Weekly Bible Study: Overcoming the Scourge of Anger (1)

Weekly Bible Study: Overcoming the Scourge of Anger (1)

OVERCOMING THE SCOURGE OF ANGER (1).

SCRIPTURES: Gen. 4:5-8; 27:43-45; Job 18:4-5; Prov. 15:1,18; 16:32; 27:4; Eccl. 7:9; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8,21.

MEMORY VERSE

Then the Lord said to Cain, “why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right will you not be accepted? But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you but you must master it” NIV Gen. 4:5

“Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?” Gen. 27:45

Bible Study: Overcoming the Scourge of Anger MESSAGE

The two passages above serving as memory verses are litmus pointers to the destructive nature of anger.

In the first instance, we see the fury displayed by Cain against his own blood brother over a matter that could be peacefully resolved through dialogue. Shockingly, Cain, coming under the influence of ANGER murdered his own brother in cold blood. Even God feared the anger of this young man as He slammed sanctions and retribution on him. Although Cain lived after this sad incidence, life was never the same. Gen. 4:15.

Similarly, Rebekah connived with her son Jacob to manipulate and steal Esau’s blessings from her husband. In an attempt to resolve the crisis that ensued she advised Jacob to escape out of sight for a season until Esau’s anger is pacified.

There is a strange common denominator we see in the two scenarios. While Cain walked out of the presence of God, Jacob was equally advised to walk out of the presence of Esau. Does this suggest that time wears out anger and memory of injuries incurred? Well, for Esau it does not appear to be so. Twenty years after separation with Jacob. Esau’s anger was still fresh in the realm of the physical existence not until Gen. 32:28-29 when Jacob resolved the lingering conflict with God who then made a way for a peaceful meeting in Gen. 33:1-4 with Esau. You can be sure that Esau’s crack team of over 400 men who were battle ready must have wondered where their Boss missed it to have such a well planned war mortgaged on the platter of a kiss. Only God can cure anger if the individual yields.

READ: Joni and Friends 7 March 2022 Daily Devotional || Beyond Your Limitations

WHAT IS ANGER?

Without reference to any scholarly proclaimed definition, Anger can be defined as an emotional disorder caused by offenses, misunderstanding or poor sense of judgement over a matter. It acts as a secured prison in which the angered becomes an inmate suffering from all the pangs and emotional torture it can afford as long as time permits. For Absalom against Amnon on the matter of Tamar, it lasted for two years until retribution was secured. For Esau and Jacob, it was over twenty years until a peace deal was struck.

THE PROBLEM OF ANGER

>> Eph. 4:26-27

Anger is a very frequent and emotional way of expressing our emotions or level of dissatisfaction on an action that is not satisfactory or comely. There is a very thin line that separates anger from sin. Hence Eph. 4:26.

INDICATORS OF THE MANIFESTATION OF ANGER

1. When the mood of an individual swings or changes and emotional instability is displayed. Gen.4:5, 9;

2. When an individual acts foolishly and takes irrational decisions such as committing suicide. drinking poison, uses a knife on his neighbour, fires at a human being with a gun. Eccl. 7:9. (when next you hear an angry policeman saying ‘I go shoot oh.’ Please don’t tell him to shoot . Leave the scene. Anger maketh a man mad)

3. An outburst of anger and reactions without recourse to instructions. Num. 20:8-11. The incident that led to the disqualification of Moses was hinged on anger. Rather than SPEAK to the rock as instructed MOSES in anger vehemently wounded the rock as he flogged it twice. It is sometimes amazing how God works despite failure to heed to instructions, water was still produced for the people.

4. Strange inability to be controlled or corrected despite obvious corrective signs . 1Kings 19:4; Jonah 4:4-9.

ALSO READ: Joel Osteen Daily 7 March 2022 Devotional || You Are En Route

Weekly Bible Study: Overcoming the Scourge of Anger series brought to you 5dailydevotional.com, courtesy of Redemption Ministries Worldwide