Wednesday-January 29, 2025
God does not Afflict Willingly - The Irremediable Anger
Lamentations 3:32-33; Jer. 35:14-17, Ps. 81:11-14; Ezra 5:12; Jeremiah 51:24-25, 44; 2 Chron. 36:16; Zech. 1:15; Judg. 2:13-14; Ps. 106:41-42; Judg. 10:6-16, Deut. 29:24-26.
“But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16)
In Lamentations 3:32-33, the prophet Jeremiah expresses the heart of God’s sorrowful nature in bringing judgment:
“Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” (Lamentations 3:32-33)
These verses highlight that while God allows suffering and grief, His actions are not taken out of desire to harm but rather out of a necessary response to sin and rebellion. God’s affliction is always purposeful, aimed at bringing about repentance, cleansing, or justice. He does not afflict "willingly," meaning that it is not His desire to bring suffering, but sometimes it becomes a necessary consequence of sin. This underscores the concept of God’s anger being a last resort, driven by His justice and holiness, and not His first response.
In Jeremiah 35:14-17, we see a similar sentiment. God had sent repeated messages to His people through prophets, but they failed to listen:
“The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.” (Jeremiah 35:14)
God is shown as patient, offering repeated opportunities for repentance. His anger only arises after His patience has been tested and ignored. This sets the stage for understanding that God’s judgments, once invoked, are irreversible, as the people have rejected His mercy.
Psalm 81:11-14 also echoes this theme:
“But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries.” (Psalm 81:11-14)
Here, we see the tragic result of God’s people continually rejecting His guidance: He eventually gives them over to their own desires. The irreversible nature of God's anger and judgment becomes clear as His hand of protection is withdrawn, allowing the consequences of sin to take their course.
In Ezra 5:12 and Jeremiah 51:24-25, 44, God's judgment is portrayed as a final response to the rejection of His call:
“But after our ancestors provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon...” (Ezra 5:12)
“I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion, says the Lord... and I will make it a desolate waste.” (Jeremiah 51:24-25)
Once God's patience is exhausted, His anger is irreversible, leading to the destruction of the people who persist in rebellion. This underscores the seriousness of rejecting God’s call to repentance.
Psalm 106:41-42 and Judges 2:13-14 provide further examples of God's irreversible anger:
“Therefore He gave them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.” (Psalm 106:41)
God, having extended mercy and grace for generations, finally gives His people over to their enemies as a consequence of their continued disobedience.
In Judges 10:6-16, God’s anger is kindled after repeated cycles of sin:
“Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.” (Judges 10:13-14)
God’s refusal to help after multiple opportunities for repentance highlights the irreversible nature of His anger after repeated rejection.
Finally, Zechariah 1:15 and Deuteronomy 29:24-26 show that God’s anger is not only aimed at Israel but extends to all nations that rebel against Him:
“I am very displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.” (Zechariah 1:15)
“And they have gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they do not know and that He has not given to them.” (Deuteronomy 29:26)
God’s anger becomes irreversible when sin has reached its peak, and He allows the consequences to unfold.
In John 2:15, we see a moment where Jesus, in righteous anger, purges the temple:
“So He made a whip of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” (John 2:15)
This act of Jesus is an expression of God’s anger towards the commercialization and corruption of the sacred. While God's anger is often slow and measured, there are moments when it becomes immediate and intense, especially when the sacred is desecrated. This demonstrates the seriousness with which God views the abuse of His holiness and the sanctity of worship.
Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) Insights:
Ellen G. White's writings emphasize that God’s anger is always rooted in His righteousness and justice, but it is never exercised apart from mercy. She affirms that God does not "afflict willingly" but only when necessary to fulfill His justice:
"God is long-suffering and full of mercy; but when His judgments are called for, they will be executed. The Lord does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; but He is a God of justice, and His wrath will fall upon the unrepentant." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 340)
In Patriarchs and Prophets, Ellen White describes the consequences of rejecting God's mercy:
“The Lord’s long-suffering is not to be regarded as indifference to sin. It is the expression of His desire that all should come to repentance, but there comes a time when His judgment must fall. He allows time for repentance, but when that time is over, His anger is irreversible.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 593)
Her writings highlight that while God’s anger is a response to sin, it is always a result of His holiness and justice. The severity of His judgment is not arbitrary but is a direct consequence of persistent rejection of His mercy.
Shepherd's Rod (SRod) Insights:
The Shepherd’s Rod emphasizes that God's anger, once aroused, cannot be reversed unless repentance occurs. It highlights that God's mercy is always available, but once His judgments are executed, they are final. This irreversible anger can be seen in the history of Israel, where after repeated cycles of rejection, God's judgment was executed:
“God has long been calling His people to repentance. His judgments have been delayed, but they are not to be ignored. When God's patience runs out, His anger becomes irreversible, as was the case with ancient Israel. The remnant must be warned, for God's judgment is now at hand.” (The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 84)
The SRod teaches that the irreversible nature of God’s anger is not about a lack of love, but about the seriousness of sin and the necessity of justice. After God's mercy has been spurned, His wrath is inevitable and final.
Biblically, God’s anger is always a response to sin and disobedience, but it is never arbitrary or unprovoked. His affliction is always purposeful and for the ultimate good of those involved, aiming at correction and repentance. However, once His patience is exhausted, His anger becomes irreversible, as demonstrated in the fall of Israel and the destruction of nations.
In the Spirit of Prophecy, God's anger is portrayed as part of His justice, where His judgments are executed when mercy is repeatedly rejected. While God does not afflict willingly, there is a time when His anger must be revealed.
The Shepherd’s Rod stresses that God's anger becomes irreversible when His people persist in rejecting His mercy. His justice requires that His judgments be executed, and those who remain unrepentant must face the consequences.
Ultimately, these insights highlight that God's anger, while serious and just, is never His first desire. His deepest desire is for repentance and restoration. However, when His mercy is rejected and His holiness is trampled upon, His anger becomes a necessary and irreversible consequence of His justice.
