4 Examples of Anger in the Bible

Anger is a passionate emotion that everyone feels at one point. But is anger acceptable? How do we account for anger if we are supposed to be filled with love, kindness, patience, and joy? When is anger not okay? Let us look at four examples of anger in the Bible.

The Bible contains examples of anger and lessons to learn about managing emotion. The writers documented anger in the Bible so that we could use the models and advice for governing our lives and feelings.

Is it right to get angry?

God created our emotions – all of them, even the ones we do not want to feel, like anger or sadness. God knew that certain situations would lead to anger, such as injustice or betrayal. Anger is not a bad emotion. It is necessary to motivate us to stand up for our beliefs or those who cannot speak for themselves.

It is when we act on anger negatively or destructively that it can lead to sin. Uncontrollable anger can cloud our judgment and cause us to turn to evil. As a result, we say and do things we would never do otherwise. When anger compels us, we lose our compass on the right thing to do.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. – James 1:20, NIV

Examples of anger in the Bible

God gave us anger to confront evil and injustice. When we are righteous, we can see the situations that displease God. We fight back with the truth. However, the examples of anger in the Bible are not always of people doing the right thing. But God uses these examples as models, so we do not repeat what they did.

Cain

In Genesis, Cain murders his brother Abel out of jealousy. He was angry that God took more pleasure in Abel’s offering, but God warned him to do what was right. God did forgive Cain and took pity on him, making sure that no one killed him, but He still had to send him away from his original family. God loves us, which is why He provided the Bible so we can take His advice to live in love. However, like any good father, God will discipline us because He hates injustice.

Moses

Pharoah’s daughter raised Moses in the palace, yet he knew of his heritage. When he saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, he killed the man. But news soon got out, and Pharoah tried to have Moses killed. Moses’ anger at the mistreatment of a fellow Hebrew was righteous; however, he went about it wrong, murdering a man

God detests abuse and murder, and He did not ignore the cries of the Israelites. Moses needed to trust God at that moment. Even though Moses made a mistake and took a man’s life, God used him to set the Israelites free years later.

Jesus

Sin has a domino effect. If not course-corrected early, it could knock down everything we hold dear. Jesus knew this when He entered the temple to find it used as a marketplace. His Spirit was in line with His Father; He showed His anger by turning the tables and driving the merchants from the temple. Jesus wants no one to perish but to come to Him. The anger Jesus felt at times was not due to his own selfish ambition but from a spiritual place in line with God.

God

God cannot abide sin. Sin cannot live in the presence of God. Yet, He loves us and does not want to see any of His sheep stolen by the enemy. Evil deeds anger God, and the Bible states that He will destroy those who continue in evil and forgive those who ask and turn away from their sins. God’s anger is righteous and only lasts for a moment, but His love lasts for eternity.

What can we do about anger?

James, the half-brother of Jesus and leader in the early church, mentions anger in the Bible and warns Christ’s followers to control their anger and listen to others before speaking their minds. He insists that believers should stop doing things that lead to sin and do what the Bible teaches.

“Prayer”, Courtesy of Ben White, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. – James 1:21-24, NIV

When you are angry, take a moment to pause and send a silent prayer to Heaven. Remind yourself of what the Bible teaches about how Christians should act when angry. Study your Bible and make the conscious decision to act contrary to what your anger wants. This will be hard at first, but the more you ignore the initial impulse to react out of anger, the easier it will become.

The following are anger management strategies you can implement the next time you feel overwhelming anger.

Do not allow emotions to rule over you

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. – Proverbs 25:28, NIV

God did not bestow emotions on us that we cannot control. However, due to childhood experiences, trauma, pain, or mental disorders, we have trouble managing anger and knowing how to communicate our displeasure without reacting destructively. Do you get angry and scream at others? Do you throw things or slam doors?

Or are you more subtle, doing underhanded things to show your anger passive-aggressively? For example, some people make others late by using procrastination as an expression of anger or doing things their spouses would hate, such as overdrinking, gambling, or having a one-night stand.

All these behaviors are destructive and do nothing to solve the problem. Instead, these behaviors will cause rifts and resentment and lead to divorce or a breakup. Children also model their behavior on how their parents handled situations. Do you want your child to lash out at a spouse when angry? Do you want them to break possessions or engage in risky behaviors?

Self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but you may have trouble accessing it. Reach out for help today if anger is getting the best of you.

Find ways to defuse anger

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1, NIV

Remaining calm during conflict or in the middle of an argument can defuse anger in the other person. However, if you engage in the same tone or manner, it may cause the situation to escalate. Instead, take a moment to catch your breath before answering the person. This may mean you need to take a breather before confronting the person. Explain that you need a few minutes to think it over and remove yourself from the room, if possible.

If you are in a situation where the other person is becoming increasingly violent, seek help immediately. You may not be able to defuse their anger without getting hurt. You are in control of your actions, but you cannot control other people’s behavior. In those cases, you need help from a professional.

Seek help when you need it

When we let anger control us, we can lose friendships, relationships, jobs, opportunities, and more. When anger turns to rage, and we act on it, we can hurt others, ruin our reputations, and find ourselves in trouble.

If you need help managing your anger, contact a counselor today. Your counselor is well-versed in the examples of anger in the Bible, biblical principles, psychology, and anger management techniques. Call us today to schedule an appointment.