We all have different temperaments: some of us are so phlegmatic and laid-back that it’s hard to tell if we’re happy or sad, angry or calm (a little bit like the uniform a Storm Trooper wears, giving no indication of mood!)
Others are as volatile as a rocket, losing their tempers easily over the slightest thing, but whatever our temperament, we all have to deal with the issue of anger at some point in our lives.
Moses faced this issue in Ex 32:1-24. While he was receiving the Ten Commandments and instructions from God on how to live and serve Him, the people of Israel and Aaron were making a golden calf to worship. God’s anger burned against the Israelites because of their unfaithfulness and sin, but Moses intervened and interceded for them. When he returned to the people and saw what they had done, it was as if God’s red-hot anger was transferred to him (and he smashed the tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments.) Sometimes we are angry as God is angry, but all too often, our anger is fuelled by personal pride or hurt. Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp disagreement over John Mark’s reliability that they parted company (Acts 15:36-39). Compromise was not reached in this situation.
In Eph 4:25-32, we are warned not to sin in our anger and then urged to get rid of all rage and anger. This may seem contradictory, but we have to understand the different kinds of anger there can be.
Anger that is controlled is like the fire that powers our central heating boilers or powers our cars. Controlled anger can achieve positive things; uncontrolled anger – like uncontrolled fire – can have devastating consequences. We need to ask if our anger is constructive or consuming.
The source of our anger is also important. James 1:19-20 reminds us that we need to be slow to anger and that man’s anger rarely achieves righteous results. So often, we have to ask ourselves why we are angry. If it is simply because we are wounded or caring about our own honour, we need to be quick to let go of the anger and forgive. Moses’ anger was righteous because he cared more about God’s honour than his own.
The result of our anger is also worth considering. When Moses was angry, a nation was spared. When Paul and Barnabas were angry, a relationship was broken which took years to mend. So often, we have to be careful not to sin in our anger, lashing out indiscriminately and tearing people down, but we also need to be prepared to feel the anger God feels and to care about His glory.