Daily Lesson for Wednesday 29th of January 2025

Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly displays His passion in favor of the downtrodden and the oppressed and His corresponding righteous indignation against the victimizers and oppressors. If there were no evil, God would not be angry. His anger is only and always against that which harms His creation.

According to Lamentations 3:32-33, God does not afflict willingly (literally, God does not afflict “from His heart”). He does not want to bring judgment against evildoers, but love finally requires justice.

This truth is exemplified in how long God continued to forgive His people and repeatedly grant them opportunities to repent and be reconciled to Him. Again and again, through the prophets, God called out to His people, but they refused to listen (see Jeremiah 35:14-17, Psalms 81:11-14).

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According to Ezra 5:1-17, after the people persistently and unrepentantly provoked God to anger, He eventually withdrew and “gave” the people “ ‘into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon’ ” (Ezra 5:12, NKJV). But God did so only after there was “no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16), and God later judged Babylon for the excessive devastation it inflicted upon Judah (Jeremiah 51:24-25,44; compare with Zechariah 1:15).

Many other judgments that Scripture describes as brought about by God are explained as instances in which God “gives” the people over to their enemies (Judges 2:13-14; Psalms 106:41-42), in accordance with the people’s decisions to forsake the Lord and serve the “gods” of the nations (Judges 10:6-16, Deuteronomy 29:24-26). God’s anger against evil, which will finally culminate in the eradication of all evil once and for all, stems from His love for all and from His desire for the final good of the universe, which itself has a stake in the whole question of sin and rebellion and evil.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-05-god-does-not-afflict-willingly/

Key Thought: God’s anger is always His righteous and loving response against evil and injustice. Divine wrath is righteous indignation motivated by perfect goodness and love.
February 1, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read Jonah 4:1-4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does this tell us about Jonah and about God?
3. Personal Application: How does your anger over the evil done by others help you better understand God’s wrath toward evil? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How do we show grace and mercy to someone without appearing to accept sin or enabling abuse or oppression?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Matthew 2:12,13; John 2:14,15.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Jesus’ reaction to the way the temple was being used tell us about God getting angry about evil
3. Personal Application: How can we determine what is selfish anger and righteous indignation? How should each affect our response and actions toward others? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “If someone ever did anything to abuse or hurt my sister, I would have a righteous reason to hurt them very badly. I wouldn’t have to wait for the courts or klegal system to mess it up. I would make sure they got justice.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ezra 5:12, Jeremiah 51:24,25,44.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does this explain about the judgment that came upon Jerusalem through the Babalonians?
3. Personal Application: How does God not wanting to bring justice against anyone help you understand Divine anger and wrath? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “How can we be more patient and long-suffering with those around us, while still protecting and caring for the victims of wrongdoing?.” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 32:35; Proverbs 20:22, 24:29; Romans 12:17-20.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How do these texts guard against human vengeance?
3. Personal Application: What problems arise when people seek vengeance that never arise when God seeks it? Are personal motives involved in vengeance? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/5-the-wrath-of-divine-love-teaching-plan/