Why Does God Seem Angry?

If I've heard it once, I've probably heard it a dozen times...your God is angry all the time.

I suppose if I had not been raised in church; encouraged to read and know the Bible in its entirety for myself, then I, too, would believe this. Many of the Old Testament stories are chock full of what would seem vengeful and revengeful episodes of God's frustration taken out on man.

Take for instance the story of Noah. God wiped out the entire earthly population except for Noah, his family, and a pair of every land animal and creature. That does seem a little over the top. (Genesis 6-8)

Or what about Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)? Those two cities met their total destruction at the hand of God due to their lascivious lifestyle; Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt simply because she looked back at the city. Harsh.

Then there is the crazy account of a group of youths making fun of a bald prophet, and a bear sent to maul the youths as a warning to all the rest of the people (II Kings 2:23-24). That's a head scratcher. No pun intended.

So, what gives? Is God really that angry? Does He sit on His throne and try and cook up His next move of hatefulness?

The answer is no. To say God is an angry God is not a truthful nor just statement.

First of all, though God has and does become angry, our knowledge of His anger is based upon our own flawed human experiences or our assumptions about who God is, and not consistent with His total character.

Second, the anger we see played out in scripture is righteous, unadulterated anger...anger free of sin; is wholly deserving; and not without multiple and generous warnings.

In actuality, one of God's most prominent characteristics is love. He demonstrated this best by creating humanity of which He knew would turn away from Him thereby ushering sin into the world; then stepped in and made a way to save them through the shedding of His own perfect Son's blood on the cross. That, my friends, is incredible love.

Further, God's anger is directed at a person's sin...his deeds...his actions...his words...his dead heart, not the created person himself/herself.

The Bible says God knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16); He cares for you by holding your hand (Isaiah 41:13); stays by your side and walks you through whatever you are going through (Isaiah 43:2); instructs you in the way you should go (Psalm 32:8), etc., but He detests pride, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, deception, false accusations, discord, etc. (Proverbs 6:16-19; 8:13). God hates sin and the separation it has caused; the destruction it has brought upon so many lives.

God is definitely complex, but He is also not limited to one specific characteristic or emotion. Though He has displayed righteous anger, He too is the only god who was ready and able to step in and save lives from eternal torment, therefore, because my soul has found that perfect salvation in Him, I will sing of His praises all the days I have been allotted, and I hope you will too.

We truly serve a great and loving God!

Kristi