Thank you for the question on the wrath of God, “Isn’t God a bit too angry in the Old Testament for theologians to say that he loves us infinitely?”
If I may suggest that one look at two biblical examples to see if God over-reacted in his anger against humans.
A. The biblical narrative of the condition of the world on God getting a bit too angry.
Genesis 6 says this about God’s observation of mankind, “5 The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (NIV). Bible citations are in the NIV.
Was God justified in destroying the mankind? The text states that God saw mankind’s actions on earth. The actions of humans are described as great wickedness. There was total lawlessness by humans. Every person did what was right in his/her own eyes and felt justified in taking advantage of others.
Although the specific actions of humans are not fully detail, the actions of mankind are contrasted between evil and good. The wickedness of humans wasn’t just a small amount, but it was great. It wasn’t just a few people doing it, it was rampant on earth. Their attitude perhaps was like Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
If that wasn’t bad enough, God saw not only the actions of mankind, but he also saw the intentions, the motives of mankind. The text describes it as being only evil all the time. People were plotting on how to steal, rape, or kill.
How long did God allowed this to go on? It went on until there was only one family who sought to do right on earth. the victims cried out for justice from God for there was no justice on earth. Mankind has polluted earth with its crime.
We’re left wondering, should God let the worse of mankind continue to rob, maim, and kill others? Hasn’t God given enough time for mankind to change his ways! There was not stopping of crime during that time. Was God wrong in becoming “upset” with mankind for ruining his creation? For God to allow the wickedness to continue up to the time of Noah demonstrates God’s patience and grace. He saved Noah and his family with the animals aboard the Ark. That is grace.
B. The biblical narrative of the conditions of the Israelites when God became a little bit too angry.
In Exodus 1, the text describes the action of Pharoah and the Egyptians toward the Israelites. The text says this, “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” 11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. ….14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly….15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” …22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
As one reads this biblical narrative, the Israelites were a peaceful people living in Egypt. The new pharaoh enslaved the Israelites, worked them ruthlessly. They weren’t just slaves. The Egyptians were trying to work them to death. When that failed, Pharaoh resorted to indirect murdering of every baby boy enslaved Jewish family. When that failed, Pharaoh commanded his people to throw every baby born boy into the Nile River. That didn’t fail.
God didn’t become angry immediately when his people were enslaved or even harshly treated by the Egyptians. He saw what was happening. It is when Pharaoh attempted to kill God’s people that he sent Moses. Even then, God gave the Egyptians to repent of their behavior. We don’t know how long this murdering of the Jewish baby boys went on, but it is likely thousands of baby boys were drowned in the Nile River.
Should God be a little upset with the genocide of his people, of babies being thrown into the Nile River or should he condone Pharaoh’s actions and his people? What would one do if one had the power to stop it? Would one exercise it or stayed one’s actions? How should God respond in hearing the cries of his people for the loss of their sons?
As the account unfolds, God even allowed the Egyptians to be spared of the angel of death if they were to enter the house of slave with blood on their door or if that Egyptian family allow the slaves to put blood on their doorway. The Egyptians saw 9 plagues on Egypt. They had no reason to doubt the 10th plague. They choose to ignore Moses’ warning of the impending death.
Did God love the Egyptians? God’s judgment was on the firstborn of son of Egypt, not all the males of Egypt. He allowed the Egyptians to feel what the Israelites felt in the loss of their sons. God showed his grace and mercy by not destroying all of Egypt. That is grace and compassion.
As one looks at the “horrific” acts of God in the Old Testament, it is warranted that God judged the nations and even his own people. In Judges through the Babylonian captivity, God judged his own people for their sins. God didn’t play favoritism by ignoring Israel’s sin.
The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 2, “2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Summary: I am surprised that God is that patient with the evil thoughts and actions of mankind, giving humans time to repent of their evil ways.
-Kingston