FORGIVE GOD! (Part 3)

Dearly Beloved,
FORGIVE GOD! (Part 3)
“The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah” (2 Samuel 6:7-8 NIV).
In the second part of this message last week, five reasons were highlighted why people may get angry with God. In this third part, how people handle their anger will be discussed. It has been established earlier in this series that anger is an essential part of man. However, “Counsellors have noted that there are four ways of approaching anger. Three are unhealthy: suppressing anger, open aggression and passive aggression. The fourth which is the [healthiest] is expressing anger.”
One can suppress one’s anger when one refuses or hesitates to admit that one is angry. Such a person would not want other people to know that he is angry. Even, when it is glaring that he has been provoked, he would pretend as if nothing has happened. Such people are dangerous and they really do not like themselves.
One can express one’s anger openly in an aggressive manner. Such a person is tend to openly criticize, abuse, fight with, or/and gossip about the person he is angry with. If the person is angry with God, he may deny His existence, power, or withdraw from serving Him. Such person indeed needs to forgive God!
People that passively express their aggression may be silent and transfer such aggression to another person. Such people are “snake under grass.” David was angry with God for killing Uzzah, but he transferred his anger indirectly to Obed-Edom (see 2 Samuel 6).
One can however express one’s anger in a healthy manner if “the anger is directed at a wrongdoing or behaviour. In this case, the right or justified anger is disciplined and under control.” This kind of expression is purposeful and seeks to correct a bad situation. Jesus Christ demonstrated this when He drove away all the people that were buying and selling in the temple (see John 2:14-16). Nonetheless, there are some examples in the Old Testament of people that expressed their anger against God for what they perceived God did wrong. Jonah’s case is a classic example (see Jonah 4).
In any case, the way one views life will determine the way one expresses one’s anger. If one agrees that life itself is a test and that as Rick Warren puts it, “God tests our faith, character, obedience, love, loyalty and integrity through many of the circumstances we face daily and the choices we make,” then even if one is angry with God, one will easily forgive God and seek what God wants to bring out of the test of life whether it is a disproportionate punishment, a perceived injustice, blocked goals or unmet desires, acts of Satan, or even “acts of God.”
How do you handle your anger? Do you pretend as if you are not angry, do you transfer it to other person, do you openly and aggressively express it, or do you healthily and purposefully express it to right the wrong?
The next part of this message will enable us to further gain a perspective on our lives and circumstances and eventually forgive God as two very important doctrines - the providence of God and the sovereignty of God will be discussed. Till next week, forgive God!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).