The God Who is Slow to Anger

Introduction

Were currently in a series where were trying to know God, understand his character so that we can be like him as his representraives here on earth.

When the scripture authors wrote the bible, and described there experience with God, there his common thread that is used to describe his charcter.

Exodus 34:6–7 NIV

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

The pharses i want to unpack tonight is what does it mean for God to be slow to anger.

Transition

If we dont understand what it means for God to be slow to anger we wont understand why we Get anger. Its a unverisal emotion all humans in all time have felt and will feel.

Why God gets Anger

In the exdous story we see God getting angry many things for many reasons. God delivers them out of slavery and wants to take them to a land with milk and honey. Along the way the people sin and act wrongfully towards one anouther and specially towards God. We clearly see this in when there by the mount sinah and they people make a golden calf and they worship it and declare it was that delivered them from slavery.

God is so anger with them, The reason is simply He percieves injustice and unrighteous in them towards himself and one another.

You will see this pattern through alot they whole hebrew bible that God gets really anger when they people commit a grievous sin towards him and towards one another.

Why do Humans we get angery

were created in his image and likeness and Just like God when you percieve injustice or unrighteous towards yourself or someone else you will feel angry. Now take a moment and think everytime you got anger at somone wasnt it because you felt like they wronged you somehow. They lied, embarrassed you, or stole from you or some form of injustice. Because were made in Gods image we care for righteous and injustice even if were fallen.

Transition

The bible doesnt say anger is sin but how we response when were anger is the sin.

How does God response to his anger

God is Patience

The word patience means to sufferlong, God isnt super angery about everything but there are moment where the people sin is so great it provokes his anger.

The word slow to anger means he is pateicne towards sinners. He will wait for them to turn bak to himsef and admit there error and worng.

1 Timothy 1:16 NIV

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is patience he isnt quick to condemn and judge but gives people time to repent and experince fellowship with him

God confronts there sin

God will confront there sin and ask them to repent from there sin.

In exodus we see God confornt the sins of the people through mose as he tells them to not worship false God who didnt bring them out of egipt but worship the true God. He gives them the chance to repent.

God forgives there sins

God is always willing and desires to forgive them.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Transition

Know this about God he is patient towards you but he will confornt your you sin and ask you to repent and if we do he will always embrace us and forgive us. This is the biblicial pattern of his character.

How we should response when were anger

We should be like God and be pateint

We should be patient towards people when they sin but quick to repent when we sin against others.

We need to learn to confront sin privately

We dont see God get bitter or Gossip about isreal to another nations but he conforts them because he wants the issue to be dealt with.

We need to learn to patiently confront those who sin against us.

We need to learn to be forgiving

God never withholds forgivens from those who turn to him

we should never withhold forgiveness from people who actually there error towards you.

Transition

This is the secert to having happy healthy relationships.

Application

Marraige

Your going to sin against each other. Your Going to do something that hurt one another but if we dont learn how to repair the relationship but patiencely confronting the sin and you need to humble yourself and acknowledge you have done wrong or you might need to forgivem them because they did something wrong to you. Your going to kill the intimacy.

Men

You have to admit you were hurt or felt wrong towards your friends or parents or wife one day. Thats not weakeness that honest and righteous. You care your relationships act right towards you.

Women

I know many women who crinige when they think of confronting sin or issues but you only bit the bullet and confront the issue head over pateintly or let the issue multiple. If you dont take out faguies it just grows.

underatnd theres a chain of command in every organization and you might need to involve more people

Conclusion

When we properly manage our anger we reflect God image and likeness

Lets pray