Anger. Bane or blessing?

Well…depends on whom you ask. Ask a hot-head and he will say, “It is good.” You see, in their minds losing their cool brings about what they want. Operative words: what. they. want. Yep. You heard it from me. A hot-head generally gets what they want. Unless you consider, losing friends, losing future good impact, getting kicked out of games, looking like a fool, etc a good thing. (Please notice tongue firmly in cheek).

Ask the victim of anger and there is no way the battered (physically or mentally) spouse, child, employee, fellow student would say it was good. In fact, they would tell you it is downright harmful and the toxic relationship should end (if they are not too afraid to say so).

This morning I was reading Numbers 20 and read where anger got the best of someone and it didn’t turn out well for him. The people of Israel were complaining (so what else is new?) about not having water to drink, among other things. So Moses and Aaron left them and went to the Tabernacle where the presence of the Lord appeared to them. Moses was told to take his staff and to speak to the rock and it would pour out water. So Moses takes his staff and goes to the rock. So far so good. But instead of speaking to the rock he spoke to the people of Israel. In anger he called them rebels. Then he struck the rock. In anger. Twice. Water gushed out but if you read that passage again nowhere does it say to speak to the people and no where does it say to strike the rock.

Anger got the best of Moses. But the consequences of his anger were swift and deadly. “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Talk about devastating consequences for anger!  This was not a lifetime of PTSD from abuse. This was not bruises covered up by clothing and makeup. This was not cowering in fear. All of those are legitimate results of unbridled anger toward someone (the victim).  Sadly, Moses’ anger at the people of Israel had an eternal consequence. After leading the people for 40 years he would not step foot into the Promised Land.

Let’s get a handle on our anger. Let’s see the consequences we leave in the wake of our unbridled passionate response to something we don’t like. It hurts our testimony, maybe even destroying it. It hurts those we supposedly love. It leaves marks and scars on the recipients of our anger. We are admonished in several Scriptures to not let anger reign. Check out Pr. 5:22-23; 12:16; 14:17, 29; 25:28 to name just a few.

GET. CONTROL!!!!!