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Therefore I was angry with that generation...

Text: Hebrews 3:10

THE ANGER OF THE LORD

This is a subject that must be carefully understood. The following text asserts that God is capable of anger (holy and righteous).

“Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
and they have not known My ways.'”
Hebrews 3:10

1. Therefore I was angry with that generation

a) The inferential particle “therefore” suggests that God had cause/reason to be angry.

b) God’s anger is always truly justified.

c) His anger is always well-focused (on “that generation”).

2. Highlighting of two reasons for God’s righteous and holy anger

a) They always go astray:-

i) The problem of “going astray”.

ii) There was an inclination to go astray to worship idols.

iii) This was a perpetual problem (suggested by the word “always”).

b) They have not known My ways

i) This does not mean that Israel was ignorant of God’s ways.

ii) Moses devoted much time to teach Israel (Cf. The Book of Deuteronomy).

iii) Israel did not have much regard (“known”) for God’s ways.

iv) There was a rejection of the ways of God from the heart, even though there was loud avowal from the mouth to follow God’s ways.

APPLICATION TO THE READERS

The writer of Hebrews must have noted that his readers were in a similar danger. The danger of having a hardened heart was very real, even though thousands of years had lapsed, since the days of Moses.

Ultimately, it was the Holy Spirit Himself who warned of the danger of hardening the heart. That same word of warning applies even today.