Cost of Anger

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Psalm 37:8     Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.  

Psalm 90:10-11     For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’So I declared on an oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”

Proverbs 14:17, 29     A quick tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. . . .Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

Psalm 37:8     Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!  Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

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

Proverbs 22:24-25      Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Matthew 5:21-26     “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable for judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 

Ephesians 4:26     Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger

James 1:19-20     Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

 

 

We all feel anger at times.  Maybe you are stuck in traffic and it will make you late for an appointment–and if you are later than the 15 minute window–‘ah, too bad, we will not be able to see you–and you will be charged for the missed appointment.’    Or maybe the children are screeching in voices that seem impossible to reach such a high pitched scream.  There must be murder, there has to be injury–severe injury.  But, no when you look in on them–there is no injury, just  several children trying to see who can squark the loudest and get some adult to come running in a panic.   And then the giggles between them.   Or, someone lies to you and you already know the truth.  Or all sorts of things happen to prevent arriving at work on time–a flat tire–how do you change that in your dress suit and still look good for court?  Or the car won’t start at all–what is going on?    There are so many reasons to cause anger–and many are different for each person.   I am not happy with taking many “illegal aliens” and jailing them far away from their families–rounded up like a cattle drive.  Then, many are innocent–not causing trouble or or doing illegal activites.  Have all been innocent?  No.  But I must say that many of the foreign people I have dealt with either in work that I needed completed, but have dealt with hard-workers–people who do a good, conscientious work in which I have been very pleased.  These people have always been polite, respectful, and courteous.  They might not be able to speak English, but someone in the group can speak and then translate directions to the one who is not proficient in English.  I find it shaming.

My relatives came here from Ireland–hard workers and here to seek a better future.  There had been many times in Irish history when people were starving, eating and digging potatoes only.  Potatoes are carbs, not protein, so one loses weight, strength and health.  I have no problem with folks coming to this country to work hard, to better themselves and their families.  I do have a problem with rounding them up like cattle, and throwing them in buses, and hauling them away–especially with men wearing black masks, carrying weapons and being like bullies.  Makes me wonder how their home life is.  Do you slap and punch out at wife and children?  Do they cringe away from y9ou?  Do they creep around their home because they are unsure and afraid?

A simple shepherd who had been raised in a palace, fled when an Israelite challenged him and proved to Moses he had seen Moses strike and kill an Egyptian.  God led him into the desert and he worked with his father in law, tending the sheep, spending most of his time alone, sleeping under the stars and weather at night, having mostly sheep for company.  Yet one day, God appeared to him and told him to go to the Egyptian pharaoh–unsure if this pharaoh had Moses were raised as “cousins” or playmates but they at least had to be aware of one another.  Moses clearly told God all the reasons he was the wrong man for the job–speech impediment, Pharaoh already did not like him, he had no powers, and he was just unqualified to do this task.

Then God delivered Moses’ brother Aaron and said Aaron could be his mouthpiece–they were both going.  His people needed to be freed from Egypt.  After several weeks at least–bible not clear of the length of time Moses stated what he wanted to happen so the people could sacrifice to God, and each time Pharaoh refused.  So God told Moses the plagues He would send and the Egyptians suffered.  Finally and lastly, God saved the Israeli people on the first Passover, yet every Egyptian family lost the firstborn–including all the animals.

Over a million Israelis fled Egypt–unsure how one flees with that many people–including elderly and young, and much cattle, sheep, goats and so forth.  After they crossed the Red Sea, and traveled three days, they were all becoming thirsty.  Finding water in Marah, they found the water too bitter to drink.  God told Moses how to make the water fresh and the people and herds were all satisfied.

Moses had to deal with a multitude who were fearful, sometimes angry, wondering when their travels would end, sometimes challenging why Moses and Aaron got to make most of the decisions–even though Moses gave them the decisions and outcomes that GOD had set before them.   The people whined and demanded meat and wanted something to cook to make bread/cakes.  God supplied them with birds and manna.

Moses sent out 12 men, one from each tribe of Judah to see for themselves the wonderful land the LORD was giving to them.  Two of the men returned positive and enthusiastic, the other ten returned enthusiastic about what they had seen in the land–but fearful of the people they saw living there.  Those ten convinced the entire group they should not go and try to overtake it.  Their shorter journey could have lasted a few weeks–I find that a little concerning as they had huge herds and many people, over one million with young children, possessions and so forth to move.  Definitely NO small feat. But because they whined, doubted, were fearful and mistrustful and finally challenged Moses’ authority, God punished them.

Fear and anger can frequently go hand in hand.  Anger builds when we or our family is threatened.  These people living in the desert with nothing that felt familiar, traveling to who- knew-where, and seeing no end in sight, let fear, doubt, and uncertainty lead to anger and striking out.  God’s consequence to the Israelis who fearfully decidied to not go into the Promised Land because of the ‘giants’ then never saw and stepped foot into the land.

When they cried about thirst and needing water again at Meribah, God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff.  In his anger, Moses said, “Hear now, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” and Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice and water came out abundantly.  (Exodus 17:10-11)   The water gushed from the rock; but in his anger at these people he had led for forty years, Moses struck the rock twice.  And God then said that Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.   He got see the land from mountain tops, but was not able to enter it.  Anger and how it is expressed can be costly.   After so many years, definitely more than 40 of following God, doing His will to the best of his ability, one flash of anger caused his the privelege of putting his feet onto the Promised Land.   A seriously high price to pay

We can damage property, frighten our families, cause mistrust and uneasiness with family, neighbors, associates.  We one most of us can cause breaches in friendships and family that cannot be easily repaired and made right.  Anger has consequences and unresolved can affect you deeply–including even your health.  It can cause others to not be comfortable around you, always slightly uneasy that you will let loose with temper either verbally or physically.  

The above verses show us how to learn to manage temper.  It is a process, but one most of us should try, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to curb and diminish.  

Lord, you know I am NOT there yet.  I still have areas that cause me anger.  But I am thankful I have the steps and the help of the Holy Spirit to help me override it.  I am so thankful for all You have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’