Exodus 14:5 (KJV)
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Counselors[1]say that the five stages of grief are:
- denial
- anger
- bargaining
- depression and
- acceptance
Pharaoh and all of Egypt must have been in a deep state of grief at the loss of so many of their firstborn children. They had let Israel go, indeed had driven them out of Egypt after the death angel had visited. But it wasn’t long before they rethought their decision, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” Perhaps this was a kind of denial. Perhaps they had come to think it could not have been a supernatural act of God that had done all the plagues and slain all their firstborn. Suddenly they questioned letting Israel go. That led quickly to an act of aggression and anger – an army was assembled to chase after them.
And this act of anger led to even further grief.
No matter what the reason, anger, and aggression seldom turn out well. I think there are times when it is not only right and biblical but even necessary. That said, the consequences are always difficult to bear. The Bible says that the Egyptians confirmed this truth,
Exodus 14:23-25
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, evenall Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, evenall Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
They weren’t angry anymore but it was too late.
Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
It would be best is all of us learned to be, “not soon angry.”
Use anger cautiously and, when we have used it wrongly, fearfully and quickly repent.
[1]I did find one article that claims these stages are wrong. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/supersurvivors/201707/why-the-five-stages-grief-are-wrong%3famp
To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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Exodus 14:5 (KJV) Not Soon Angry
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