Psalm 37:7-9 – “Do not get upset because…of the person who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be eliminated, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.”
We read throughout the Bible that while God gets angry, He is slow to anger. In the Hebrew text, it literally reads that God is, ‘long of nose.’ A Hebrew metaphor for anger was someone’s nose burning hot. God’s anger is an expression of His justice and His love for the world that He has created. However, God is not reactionary to human sin to where He doesn’t give people time to see the error of their ways and change. For example, when God was angry with Pharaoh, He gave Pharaoh ten opportunities to turn from his stubborn ways before Pharaoh’s own anger was turned back on him, drowning in the Red Sea.
Anger is a natural emotion that we feel when we see injustice; such as someone being bullied, objectified, or taken advantage of. As Christians, we must always remember and be grateful for God’s ‘long nose’ towards us in order to avoid having anger lead us into our own evil doing. Evil doers will eventually be eliminated while those who live with self-control will inherit the earth.
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have declared vengeance to be yours. Help me to overcome the evil that I see with good. Guard my heart from being overcome with bitterness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.