An Angry God?

"For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still." Isaiah 9:12b, 9:17b, 9:21b, 10:4b.

Why does the prophet Isaiah repeat this refrain four times in these verses? The first time at the conclusion of Isaiah 9:8-12 God judges his people for their arrogance of heart. In the second stanza of this judgment dirge, Isaiah 9:13-17, God judges his people because the elders and prophets have led the people astray. The third stanza, Isaiah 9:18-21, finds God judging his people for devouring each other as a fire consumes its fuel. At the conclusion of Isaiah 10:4 God judges his people for the injustices they perform against the poor, the widow, and the fatherless.

Is our God an angry God? Yes, He is. He is of too pure of eyes to even look upon evil. He hates sin and acts in justice toward those who are opposed to Him.

But God is not only an angry God. He is also compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. When we are arrogant, when we lead others astray, when we devour each other and we are unjust we deserve his wrath. But...but God who is rich in mercy sent His Son, the One who is mentioned in Isaiah 9: 2-7:

[2] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
[3] You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
[4] For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
[5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
[6] For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV)

God sent His Son and His Son took the Father's wrath in our place. He who was most humble became arrogance. He who was the Great Shepherd of the sheep became full of fault. He who came to fulfill all our longings became sin. He who came to fulfil all justice became unjust. And He became the object of God's wrath so that all who have faith in Him would not. He came to make things right so that we would never know God's full righteous anger. Praise God for the gift of His Son.