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6 Examples of Sinful Anger in the Bible And The Lessons We Can Learn – Viral Believer
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6 Examples of Sinful Anger in the Bible And The Lessons We Can Learn

Introduction

Anger is a natural human emotion that we all experience from time to time. While anger in itself is not necessarily sinful, it becomes sinful when we let it control our actions and lead us to act in ways that are contrary to God’s will.

As Christians, we are called to love and forgive one another, but there are times when our emotions get the best of us, and we struggle with anger.

In the Bible, there are many examples of both righteous and sinful anger. While righteous anger is motivated by a desire to see justice and righteousness prevail, sinful anger is motivated by selfish desires and a lack of trust in God’s plan.

As we study these examples of sinful anger in the Bible, we can learn valuable lessons on how to handle our emotions and act in a way that is pleasing to God.

In this blog post, we will explore several examples of sinful anger in the Bible and learn from the mistakes of those who let their emotions control their actions.

By examining these examples, we can gain a better understanding of how to handle our own emotions and seek God’s help in overcoming anger and practicing forgiveness and love towards one another.

anger in the Bible

Cain’s Anger toward Abel

In the book of Genesis, we read about the first example of sinful anger in the Bible. Cain, the older brother of Abel, became jealous of Abel’s offering to God and murdered him out of anger.

God warned Cain beforehand, saying, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7, NKJV) However, Cain let his anger get the best of him and committed a grave sin.

Lesson Learned: We should be careful not to let our emotions control our actions, especially when it comes to jealousy and envy. Instead, we should strive to do what is right and trust that God will bless us accordingly.

Moses’ Anger toward the Israelites

Moses, the great leader of the Israelites, had a moment of anger that led to his punishment. In the book of Numbers, we read about how Moses struck the rock twice to bring forth water, even though God had told him to speak to the rock.

God said to Moses, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12, NKJV) Moses’ anger and lack of faith caused him to disobey God, which had severe consequences.

Lesson Learned: We should always trust in God’s plan and not let our emotions cloud our judgment. We should also strive to obey God’s commands, even if we don’t fully understand them.

Saul’s Anger toward David

Saul, the first king of Israel, became jealous of David’s popularity and success. Saul’s anger towards David led him to try to harm and kill him on several occasions. Even though David had done nothing wrong, Saul let his anger get the best of him and acted out of jealousy and rage.

Eventually, God removed Saul as king and replaced him with David.

Lesson Learned: We should be careful not to act out of jealousy or envy toward others. Instead, we should trust in God’s plan for our lives and be happy for others’ success.

Jonah’s Anger toward God’s Mercy

In the book of Jonah, we read about the prophet’s anger toward God’s mercy for the Ninevites. Jonah was sent to preach to the people of Nineveh, who were known for their wickedness. When they repented and turned to God, Jonah became angry and resentful towards God’s mercy.

God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4, NKJV) Jonah’s pride and lack of compassion caused him to be blinded by his anger.

Lesson Learned: We should strive to have compassion for all people, even those we may deem unworthy of God’s mercy. We should also be careful not to let our pride cloud our judgment and lead us to sin.

Peter’s Anger toward Malchus

In the book of John, we read about Peter’s impulsive and violent reaction towards the arrest of Jesus. When one of the soldiers tried to seize Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant named Malchus.

Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” (John 18:11, NKJV) Peter’s anger and violence toward those who were arresting Jesus was not in line with God’s will.

Lesson Learned: We should always seek to follow God’s will, even in difficult and challenging situations. We should not let our anger lead us to act in a way that is contrary to God’s commandments.

The Jewish Leaders’ Anger toward Stephen

In the book of Acts, we read about the Jewish leaders’ fury towards Stephen’s preaching and accusations against them. Stephen accused the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and killing the prophets, which enraged them.

They stoned Stephen to death, even though he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Their anger and pride blinded them to the truth and led them to commit a terrible sin.

Lesson Learned: We should be careful not to let our anger blind us to the truth. We should strive to seek the truth and act in a way that is consistent with God’s will, even if it goes against our own desires.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bible provides us with many examples of sinful anger that we can learn from. We have seen how Cain’s jealousy toward Abel, Moses’ impatience toward the Israelites, and Saul’s envy toward David led to disastrous consequences.

Jonah’s resentment towards God’s mercy and Peter’s impulsive violence towards those who arrested Jesus also provide valuable lessons for us. The Jewish leaders’ anger towards Stephen shows us how pride and anger can blind us to the truth and lead us to commit terrible sins.

As Christians, we must be careful not to let our emotions control our actions. We should seek God’s help in overcoming anger and practicing forgiveness and love towards one another. We should also strive to trust in God’s plan for our lives and seek to obey His commandments, even in difficult and challenging situations.

By studying the examples of sinful anger in the Bible, we can gain a better understanding of how to handle our own emotions and act in a way that is pleasing to God.

Let us pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as we navigate our own struggles with anger. May we be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, and may we always seek to honor God with our words and actions.

Let us also remember the words of James 1:19-20, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.