Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1010 God, nature and qualities of  »  1015 God  »  1025 God, anger of

The punitive and vindicatory reaction, legitimate and controlled, yet awesomely emphatic, of God the righteous judge to unrighteousness in his human creatures. Up to the present, the expression of God's anger and wrath has had the purpose of drawing sinners to repentance and conversion, but this will not be the case at the final judgment.

The nature of God's anger

It is fearsome

Nahum 1:6 See also Joshua 7:26; Ezekiel 38:18

It is reluctant and short-lived

Exodus 34:6 See also Isaiah 54:7-8; Nehemiah 9:16-18

It is consistant with his righteous and merciful character

Psalm 7:11 See also Habakkuk 3:2

It fulfils God's purposes

Jeremiah 23:20 See also Jeremiah 30:24

The causes of God's anger

Idolatry and unbelief

Numbers 25:3 See also Exodus 32:8-10; Deuteronomy 8:19; Judges 2:10-14; 1 Kings 14:9; Kings 16:32-33; Kings 22:53; 2 Kings 23:19 Josiah removes idolatrous shrines; 2 Chronicles 28:25; 2 C 25; Jeremiah 8:19; Jeremiah 32:29; Jeremiah 44:3; John 3:36 the unbelief of rejecting the Son of God; Romans 1:18-23; Romans 2:8

Disobedience and disloyalty

Joshua 7:1 See also Deuteronomy 9:7; 2 Kings 22:13; 1 Chronicles 13:10; Psalm 106:29; Jeremiah 32:32; Zechariah 7:13; Ephesians 5:6

Ungodly living

God's judgment against the ungodly is a sign of his anger against actions that contradict his righteous character and purposes:

2 Timothy 3:1-9; Jude 14-16

Pride, arrogance and hypocrisy

Matthew 23:27-28 See also 2 Chronicles 32:25; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 8:13; Isaiah 13:11; Hosea 12:14; Malachi 4:1

Complaints against, and opposition to, God's purposes

Numbers 11:1 See also Numbers 14:27; Numbers 21:5

Injustice

Zechariah 7:9-12 See also 2 Chronicles 19:7; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 9:9; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 23:23

The rejection of God's servants

Hebrews 10:29-31 See also Deuteronomy 32:35-36; Psalm 135:14; Nehemiah 9:26; Zechariah 7:12; Matthew 21:33-41; Acts 7:35-37

God reveals his anger

In present times

Romans 1:18 See also Jeremiah 10:10

On a future “day of wrath” which is anticipated

Romans 2:5 See also Isaiah 13:9,13; Ezekiel 7:19; Zephaniah 1:15,18; Zephaniah 2:2

The consequences of God's anger

God allows those who reject righteousness to remain in their sin

Romans 1:18-32 See also 1 Kings 14:16; 2 Chronicles 12:5; Nehemiah 9:28; Isaiah 54:7-8; Jeremiah 7:27-29; Jeremiah 12:7-8

Punishment will be experienced by rebellious people

Deuteronomy 8:19 See also Isaiah 59:18; Jeremiah 21:14; Matthew 18:34-35; Matthew 25:28-30

Punishment of death:

Exodus 12:12; Numbers 32:13; Joshua 7:25-26; Isaiah 13:9-13; Daniel 5:30; Acts 5:5,10

Punishment of exile:

1 Kings 14:15; Jeremiah 15:13-14; Jeremiah 25:7-11

Destruction of the whole nation of Israel:

Lamentations 2:1-9; Ezekiel 38:19-21

God will be feared as his holiness and greatness are revealed

Isaiah 59:18-19 See also Ezekiel 38:22-23

Ultimately God will purify and restore his people for service

Malachi 3:2-4 See also Jeremiah 15:19-21

See also

1055  God, grace & mercy
1075  God, justice of
1125  God, righteousness
1310  God as judge
2009  Christ, anger of
5482  punishment
5790  anger, divine
6712  propitiation
9240  last judgment
9510  hell