Welcome back to our lovely ‘puzzle’ we are constructing as it paints a comforting picture on the subject of God’s ‘wrath’. Yes, a little hint of ‘holy sarcasm’ intended, along with a suggestion that you read yesterday’s lesson first in case you missed it.

Why spend so much time studying a topic that sounds so unappealing, and in which many sincere believers today think they are immune to? I would submit to you that we have not fully understood what God’s ‘wrath’ is and is all about, not to mention how it applies to us NT ‘believers’ today. For starters...how about the fact that it is the ‘wrath’ of God that Jesus came to ‘save’ us from (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:9; John 3:17). And I’m just going to tell you now there’s a little bit more to this ‘being saved from the wrath of God’ than simply reciting some nice words in a prayer that suggest you ‘believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins’. (Matt.7:21; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:22-23; 2 Pet. 3:9)

We finished up yesterday’s message affirming that the word ‘wrath’ means what you think it means: ‘intense anger’. And guess what? God has that ‘side’ to Him, which He warns us about, over and over and over in the OT; so this should not come as a surprise to anyone (Rom. 11:22). Paul even asked in one place: Are we wanting to provoke the Lord to jealousy? (1 Cor. 10:5-11,22). And friends...God makes no apologies for this aspect of His nature. I should also point out there is a stark difference between the ‘anger’ of God and ‘man’s anger’. (James 1:20). But more on that later.

Interestingly, and ironically, if you do a word search using a concordance for the word ‘wrath’, the first reference to God’s wrath is found in Exodus. I say ‘ironically’ because it’s in the opening book of Genesis that we read about two of the more notable and dramatic displays of God’s wrath, which was first ‘poured out’ in the form a flood, in Genesis 6. Then, we read about how God brought destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen. 19:24 by ‘raining fire and brimstone out of the heavens’. And before you falsely conclude that was simply about ‘homosexuality’, you might take a look at Ezek. 16:49-50. I might also point out what Jesus had to say regarding anyone who does not receive His gospel message, in Matt. 10:11-15.

While we continue to ‘lay out more puzzle pieces’ here to examine, you might make note of Luke 17:26-30, because Jesus makes reference (when describing His imminent return) to both displays of God’s wrath being poured out from those two instances we just touched on in Genesis. Then read Nahum 1:2-8 for more background support to this idea of how God’s wrath is likened to being poured out like ‘floods and fire’. Now, back to the first use of the word found in Exodus 15:7-

God had just led the Israelites through the Red Sea on dry ground before closing the waters in on the Egyptian armies who were in hot pursuit. This of course was closing the door on that long and painful chapter in Israel’s history where they had served as slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. God of course, raising up Moses to lead them out of their bondage which was all a foreshadow of what Jesus would do for us today, leading us out from the bondage of sin (John 8:32-36), the world, and the devil (Acts 26:18). And there was quite the celebration that unfolded as those waters closed up, and the people broke out in song, which you can read about in Ex. 15. But it’s verse 7 that I draw your attention to:

“And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You ...sent forth Your wrath; ...It consumed them like stubble.”

Another quick side note here – when you think of ‘stubble’ being consumed, we’re talking about what remains in a field after a harvest has been gathered...think of corn stalks or wheat that has been stripped of its ‘fruit’. Oftentimes, that which remains is ‘burned off’ by controlled fires. Just an interesting word picture here in Exodus 15:7-8 because we see again, this picture of ‘fire and flood’ used to describe God’s wrath. You might jot down 1 Cor. 3:13-17.

Now, this idea of God ‘sending’...His ‘wrath’ or ‘burning anger...that word ‘sent’ comes from a Hebrew word which means to ‘unleash’. You might take a moment with that one if you would, please.

What is something we might ‘keep on a leash’? And why? That passage I gave you yesterday, in Ps. 78:49-50- who or what ...did God ‘unleash’ there, to carry out His anger and displeasure? Did it not say He sent ‘angels of destruction among them...making a path for His anger’? And what did Paul take his time in reminding us of in 1 Cor. 10:5-11 as he details how God sent ‘serpents to destroy’ along with the ‘destroyer’ to carry out God’s displeasure with the rebellion of His people. I only mention this again because Paul makes it a point, twice...to remind us of those things that happened back then and were written down as a warning to us, upon whom the ‘end of the ages have come’.

Now, if you would ...open your Bible to 2 Samuel 24. I’m just wanting to point out one verse there (1) as it pertains to the story where David was stirred (or incited) to count his troops, which he was advised against doing by Joab (3-4). Please underline where it says ‘the anger of the Lord’...is what was behind this foolish move on David’s part. Next, flip over to 1 Chron. 21:1 and read of the same account, as is recorded in this book.

Who/what do we read there...incited David to number his troops? God’s ‘anger/wrath’ = ______? So when God ‘unleashes’....who or what is He ‘unleashing’ or ‘allowing’ to carry out His judgments?

Friends...I know this is challenging, at best...to process, let alone to embrace and accept; but I’m telling you...we’ve been in the dark for some time. Take a look at Jeremiah 8:7 and 4:4-5 and let that sink in for a moment before once again...referring to Hosea 4:6. Take all the time you need to just let God’s word speak for itself. And don’t get ahead of the Holy Spirit here and rush to distorted conclusions either. Oh, one final reminder of the promise found in 1 John 5:18...which you can look up on your own and read. See you tomorrow?