Anger unchecked boils over into acts that reveal the worst side of a person. The elder son of earth’s first marriage, Cain, was the first person in history eaten up with anger. (Gen. 4:5) He had disobeyed God and brought to His creator a sacrifice of his own concoction—rather than one that would answer to God’s commands. As a result, God did not accept Cain’s offering; whereas, righteous Abel obeyed God, brought the sacrifice that God had ordained, and it was accepted. Anger is an upheaval of the spirit that has slain many people since Cain, who in anger murdered his brother, becoming “wroth” with God not long after his parents were banished from the grand Garden of Eden due to their disobedience to God’s stated command. Anger is still one of mankind’s most active antagonists. It will be until time shall be no more.
Solomon wisely said that “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Provs. 16:32) Alexander the Great, Greek general and world conqueror, learned this in a most agonizing way. The young Alexander was a gifted leader, “energetic, versatile and intelligent.” He was usually quite level-headed, but at times he let his anger control him, to his woeful remorse. One of Alexander’s closest friends, Cletus, on one occasion became drunk, and in his drunkenness began to make fun of the Emperor in front of his men. Blinded by anger, Alexander quickly grasped a spear from a soldier’s hand and hurled it at his drunken friend, with the intent of frightening the general; but, Alexander’s aim was deft, and the spear hit its mark with deadly force, killing the Emperor’s childhood friend. Alexander was never the same, sinking into deep remorse and even attempting to take his own life. For days he lay sick, crying out for Cletus, cursing, and calling himself a murderer. Alexander the Great conquered the world before he was 34 years of age but he never was able to conquer himself—another victim to the sin of anger.
- The Sin of Anger: Anger is often birthed in rebellion. Man’s spirit stiffens itself against a person, a restriction, a perceived injustice, a jealous spirit, envy, revenge, and a multitude of other avenues that the fallen nature of man is quick to make available. The sin of anger is birthed in rebellion, ultimately, to the rule of God; it is also nurtured in pride and self-centeredness. Lucifer—son of the morning angel before being lifted up in pride and becoming the Devil—was angry that He was not on the throne of God, and in every deed the Devil has ever done there are the sister seeds of pride and anger.
- The Signs of Anger: A fallen countenance (Gen. 4:5,6); irritableness; impatience, tense voice; glaring stare; hurtful epitaphs, words designed to hurt, explosive threats and actions, silence, clenched teeth, heavy breathing, violent behavior. Almost daily, in most major cities and even small cities, the awful end result of anger is reported on the news: murder.
- The Severe Consequences of Anger. Often, people overcome by anger become, as did Cain, fugitives. Cain lost his fellowship with God and, as a result, was made a fugitive and vagabond. (Gen. 4:14) In anguish, Cain remonstrated, “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and vagabond in the earth….” (Gen. 4:14) Not only was living as a fugitive one of the severe consequences of anger, but Cain also became a slave to fear: “Everyone that findeth me shall slay me.” Under the law, by God’s grace, people who were unintentional manslayers were able to take refuge in one of several “cities of refuge” provided at God’s instructions. Nothing is worse than living one’s life as a fugitive, immersed day and night in fear. Sin’s consequences are severe and unrelenting.
- The Sad End of Anger: One person said well that “as long as anger lives, she continues to be the fruitful mother of many unhappy children.” A “resident” some years back in a wildlife park in the state of Victoria, in Australia, became something of a tourist attraction. It seems that a crocodile chewed the pipes in his tank and ate the filter, resulting in his normally green skin turning a bright orange. It is said that the change of color did nothing to improve his temper. His name was Snappy, and his keepers testified that the croc lived up to its name. That happens (with more tragic ends) with God’s creatures, who were created in his image—an image that was darkened by the fall of mankind into sin when our first parents disobeyed God’s command to not eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. So, Cain was overcome by anger: so was Saul, so were Esau and many others whose lives are a testament, in scripture, to the awful fruit of anger. Here is a short list of some other “fruits” of this sin: division, death, divorce, damnation, deceit, disfavor, destruction. That is why we read in the Proverbs: “Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways.” (Provs. 22:24,25)
- The Solution for Anger: (1) Do right; (2) Find acceptance (with God and man); (3) Obey God and receive His goodness. “And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” (Gen. 4:6,7)
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the son go down upon thy wrath.” (Eph. 4:26) “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Eccl. 7:9)
YOU and GOD 