Angry With God
Lent is a penitential season. Reflecting on Jesus’ last days and anticipation of his resurrection. Also, our part in the cost that led Jesus to the cross.
The LORD asked Cain, “If you do good, will you not be lifted up? If you do not do good, sin is crouching at the door. It has a strong desire for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7 EHV)
The Word of the LORD came to Samuel, ““I regret that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and he has not carried out my words.” (1 Samuel 15:11 EHV)
Cain was very angry. (Genesis 4:5) Samuel was angry. (1 Samuel 15:11) Anger at God. We surely would never do that, would we?
This is a case study on being angry with God. Samuel’s anger is linked to God and Saul. Cain’s anger is linked to God and Abel. Saul lost the kingship of Israel. Abel lost his life.
Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel+15&version=EHV>
The Lord said [to Cain], “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=EHV>
This is an interesting parallel. How did each man handle his anger? One went towards God, one went away from God. God will ultimately take care of that anger, all anger, all sin. There will be anger and there will be crying to God; either by the one who is angry, or the one who is a victim of anger. Will anger lead to repentance and a cry for mercy? Will anger lead to sin and a cry for justice for that sin?
Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there with a withered hand. They were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day, so that they could accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step forward!” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. Then he looked around at them with anger, deeply grieved at the hardness of their hearts. He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees left and immediately began to conspire against Jesus with the Herodians, plotting how they might kill him.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%203&version=EHV>
A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23&version=EHV>
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=EHV>
After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=EHV>
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23&version=EHV>
In Jesus’ crucifixion there is crying, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.
“Indeed, we are witnesses of all the things he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem, yet they killed him by hanging him on a cross. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be seen, not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had already chosen—by us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that, through his name, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10&version=EHV>
Be angry with God, tell him about it, cry with Jesus, he has been there before.
Trust the Promises,
Steve Skiver