Angry

And (Moses) went out from Pharaoh’s presence fiercely angry. (Exodus 11:8)

Those words struck me today.

Why was Moses angry?

He was angry at Pharaoh’s hardened heart. He was angry at how Pharaoh had treated God’s people.

Was Moses’ anger purely righteous?

It’s hard to say. He was human. And his anger did get him into trouble more than once. (Exodus 2:11-12, Numbers 20:10-12)

There is room for anger in a Christian’s life. When we see people’s hardened hearts. When we see injustice in this world.

Jesus got angry. (Mark 3:5, 11:15-17)

The question is: what do we do with our anger?

Paul wrote,

Be angry and do not sin., Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

I think the thing to remember is that when we see the hardness of people’s hearts and the injustice that’s in this world, God still has a plan in it all.

And ultimately, it’s a plan to save.

We see that with Pharaoh and the Israelites.

We also see it when because of the hardness of the Jewish leaders’ hearts, Jesus was crucified for our salvation.

So what do we do?

Be angry. But do not sin. Don’t give the devil an opportunity to use your anger in wrong ways.

Rather, join in with God’s work of salvation.

Salvation does not come by arguing politics, railing at the falling standards of morality in society, or screaming at the hardened hearts of people.

It comes by taking the love of God into the lives of the people around us.

And we do that by following Jesus’ example of grace and truth.

Jesus never compromised on truth. He pointed out people’s sins (John 4:16-18).

He pointed out when they were ignorant of or twisted God’s word (Matthew 5:43-44, 22:29).

And yet, he was the friend of sinners. (Matthew 11:19)

Can the same be said of us?

What are we more known for? Our anger? Our political positions?

Or for being the friend of sinners?