“Is It Right to Be Angry?”: Anger in the Bible

The title of this article, “Is it right to be angry?”, comes from a conversation about anger in the Bible that the Lord was having with His prophet, Jonah (Jonah 4:4). Jonah is angry because people whom he despised heard the message he preached that the Lord would destroy them because of their evil ways.

The people relented and turned away from their evil; and the Lord, who is gracious, had forgiven them. To Jonah, this seemed wrong, and he became angry; angry enough that he wanted to die.

We see examples of anger in the Bible in a variety of circumstances, and different characters are shown getting angry or experiencing the anger of others. Anger sometimes seems justified and appropriate; at other times, it seems to go too far. All in all, it creates a complex and compelling picture about an emotion that frankly can be challenging to wrangle and deal with well.

As we look at anger in the Bible, we can gain insight for how best to deal with anger, including the posture we ought to have toward it. There is also wisdom on how to respond when someone is angry toward you, because if we’re honest, we don’t always respond in ways that help make the situation better. We all have a journey to be on as we deal with our own and others’ anger.

Anger: Good, Healthy, or Dangerous?

Anger is a powerful emotion that we’ve all either felt or had to deal with at some point in our lives. Different people process their anger in various ways, and that depends on the resources they have to cope with anger, the models they have for how to deal with anger, and what they think of anger. If a person thinks that anger is inherently sinful, for instance, rather than deal with it, they might instinctively suppress it, which is an unhealthy and unhelpful response.

As an emotion, anger isn’t morally neutral. Questions need to be asked about what motivates that anger and how we respond to and manage that anger when it rears its head. There are potential benefits and dangers to our anger. It takes wisdom to sift through these so that we handle anger well.

Anger, when expressed in a healthy manner, can function as a catalyst for pursuing change; it can be aroused due to acts of injustice, for example. You may see someone take advantage of another person, which can prompt constructive engagement. Anger can be a sign that a boundary has been violated, leading one to set a boundary, address a harmful situation, or defend the defenseless.

When you work constructively through your anger, it can help you identify emotional wounds, areas of your life that need change, and even identify unmet needs you have. Growing in emotional intelligence allows you to better identify and handle your emotions, which can result in better outcomes and emotional resilience.

There are some significant dangers relating to anger, and many warnings about anger in Scripture. For instance, unchecked anger can be destructive, resulting in broken relationships, bitterness that can create distance between a person and the Lord, and physical health issues like cardiovascular problems and hypertension.

Anger in the Bible: What do the Scriptures say?

One verse about anger in the Bible can be found in Proverbs 29:22 (NIV), which says, “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” That summarizes much, but not all, of what the Bible has to say about anger. There are many examples of people being disobedient or doing horrible things to other people because they were angry.

In the book of Exodus, we are introduced to one of the central figures of the Old Testament, Moses. While Moses is God’s faithful servant, we see that he seemed to struggle with anger. For instance, after witnessing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses kills the Egyptian, presumably in anger, to right the injustice (Exodus 2:11-15). Moses then runs away because he’s afraid of the consequences of what he’s done.

Later on, once the Lord uses Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt, Moses does something else in anger that has dire consequences. In Numbers 20:10-12, in frustration at the people’s unbelief, Moses disobeys God and doesn’t follow the instructions he’s been given. The result was that Moses couldn’t enter the promised land (Deuteronomy 3:36 and 4:21).

We also encounter the story of Cain in Genesis. He is jealous and angry toward his brother Abel, who received favor from the Lord, and he also seems angry and resentful toward the Lord for rewarding Abel’s offering and not his own. God tells Cain to do the right thing, and he would also be blessed, and He also tells him to rule over his anger and sin. However, Cain’s anger consumes him, and he kills his brother (Genesis 4:1-8).

This isn’t the whole picture about anger in the Bible. Anger isn’t always sinful. If it were, we’d have a tough time trying to understand why God gets angry. Jesus was angry at people because of their stubborn hearts (Mark 3:1-6), and from the passages in Deuteronomy, we learn that the Lord was angry at Moses for his disobedience and for dishonoring Him. God’s anger is always directed at sin, and it is measured and consistent, unlike ours.

In Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV) we read, “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Anger is a strong emotion, and it can have all-too-real consequences, but the warning is not to allow anger to lead to sin. It’s possible to be angry without necessarily sinning, but it can be a fine line when we are prone to let our anger result in unkind actions, words, or thoughts toward others (Matthew 5:21-22).

God exhibits righteous anger that isn’t self-centered or disproportionate to the situation. Because we are sinful, our struggle with anger is that we can be convinced of the rightness of our cause, even when we’re wrong, and the way our anger works itself out is often quite destructive. As such, dealing with anger requires a heavy dose of caution and godly wisdom.

Effects of Anger on Relationships

When you’re angry, it can affect how you act, how you feel, the thoughts you have, and the demeanor or posture you take toward someone. Have you ever been angry with someone you must interact with? Yes, you can grit your teeth and do it, but it will likely be done with resentment and not done with love. Anger can profoundly affect relationships, not only with others, but even with the Lord and yourself.

Persistent and unresolved anger can hinder your growth as a disciple of Jesus, and it can damage your intimacy with God. We can be angry with God when we experience suffering or grief, and this can keep us away from seeking Him and finding His peace. Instead of staying away, God wants us to come to Him, even (and especially) when we’re angry, as the many Psalms of lament do. Psalm 13 and 22, for example, show us what this looks like.

Your anger can also affect how you relate to yourself. Directing your feelings of anger toward yourself can result in depression, anxiety, or guilt. You might be angry with yourself for making a mistake, then take it out on yourself by calling yourself names, for instance. Such anger can cause emotional and mental distress, in addition to distorting your self-image along the way.

Lastly, your anger can damage your relationships with others. Anger can lead you to say and do things you later regret and feel ashamed about, but once the damage is done, it’s hard to take it back. Unchecked anger can also erode trust and make a relationship feel unsafe; the relationship can become an environment of fear and resentment, which isn’t healthy.

Overcoming Your Anger

Anger can be overcome, and coming to a healthy understanding about your anger can be a step toward growth. Instead of avoiding it, a healthier approach might be learning where it comes from, what it’s pointing to, and finding ways to manage it and use it constructively for the Lord’s purposes.

Some steps you can take to develop a healthy relationship with anger include:

Acknowledge and recognize your anger Don’t suppress it. Learn about what makes you angry and what your anger feels and looks like. That way, you’ll be ready for it.

Learn how to express your anger well In place of being reactive, learn how to respond constructively (Proverbs 15:1).

Practice forgiveness to release yourself from the grip of bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Seek counsel and help Speak to someone like a mentor, pastor, or counselor for perspective as well as strategies for handling anger well. A counselor can help you unearth the roots of your anger, and through various therapeutic strategies, they can help you understand and better regulate your anger.

To learn more about anger in the Bible or anger management techniques, contact our office today at California Christian Counseling to schedule an appointment with me or another Christian counselor in California.