Show Me Your Glory: Reflections on God's Multifaceted HeartSample

God Is Slow to Anger

How do you feel about this description of God from Exodus 34:6: “I am slow to anger”?

If you’re like me, it depends.

If we’re talking about his patience with me or someone I love, I’m overwhelmingly grateful. I used to think God was easily angered and difficult to please. Now that I’ve experienced his grace, this facet breathes life into my weary soul.

However, if we’re talking about a company that bait-and-switched us, the stranger whose false accusations cost a friend dearly, or all the injustice worldwide…well, that’s a different story.

In those situations, God’s patience bothers me.

The prophet Jonah felt the same way, and I can’t say I blame him. His calling was far from ideal: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2 NIV).

Nineveh was a major city in the cruel Assyrian empire. The Ninevites were Israel’s bitter enemy. While we might think Jonah would jump at the opportunity to pronounce judgment, he ran the other way. Jonah 4 explains why:

“This change of plans [regarding Nineveh’s destruction] greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people’” (Jonah 4:1-2 NLT).

Jonah resisted preaching repentance because he knew God would forgive his enemies if they turned to him.

Before shaking our heads in self-righteous disbelief, some soul-searching is in order.

Whom do I wish God would punish?

What, in my opinion, is the worst of all sins?

Setting aside the debate over whether some sins are worse, let’s ask God to show us what we consider unpardonable. Crimes we could never forgive. Injustice we’d love to avenge.

Now, we’re probably getting close to how Jonah felt.

We’re not wrong in aching for justice—not at all. Hating evil and loving good is part of our calling as God’s children, our DNA as humans made in his image (Micah 6:8). Being outraged at oppression and longing for accountability reflects God's heart.

Exodus 34 doesn’t say God never gets angry. “In the Bible, God’s anger is an expression of his justice and his love for the world. But he’s slow to anger, which means he gives people lots of time to change,” The Bible Project explains.1

Because our God is slow to anger.

His anger is rooted in his love—love of humanity, love of creation, love of all that is right and whole.

He beckons both the oppressed and the oppressor to come home and find mercy.

He calls us to work for justice and urge the unjust to turn to him and be made new.

And he promises life won’t always be broken. His kingdom will come. He will put an end to all that is evil. One day humanity will flourish.

For now, though, we hold this beautiful, difficult facet of God’s slowness to anger in tension with the truth that he loves us and will keep his promises for justice.

He invites us to revel in his patience with us, to let him weave compassion into our souls, and to entrust ourselves to the righteous God who is with us in every situation (1 Peter 2:23, Matthew 1:23).

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4 NLT).

Personal Reflection: In what areas am I glad God is slow to anger? In what areas do I wish God were not slow to anger?

Identity Check: Because God is slow to anger, I can forgive others.

Prayer Prompt: Thank God for those areas where he’s patient with you and your process. Tell God how you feel about his slowness to anger in a situation where you long to see justice. Ask him to reveal his heart and root his compassion and love in yours.

1. The Bible Project's Word Study series on the character of God, in a video entitled "Slow To Anger"