The Bible frequently describes God as full of wrath. Scripture uses thirteen different Hebrew words, and four different Greek words, to describe God’s wrath.[1] In this article, we will explore three aspects of God’s wrath:
- Divine vs. Human Wrath
- Destructive vs. Constructive Wrath
- God’s Wrath Against Unbelievers vs. Believers
What’s the purpose of learning about God’s wrath?
Some of you have friends or peers who are curious about Christianity; they attend church every now and then, they talk vaguely about God, but they have a hard time going all in for Jesus. One of the reasons they won’t fully commit to following Jesus is the topic of God’s Wrath.“How could I believe in a God who caused a flood? …who created a Hell? …who sent His own Son to die?" When you get into conversations with people who can’t trust a wrathful God, what do you say?
After reading this article, you will be able to explain to them that a God who is never angry at sin is either aloof to the problems of the world or doesn’t care. A God of “Love, Love, Love” but never justice or order is not worthy of our respect. If God is holy and just, He must act not only as a loving father, but also a sheriff and a judge.
Divine vs. Human Wrath
Scripture depicts God the Father as “wrathful” (Nahum 1:2), “enraged” (Isaiah 34:2), and “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:19). Furthermore, Jesus Christ is portrayed as coming with a “rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9) and a “sharp sword” (Revelation 19:11-21). Many find this unsettling; honestly, I find this unsettling! These descriptions unsettle us because we instinctively project our experiences of human anger onto God.We humans often become angry for sinful reasons. We tend to be self-righteous and self-deceptive, leading to unjust outbursts of anger. By contrast, God does not fly off the handle or lose control of his emotions; He practices “a settled indignation”[2] that has righteous foundation and purposeful conclusion.
God’s wrath is a necessary expression of his holiness. D.A. Carson explains the connection between holiness and wrath this in his book The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. He writes, “[God’s wrath] is a function of God’s holiness against sin. Where there is no sin, there is no wrath - but there will always be love in God… The price of diluting God’s wrath is diminishing God’s holiness.”[3]
If we were able to forge a coin that represented God’s righteousness, this is what it would look like. One side would show God’s wrath – we would see his anger, his justice, his punitive nature. But the other side would show God’s love: we would see pictures of mercy, grace, patience, and second chances. You and I, as mere humans, have a hard time balancing the two. We flip this coin, and it lands on one side or the other – we feel either anger or grace, justice or mercy, judgement or love. We are unable to perfectly balance the two sides of this coin. But God never flips a coin; He is simultaneously a God of wrath and a God of love.
Destructive vs. Constructive Wrath
Human anger is often destructive. It flares up when egos are bruised, preferences are blocked, or control is threatened. In those moments, wrath leaves a trail of relational damage: cutting words, broken trust, and sometimes even physical harm. Our anger is often impulsive and self-centered, more focused on defending our pride than pursuing what is right. Scripture is honest about this danger, which is why believers are repeatedly warned against “man’s anger” that “does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20).God’s wrath, by contrast, is always constructive.
In Psalms 2 and 23, Jesus is pictured as holding a “rod of iron.” A rod was a common tool used by shepherds in the ancient world. It was basically a stick with a big knot at the end and it held two purposes: To fight off enemies (like a wolf or a thief) or to bring sheep into safety.
Likewise, kings would carry a fancier rod called a “scepter.” It also had two related purposes: It symbolized authority and peace. Whoever has the rod has all the power, so speak carefully when the king holds his scepter! It also indicated peace: There’s a woman in the Bible named Esther who approaches the king while he’s in an important meeting within the inner court. Instead of ordering her execution, he extends his scepter as a sign of favor and peace; meaning, she has found favor with the king. All is well. (Esther 4:11, 5:2)
A “Rod of Iron” can either be terrifying or relieving. When you look up at a shepherd holding a rod, you either feel nervous or relieved. If you belong in that flock, it’s a relief. If you are a thief, you better be scared. When you look up at a king holding a rod, you either feel nervous or relieved. If he is your king, you are relieved. If he’s the enemy king, you better be scared.
Constructive wrath brings evil to justice. It changes chaos into order. It turns wrongs into rights. A king is someone we expect to punish evil, reward good, and make the kingdom whole again. We expect him to use his authority in constructive ways.
Unlike human wrath, God’s wrath “is neither a vindictive, emotional overreaction, nor is it unpredictable.”[4] Rather it is just, measured, and reliable. In a word: Constructive. This is the wrath of God. A constructive wrath that rights what is wrong and straightens what is crooked.
God’s Wrath against Unbelievers vs. Believers
In His love, God has provided Jesus as a way of escape from his wrath: “In Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood” is it possible to be “saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 3:25; 5:9). The word propitiation used above is a critical term to understand. It refers to the appeasement, or satisfaction, of God’s wrath.God hates sin. He hates it because sin has ruined Shalom, sin has taken lives, sin has torn apart families, sin has corrupted governments, sin has fueled hatred, and sin has cursed this world. God is furious with sin and what it’s done to His creation. His wrath burns hot with indignation against the sinners who have wreaked havoc on this planet.
On the cross, however, Jesus’ death satisfied God’s wrath. All of his anger and indignation was directed totally to Jesus. The punishment of your sin was placed on him. Jesus received the blow of God’s wrath as your substitute, your sacrifice. He poured out his righteous anger on Jesus Christ in your place.
If you are a follower of Jesus, there is something you should know: God is not mad at you. He’s not disappointed in you. He’s not disgusted with you. As a child of God, you may be the recipient of God’s discipline (see my other article on this topic) but never His wrath.
If you are not a follower of Jesus, I must tell you a hard truth: You remain under God’s wrath. John 3:36 states that “whoever believes in the Son [Jesus] has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Scripture warns unbelievers that you are “storing up wrath for yourselves on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5) and “the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6).
God’s wrath against sinners will only be appeased when they are eternally separated from Him, unable to harm His beloved children (2 Thess. 1:7–9).
Psalm 2, which is a treatise about God’s wrath, ends with two paths: perishing in destruction, or taking refuge in His forgiveness (see verse 12). Warnings of God’s wrath are meant to turn humankind to repentance (see Jonah 3:9). God wants you to turn from your sin, and trust in Jesus for salvation.
“Do you wish to see God’s love? Look at the cross.
Do you wish to see God’s wrath? Look at the cross.”[5]
Conclusion
God’s wrath is an unsettling topic, but it is not a blemish on His character; it is expression of His holiness. If He never became angry at evil, injustice, and human rebellion, He would not be good.We have seen that God’s wrath is not like ours. His anger is never a selfish outburst but a self-controlled opposition to all that threatens His good creation. It is constructive wrath that brings evil to justice and straightens what is crooked. Like a shepherd’s rod or a king’s scepter, the wrath of God can be terrifying or comforting.
In Christ, that wrath is either satisfied for us or still remains on us. At the cross, God did not set aside his wrath; he satisfied it. Jesus stood in the place of sinners, absorbing the judgment we deserve, so that anyone who takes refuge in him no longer has to fear the wrath of God.
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[1] Jim West, “Divine Wrath,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
[2] MacArthur, The Wrath of God, 21.
[3] Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, 67.
[4] Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 1312.
[5] Carson, 71.