Is the God of the Old Testament an Angry God?
Prophecy in Scripture
Today’s Verse and Thought
"But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”(Joshua 23:15-16)
The battle of good against evil (Image source)
From yesterday- The book [of Isaiah] is divided into several sections, with different types of prophecies in each. Some of them have been fulfilled and others have yet to take place. One prevailing message in Isaiah’s prophecies is judgement towards Israel and Judah.
The Reason for Judgment Against Israel and Judah
The book of Isaiah has several prevailing themes: judgement against Israel and Judah; the future restoration of Israel as a nation; the hope of the coming Messiah as “the Suffering Servant”; and the final hope of a time of peace and reconciliation in the coming Kingdom.
One of the difficulties I think we have when reading the Old Testament is the perceived harshness of an angry God towards His own people. In the Church Age, we have a hard time understanding how God, who is 100% love, could show such disdain against the nation He created as His own; the nation that is the apple of His eye.
“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”(Deuteronomy 32:10)
While God is 100% pure love, He is also 100% pure justice
God can’t break His own covenant, otherwise His Word would be meaningless. How can we trust Him if He doesn’t hold to His Word? Like Israel, we like to trust God for all His good promises, but we tend to ignore the warnings and consequences of what happens when turn away from Him.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9)
God is always patient with His people. He takes no delight in discipline and punishment. The judgment against Israel and Judah was self-inflicted and rooted in a long series of events and behaviors that stemmed from Israel and Judah’s egregious spiritual decline over the course of several centuries. A warning for us today as well.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
(Galatians 6:7-8)
Isaiah proclaimed God's messages to both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, highlighting the reasons for the coming divine judgment. And it shouldn’t have been a surprise to the people; they all knew the covenant promises and warnings that were taught since the time of the Exodus.
Ever since the death of King Solomon (approx. 930 BC), Israel and Judah had continuously turned away from the true worship of God and engaged in idolizing false gods, such as Baal and Asherah. This directly violated the most important, eternal commandment: Only worship the Lord your God.
“And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”(Luke 4:8)
Back when the twelve tribes of Israel came out of the Exodus and entered the promised land, they were warned of judgement if they chose to break the covenant that God was making with them.
In Joshua's final speech to the people back then, he urged the Israelites to remain faithful to God and warned that failure to do so would result in severe judgement and discipline. This covenant was central to their relationship as God's chosen people and was tied to their protection and possession of the land of Israel.
“But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things…”
This is a direct warning that, if the Israelites turned away from God and violated the covenant, they would suffer the agreed covenant punishments. This was a legally binding contract in the court of heaven. And now fast forward to Isaiah and we see that the people kept breaking faith with God.
Hundreds of years past the Exodus, Isaiah condemned the people for their "high places" (places of idol worship) and for seeking guidance from pagan gods rather than God Most High (Isaiah 1:29–31). Israel - the northern kingdom - was especially guilty of constant rebellion.
After the northern kingdom split from the southern, Israel never had a king who followed the Lord wholeheartedly. Instead, they consistently worshiped idols, followed false prophets, and made alliances with foreign nations instead of trusting in God.
Israel's Rebellion (Isaiah 1). Assyrian Invasion (Isaiah 8). Destruction of Jerusalem (Isaiah 39).
Isaiah begins with a scathing indictment of the moral and spiritual apostasy of Judah. He called for repentance and warned of God’s pending judgment if they continued sinning. The people were accused of hypocrisy in their “worship” as they preformed all of their outward religious rituals while ignoring true righteousness. And yet, God was still trying to get them to truly repent in their hearts.
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.”(Isaiah 1:11)
Isaiah predicted that the Assyrians, a powerful empire back then, would invade and conquer both Israel and parts of Judah due to their rebellion. The prophecy foretold a time when the Assyrians would overwhelm the nation. Isaiah also prophesied the eventual fall of Jerusalem to Israel’s enemies.
The following passages relate to the prophetic judgements that Isaiah spoke to the people:
Judgment on Israel (Northern Kingdom):
Assyrian invasion and exile due to idolatry, injustice, and pride (Isaiah 9:8-21, 10:5-34).
Destruction of the nation, with oppression and suffering resulting from their sin (Isaiah 9:18-21, 28:1-13).
Judgment on Judah (Southern Kingdom):
Invasion and destruction by Assyria and ultimately Babylon due to hypocrisy, idolatry, and false alliances (Isaiah 1:2-20, 29:13-14, 28:14-29, 30:1-17, 36).
Exile to Babylon (prophesied in later chapters, especially Isaiah 39).
The Day of the Lord - a future and final judgement against all nations that would take place in the future.
Cosmic judgment on all nations, including Israel and Judah, for their sins and idolatry (Isaiah 13-23, 24-27).
God’s Word is Trustworthy
The book of Isaiah is full of indictments against God’s people. Their constant sin of rebellion and disloyalty towards God proves that God is faithful to His Word. He warned the people over and over that if they continued to turn away from Him, He would have no choice but to act according to the terms of their legal contract. God’s covenant is full of guaranteed promises, as well as punishments.
While God is 100% justice, He always desires reconciliation. God is also 100% hope and love. Even though God had to discipline His children, He also promised that a day would come when He would restore His people and make a new covenant.
Isaiah prophesied that God would not leave His children without hope. There was a Savior and a future kingdom coming that would be far superior. Isaiah proclaimed a time of future hope that was coming after the devastation.
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Today’s Prayer
Father I’m humbled by the patience you have towards us. We are such rebellious people. I think of how many sermons I’ve heard about your love and grace that is unconditional, but few about the discipline. As a mom, I know in my heart how hard it was when I had to discipline my own children. I never wanted them to be hurt or suffer, but sometimes they left me no choice. As a good parent, discipline is a form of love. A good parent isn’t one who indulges, but one who teaches their children right and wrong. It’s our job to raise our children to choose good over evil. And even though we hate to see them suffer, we know that they will suffer even more if we let them do whatever they want.
You are our perfect Father. Your Word is perfect in grace and justice. And if you don’t discipline us when we rebel, we should be very afraid, for you only discipline those you love. I pray that you restore us today when we sin against you. Help us to walk on your narrow road of provision, peace, and protection. Give us a heart that desires good and not evil.
And I pray for your children today who are drowning in the consequences of sin. Please restore them Father. Love them back to life in you. Give them hope. Give all of us hope today. Not hope in the world’s systems and leaders, but hope in you alone and your mighty perfect promises. Thank you Father for all you give us. May all honor and glory be yours alone. Amen❤️