When God Gets Mad

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. Judges 2:18

When I first began practicing addiction medicine, I took an online course which addressed the use of a prescription medication that can help with cravings for a specific street drug. There is good evidence to show that it works better than placebo, but the online course made it sound like everyone who took this medication would be instantly and forever sober. Having had some experience with addiction, I was skeptical. It turns out that I was right to be so. None of my patients took the medication as prescribed as they all failed repeatedly at getting off their old drug. When I’d first meet a patient, I’d be full of compassion. Then, after they repeatedly refused to do as I instructed, my compassion waned.

Still, I get it. I’ve been the one who’s failed repeatedly. I’ve known the right path. I’ve been pointed down the right path. Then, I’ve veered off the right path. I’m sure that those who tried to help me were vexed by my poor choices. In my poor decisions, I’ve wondered how God sees me. Does he get angry at my disobedience? I know that because of Christ’s death that I’m eternally forgiven, but still, God isn’t blind to my repeated failures. So, I’ve got to wonder how he feels when I do the same stupid things over and over.

Today’s passage reveals that God does indeed get angry. In the passage, Israel wandered from God and so God allowed their enemies victory over them. In his people’s distress, God had compassion for them and raised up judges who delivered them, leading them back to God. However, when the judge died, the people would again wander from God. What was God’s response to Israel’s repeated infidelity? The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel (Judges 2:20).

There are two lessons for me here. First, when I repeatedly refuse to follow God, I should expect pain and misery. God tires of my disobedience, and he does allow painful consequences. Second though, is that when working with others who’ve failed repeatedly, I must remember my own experience – that I too have done absurd things over and over. I must remember that though my failures kindled God’s anger, that he was always right there waiting to embrace me when I returned to him. As God has had compassion for me in my struggles, so I must have compassion for others.