90. Godly anger is justified

Balaam had told the King of Moab to entice the children of Israel through sexual sin. The sexual sin led to the men of Israel attending Moabite festivals to the honor of their gods and it was not long before they started to worship Baal of Peor. They did just that and soon enough they were led astray. Israel was already worshipping other gods and they haven't even entered into the Promised Land, filled with pagan gods as yet.

Needless to say, God was very angry with them.

"Seize all the ringleaders and execute them before the Lord in broad daylight, so His fierce anger will turn away from the people of Israel." So Moses ordered Israel's judges to execute everyone who had joined in worshiping Baal of Peor." Numbers 25:4,5

And even while this was going on, an Israelite man had the audacity to bring a Moabite woman into the camp and into his tent right in front of Moses and all the people. Phinehas, the priest and grandson of Aaron, saw this and godly anger rose up in him. He went into the man's tent, took a spear and thrust it through both of them, killing them instantly. And God was pleased with him:

"So tell him that I am making My special covenant of peace with him. In this covenant, he and his descendants will be priests for all time, because he was zealous for his Lord and made atonement for the people of Israel." Numbers 25:12,13

Godly anger is justified it would seem. Jesus also got very angry when He saw that His Father's temple was used as a means of cheating the poor and of making money out of law abiding citizens:

"In the temple area He saw merchants selling cattle, sheep and doves for sacrifices; and He saw money changers behind their counters. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold the doves, He told them, "Get these things out of here. Don't turn My Father's house into a marketplace!" John 2:14-16

Jesus never sinned, so we can know with certainty that His anger here was not sin either. He was justified in getting angry that His Father's ways were being manipulated and used for personal gain, instead of using it to glorify His Name.

We can learn from Jesus and Phinehas, not to justify murdering someone and turning over tables, but that we are allowed to get angry when God is laughed at and when His ways are scorned and not followed. We are allowed to get angry at corruption, we are allowed to get angry when widows and orphans are treated with contempt, we are allowed to get angry when God's Name is used in vain, we are allowed to get angry if His Word is twisted and turned to suit moneymaker's schemes. We are allowed to get angry. And then we must do something about it and obviously pray about it. We should expose corruption where we see it manifesting, we should help orphans and widows where we can, we should speak up when God's Name is used in vain etc. God is our first priority and His glory and ways are to be strived after and held in high esteem. Give God your all and live for His dreams in our broken society.

Father, our hearts break when we see all around us the shame and contempt with which Your ways and Word are treated. Please help us Lord to stand up and make a difference right there where we are. In Jesus Name. Amen

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