Slow To Anger
Get to know God better with today’s lesson on His character.
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6)
In Exodus 34:6 we see the words that God used when describing Himself to Moses. Compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness – is that how you think of God? Or do you think of God as a distant Father who simply exists to judge us for our sins?
We know that God loves us, we’ve heard that all of our lives. But I wonder if we fully understand the character of God and His ability to give us all that we have ever wanted or needed?
One of the phrases in this verse that speaks to me the most is when God refers to Himself as being “slow to anger.” I’ve got to say that I am not always slow to anger. In fact, I can go from zero to hysterical in a matter of seconds. Even with the people I love the most, I can become angry and frustrated quickly if I do not seek God in all situations.
I think that so often we assume that God reacts the same way that we do. When we do something that is disappointing to God, we are afraid that He will become angry or upset with our behavior. While I do believe that God’s heart breaks when we sin, I also know that He is faithful. If He says that He is slow to anger, He means it.
He didn’t put conditions on His responses. He didn’t say, “I am slow to anger unless you do something really bad” or “I will be compassionate and gracious if you read the Bible at least once a day.” God is not merely describing his reactions, He’s describing his character. It is His nature to be loving, faithful, forgiving, and gracious to us and we don’t even deserve a glance from Him. He is in love with us and wants to show us His amazing love and compassion. However, in order for Him to do that, we must be willing to run after Him with all of our hearts.
Don’t think of God as a distant Father that stands in Heaven waiting to judge you. Instead, realize that He is the father who stands in Heaven loving you and ready to bring you peace. He is the Savior who came to save your life and offer you more compassion and grace than you could ever imagine. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.
As you go through your day today, ask God to reveal His character to you. Ask Him to remind you that He is faithful and true in a world that is anything but. Pursue Him each and every day and know that in return, He will be pursuing you.
Father, Thank you that You do not react the way that I do. Thank you for grace, for mercy for peace and for love. Help me to live as someone who truly believes that You are who You say You are. Amen
Questions: How do you see God? Do you see him as gracious and slow to anger? Ask Him to reveal His true character to you today.
5 Responses to “Slow To Anger”
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I see God as a Father that is gracious and slow to anger. We, His children, must strive to be gracious and slow to anger towards those who harm us. I admit, sometimes I still fail in this area BUT at least I am learning and growing in such likeness of our Creator! Thanks Andi
Barb, like you, I now see God as gracious and slow to anger. This was not always the case with me, however. I used to think God was upset with me whenever I made a mistake and messed up badly – that He was waiting to “Crack the whip,” so to speak. This left me afraid to come to Him, afraid to draw near to His heart, and my fear made it impossible for me to have a close, intimate, personal relationship with Him, the kind of relationship I enjoy today. It was through reading and praying over His written Word and asking Him to show me who He truly is, and who I am as His child, that God revealed to me in such a loving manner that He really is a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6).
Andi, I was watching a video by Bill Hull this morning called, “Choose the Life: Change Direction,” and he shared how he prayed one day, “Lord, I trust You enough to let You change whatever You desire to change in my life.” WOW! Your devotional this morning reminded me of that prayer and just how much I had to ask myself the question: do I really trust God’s love? What if He chooses to take my husband Home with Him? What if He decides I need to learn through other extreme hardships? I realize I do not have to give Him my permission for Him to do any of this, for He is absolutely sovereign in my life. Yet, I also realized that it was not an easy, automatic, “Of course I trust You to do anything in my life!” In the end, I did pray that prayer, as well as one asking the Lord to help me live my life for others and not in a selfish manner. So I really appreciated Bill’s video, and I really appreciate your devotional, Andi, for both make me pause and question how I truly feel, rather than just glibly saying, “Of course I believe God is a loving Father who is slow to anger and gracious” and all the other “right” spiritual answers. Thanks so much for writing words that make me take time to stop and think about the Lord my God and my relationship with Him, and that help me to not take His amazing love for granted!
Great reminder Andi. Love how you say sometimes we expect God to act like us – or more for me the way my earthly, perfectionist, never able to please father acted. As an adult, I now know he loved us the best he could, never really being able to love himself until he came to Christ late in life.
Still, I find myself questioning if I’ve “done it right” for God. Then He quietly reminds me that He is working through me, and as long as I allow that to happen, my slow to anger and compassionate, all-knowing Heavenly Father is already pleased.
It is so wonderful to know that God is slow to anger! I never really realized the impact of those words. I will strive to be the same. Thank you for this great devotion.
Every time a circumstance arises I`m shocked at my response,or should I say *new response*.Only God could make these changes especially for one like me who thought very little of self. I don`t understand why,but Father I am so thankful that You pursued me.