Making Sense of Anger in the Bible

Some superheroes from comic books and movies have odd powers. some can shrink or grow their bodies at will, while others can manipulate the weather, and still others can heal even the most grievous of wounds.

One fascinating hero is Dr. Bruce Banner, a mild-mannered scientist who was exposed to gamma radiation that now causes him to transform into the Hulk, a green monster powered by rage. When Dr. Banner is the Hulk, the angrier he gets, the stronger and more unstoppable he becomes, something which comes in handy when facing tough odds.

The idea of using anger as a secret weapon is very appealing, seductive even. Can anger be a superpower in your everyday life? Well, yes and no. Anger is a powerful emotion that affects most of us. Our anger can be triggered by a variety of things, and once we’re feeling angry, what follows isn’t always certain.

One positive thing that anger does is move us to action and toward remedying a situation. It’s not surprising to watch a clip about child trafficking and to then feel a mixture of revulsion at the horrors that people can inflict upon others, and anger at the exploitation of children by adults.

That anger can move a person to call their legislative representative and push them towards action, or they may start a campaign to raise awareness of the issue. In that way, anger can be leveraged and work a little bit like a superpower.

On the other hand, the feeling of anger may be negative, and what we do with that anger can be problematic. In the case of the Hulk, at times he gets so angry that he can’t recognize friend from foe, and no one in his path is safe.

Similarly, our anger can be expressed in ways that are damaging to other people. There is no end to tales of road rage, domestic abuse, and other forms of physical and verbal violence unleashed on others because of uncontrolled anger. Anger can work against us and others if expressed in an unhealthy way.

Anger in the Bible

Given the prevalence of anger and the things that inspire anger in our lives, it’s no surprise to find the Bible speaking about anger. To give us guidance on how to manage anger and what to think about it, there are stories, proverbs, and teaching in the Bible. Broadly, we hear about anger as it relates to God and among humans in our relationships.

God is slow to anger.

One thing that comes through clearly in the Bible is that God does get angry. God gets angry because of sin and evil, along with their consequences. God created the world and all that is in it to be a blessing, and anything that distorts the goodness of creation is something God stands resolutely against. So, it’s not surprising to hear about God’s anger, or his wrath, against evil and those who side with evil.

Speaking about Pharaoh who had enslaved the people of Israel and refused to obey God when he was told to let them go, Exodus 15:7 speaks of God’s reaction thus, “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.” In many other places, including in the New Testament, we encounter God being angry, and it’s always for the same reason.

In the New Testament, we find Jesus getting angry at those who were making a profit by selling animals and exchanging money at the temple, effectively barring Gentiles from worship (Matthew 21:12-13 and John 2:13-22).

Jesus got angry at the religious leaders when they failed to show compassion to a man that needed healing; “he looked around at them with anger” (Mark 3:1-6) because they claimed they loved the law while loving themselves and their rules more than others. God gets angry at ungodliness and injustice, among other things.

However, while God gets justifiably angry, he is slow to anger. In describing himself, God identified himself saying that he is, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6).

His anger doesn’t flare up suddenly or unexpectedly. If you have a friend, boss, or family member whose anger flares up suddenly and out of nowhere, you may know the feeling of constantly walking on eggshells around them just in case you set them off. That’s not what God is like.

God doesn’t hold onto His anger.

And just as God’s anger doesn’t suddenly and unexpectedly flare up but comes from God’s settled opposition to everything that is evil and is slow to erupt, God doesn’t hold onto his anger. Though the people of God tested him, in some cases he disciplined them after centuries of enduring their disobedience.

But even when he delivers discipline, God doesn’t hold onto his anger. The prophet Micah had this to say, “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love” (Micah 7:8).
A mixed bag
When it comes to people and anger, the situation is a bit of a mixed bag. There are times when people get justifiably angry and their anger mirrors God’s. When God’s people were under attack and being oppressed, the future king Saul was moved to anger by their cries for rescue. “When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger” (1 Samuel 11:6).

This anger led Saul to defend God’s people in this instance. But Saul, in another circumstance, became angry at his successor David and threatened to kill him without cause. That’s the pattern that emerges – sometimes people are justifiably angry and act well to address the situation. However, in other instances, anger is aroused unjustifiably and leads to ungodliness against others.

Another example of anger gone wrong is the prophet, Jonah. He didn’t want to preach a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh because he did not want God to forgive them. Now, the people of Nineveh were savage, and they had attacked Jonah’s people. One could say there was good reason for Jonah to be sour toward them.

Having been persuaded to go and preach to Nineveh, Jonah sat outside the city waiting to see what would happen to it. He was angry because the people had turned to God and left their evil ways behind.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” – Jonah 4:1-4

Jonah, God’s prophet, had to learn to let go of his anger and become compassionate toward others just as God is.

What God requires of us

The Bible makes it clear that there is a distinction between being angry and sinning: “In your anger do not sin,” reads Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Just because you’re angry that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. What we need to consider carefully is why we are angry, and what our anger may lead us into.

The question God asked Jonah is a helpful diagnostic tool for us to interrogate our anger. It’s way too easy for us to turn even a legitimate cause for anger into ungodly action, and that’s one reason we are cautioned in several places to refrain from and be slow to anger.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. – Psalm 37:7-9

The book of wisdom, Proverbs, says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare… A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them” (Proverbs 15:18). Being slow to anger is wise and having control over ourselves allows us to respond appropriately to situations and not escalate things unnecessarily.

If we were to imagine what God requires from human beings, we’re sure to come up with several answers. What the Bible tells us is this:

The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

To this, we might add what James says when he writes, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteous life God desires. (James 1:19-20).

Conclusion

Anger is a powerful emotion that can be either good or bad. It is not necessarily sinful to feel anger, but what we do with it has a profound effect on ourselves and those around us. A slow and steady approach is best when it comes to human anger. It’s way too easy for even justified anger to boil over into hatred or disdain for our fellow human beings.

If you find that you are angered easily, or that you stay angry for a long time, or your anger leads you to hurt others, it’s important to take steps to get your anger under control, and not be controlled by it. Perhaps consider seeing a therapist for anger management therapy so that you can rein anger in and lean into the peace God intends for all people.