else. Suddenly, this person whom you loved is a person that you don’t even recognize, and it’s like the future that was planned together starts to disappear. And to make it even worse, every action and betrayal was knowingly done without regret.
God’s Broken and Fair Heart
The wrath of God that we see wasn’t without reason. We must understand God’s heart and know that He is just. Did He not warn His people beforehand? Did they not enter into this covenant knowing that God stays true to His word? God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). He cannot make exceptions or break His word because then He wouldn’t be a just God. He wouldn’t be fair. So whether it breaks His heart or not, God must keep His word and follow through with the consequences that He said would happen.
“Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.”
Ezekiel 8:18
“Why is God so angry?”
His heart has been broken time and time again.
His people knowingly and deliberately walked away from Him and gave their hearts to idols – to objects made by men. The trust He put in them was severed. The wrath of God can be seen throughout the Bible because the betrayal of His people, the broken promises are also throughout the Bible.
What would you have done if you were in God’s position? Disappointment after disappointment, one broken promise after another. Most of us cut people off after one betrayal of trust. In fact, we’d begin to question the sanity of a person who constantly gives chances to someone who endlessly betrays and disrespects them. And that’s just on a human level.
The Grace of God & His Understandable Hurt and Anger
So, can you understand just a little more, why God poured out His wrath on those who broke the covenant they made with Him? As several examples from the Old Testament were presented, we must now ask ourselves, about the time we’re living in. What is the covenant we are supposed to be keeping in the New Testament? Did you know that by calling yourself a Christian, you have agreed to keep a covenant that Jesus made with all who believe in him?
God lost His precious people to sin and wants to get them back. He wants to give them life. His wrath doesn’t last forever. In fact, He has promised a time when He will restore Israel and His people.
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy….
They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:17-25
Our Opportunity and Choice
As Christians, we have been given the opportunity to show our loyalty to God and Jesus, and not make the same mistakes as the Israelites in the Old Testament. God made a new covenant, established through the blood of His precious son, Jesus, and we have the chance to keep it. We have the choice to avoid the wrath of God by being obedient and keeping the covenant with Him this time. But we also have the choice to do the same as Israelites and break it.
So, which side of history do you want to be on?
Written by Gabriella
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