There is a friction within God that is resolved through his son, Jesus.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.   I led them with cords of kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” Hosea 11:1-4

“’I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine—Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.’ Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea: 14:5-9

To love God, we must love the justice that is part of God’s character as well as the love of God, for God is both just and loving. In the Old Testament we read about a God many call “wrathful,” and indeed wrath and anger is expressed by God in the Old Testament, but also by Jesus in the New Testament. Often people think of the Old Testament God as an angry God, and Jesus, of the New Testament, as a loving God. In reality, since they are both the same God, they are both loving and just. They both express love, compassion, and anger and wrath.

You do disagree that Jesus expressed anger or wrath? If so, read Matthew 23, and then let me know how else this chapter can be interpreted. Here are just a few snippets. Picture Jesus on the steps of the temple, looking down at the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were just arriving at the temple, and imagine the scene as you read.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Matt 23:13-15

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Able to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, who you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.” Mt 23:33-35

Then the deep love and compassion of Jesus can be felt in these words which follow.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.” Matt 23:37-38

Yes, the justice of God came together with His great love and gave us Jesus. It is through his son, Jesus, the baby born to die for us, that God’s justice was met with love.

I hope you have accepted the gift Jesus died to give you.

If you need to know more, you can reach me on Twitter, @AFTREmanUL, or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/AfterEmmanuelMinistries.