He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” Psalm 2:4-6
“The buck stops here.” These words made famous by President Harry S. Truman describe the final responsibility for decisions made and actions taken by America. Likewise, God maintains the final decisions for Creation – all of it. This is such a massive thing, it’s incomprehensible to me. I can’t fathom it’s depth. And yet, God remains.
Another incomprehensible thing is the love of God. Despite the fall, God’s love for us is at a depth where his Son willingly died to remove this stain (John 3:16). Unimaginable, and yet true. Understanding the depth of God’s love is truly unachievable by human means. This love is so wide, deep, tall, and present, anything else seems wicked in its shadow. Those things outside God’s love might seem like anger, perhaps even wrath.
Since we can’t see beyond the physical aspects of Creation, this anger or wrath could possibly be seen similarly to Hell. Hell is defined as the absence of God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9), and the words humans have used to describe it pale in the reality of the experience. Words like ‘the worm that doesn’t die’ and ‘unquenchable fire’ (Mark 9:43-48) were used to pictorialize the suffering in the absence of God. Perhaps, just maybe, this word ‘wrath’ is used in the same manner.
As we go through our lives here in this wisp of time, God provides a path. Being human and having free will, sometimes our steps take us away from that path. This might lead us to experiences that seem like God is angry with us, exhibiting his wrath. What if that’s really God not being ‘with’ us in our choices? Yes, God’s always with us: he’s very present. But when our choices lead us away from God and his path for us (like the Israelites and their ‘wanderings’ towards the idols of their day), things happen, hopefully returning us to where we’re meant to be. Our stepping away from God and his divine path for us feels like anger, or ‘wrath.’
In reading news sources, we find things affecting what we care for. This could encompass politics, our faith, family, and home. As you’re catching up, try always to keep one thing in mind: God cares about these more than you or I ever could. Thank God for that!
By Rich Obrecht
