He kept his wrath for ever

Amos 1:11

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever.

Esau and Jacob have been at war with one another from the very beginning. But this was not for lack of effort on Jacob’s part. He sought reconciliation near Penuel; he also sought to go through his land when coming up out of Egypt. But Esau was obstinate. He has always kept his anger. It did tear perpetually. It has been an age-long animosity. And what has this done? It has destroyed Edom, so that no such place can be found to this day. Perpetual anger! It tore from generation to generation! He cast off all pity! He has kept his anger for ever.

Now, dear friends, what a dire and serious warning we now have before us. What anger can do! How it destroys! How it causes irreparable harm! How it perpetually hurts relationships! How it becomes a years-long and an age-old consternation between parties. It is enmity! It is unsolved malice and hatred. It can build up to greater and more hurtful levels. Until discarded, this anger will only become augmented and enlarged. But this is not the Lord’s will for the Christian! We do not have to submit to such life-long degradation! We are told that we are new creatures in Christ. We are to be peacemakers. What did Christ do? He made peace by the blood of His cross. He sought to reconcile the world unto Himself. And this is the same calling to which we are called.

The New Testament command is clear, direct, and unequivocal. Nothing can be questioned. The command says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” See Ephesians 4:31. Put it away! Do not nourish it or harbor it in your heart! It must be eradicated, removed, forever discarded from our lives. For it will be a scourge in our side, and a hindrance to our relationships with God and with others. Throw off all anger! Despise wrath! Never give place to malice! Malicious thoughts are as evil as malicious acts. May the Lord in Heaven deliver us from this sin, for when not given up, it becomes life-long and almost irreversible. Now is the time! Wait no longer! Do not forget the brotherly covenant! Make peace this day. And the benefits shall be a reconciliation of a lost brother, and a true reconciliation to God.

“Father in Heaven, we pray that Thou wouldst deliver us from all anger and wrath and malice. Fill us with your Spirit, and not with the flesh, we pray. May we not let disagreements and age-old problems become perpetual bitterness. Keep us from these things, that we may not be as Edom, who never forgave his brother. But help us, through the example of Christ, to seek reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace. And we shall praise you for all these things. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”