“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” Matt 9:13
Doing a word search, “anger” and “wrath” of God don’t occur in the Bible until the time of Moses and the Law. They are not in the account of the fall. Sodom was destroyed because her wickedness was “grievous” (Gen. 18:20). The flood came about because of God’s “regret” (Gen. 6:6). And my favorite Cain— who, had he been under the law would have been executed—received mercy from God. Personally (Gen. 4: 15).
Grief, regret and mercy are acts of love, sorrow and loss, not anger. We assume because Adam and Eve were “afraid” (Gen. 3:10), and Abraham apprehensive (Gen. 18: 30) in his bargaining with God over Sodom, that God is predisposed to anger regarding mankind. Not so. If anything, he’s predisposed to compassion.
But apparently, we’re predisposed to judgment.
God’s anger would be revealed with the introduction of the Law. But even then it was misunderstood. And it took his Son to clarify.
Seems by nature, we keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But if we should open our eyes, we’ll see that it already has. And it was to our benefit.
Jesus made the above Matt. 9 statement to the “teachers of the law.” But he referenced a passage from Hosea that finishes off the thought:
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6
Ours isn’t to fear God. It’s to know him.