A short ten years ago a 24-year-old Texas rancher beat his daughter's accused molester to death moments after he discovered the man raping his 5-year-old daughter. A grand Jury declined to indict the man, citing that his actions were unfortunate but justifiable under Texas Law. You fathers out there who have little girls can imagine the wrath that erupted from this man’s heart.
And this made me think of God.
Do you know how many times the Bible talks about God’s wrath? While it is gloriously true that God is “longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression . .”(Numbers 14:18), and that we can now approach Him through the grace that is in Christ, we must remember that God is holy, a word meaning “separate”. He is the terrifying and glorious “other”, whose ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts.
The scriptures talk about a coming day of God’s wrath. In a paroxysm of fury He will destroy those who have violated and abused His own tender child that He led out of Egypt (Ezekiel 16:8). This coming event is precisely what Christians mean when they warn people to flee from the wrath to come. We have been echoing the words of the Jewish prophets for the last 2000 years.
Those who have believed in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, are part of God’s family as well. Jesus said “many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11), and Paul, that great Apostle to the gentiles echoed this theme constantly in his letters. What glory is coming to those who know Christ!
God will judge not only those nations who are attempting to divide His land and persecute the Jewish Remnant living there, but those who have persecuted Christians as well (John 6:37), for they are, and shall be ONE family “upon the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 34:14, John 10:16). What will God do?
Read here:
“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth” (Isaiah 63:1-6 KJV).
There IS wrath coming! Unrestrained, violent and deserved retribution is coming to those who “know not God” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). It is not hyperbole or poetic license.
And it makes me think about the tragic story of this young farmer’s uncontrollable (and justifiable) wrath that destroyed his daughter’s abuser. Those who abuse God’s Elect are going to be sorry.
What should you do? Learn about Jesus and trust Him to gain peace with God and escape-