Had a “Mad” On Lately?

We all have had moments of anger whether that anger is “righteous indignation” or just plain being mad because we didn’t get our way or had what we considered our rights trampled on.

Wrath is an emotion that we humans probably couple with anger or “getting mad” at someone. However, it is a much stronger word than we might expect and it is also a word we don’t use much anymore.

Dean and I are still slogging through J.I. Packer’s book, KNOWING GOD and have just finished the chapter Packer wrote on God’s wrath. This particular topic was of special interest to me since the Small Group I have attended this summer just finished Beth Moore’s study on the New Testament book of Revelation—definitely some graphic examples of God’s wrath.

According to Packer’s dictionary definition, “wrath is deep intense anger and indignation.” God’s wrath is not an attribute we like to think about, even as believers. It’s much more comfortable to rhapsodize about God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, etc. which are all truly attributes of God. But we are doing an injustice to our unbelieving friends and relatives if we ignore this wrathful side of God.

Packer mentions an interesting aspect of the way our culture views wrath as a loss of self control, wounded pride, or just plain bad temper. That might be a picture of human wrath; it is definitely not a picture of why God would be full of wrath. “God is only angry whey anger is called for.” His indignation is ALWAYS righteous. God’s wrath is never cruel, for cruelty is immoral, but His wrath is judicial or administering justice. The Bible never quibbles about God’s wrath; in fact His wrath is mentioned more times than His mercy, kindness and love. That statement really surprised me.

Packer brings out another side of this topic when he shows that mankind chooses (believe it or not) God’s wrath. See John 3:18-19. I seldom think about that choice since long ago I chose to accept God’s remedy for sin as opposed to choosing His wrath. It's not pleasant to think of friends and family members who have, to this point, chosen God's wrath.

Yet He IS a loving God and because He is, He has made a way of escape from His own wrath, that wrath being aimed at rebellion and unholiness. The good news (Gospel) is that Jesus left His throne in heaven to come to earth and did on a cross taking on Himself God’s wrath that should have been directed at we ornery human beings.

When I read how God’s wrath will be poured out on humankind during the last days, I can only marvel at His love that also provided a way of escape from that wrath through Jesus’ sacrifice in our place. That escape is really good news!!!