We are in Exodus chapter four with our word for today. אַף nostril, nose, face, anger, nostrils. It is used 277 times in the Old Testament. We find our word used to refer to literal nose or nostril. Isaiah 2:22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their בְּאַפּ֑וֹ nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
Ezekiel 16:12 I put a ring on your אַפֵּ֔ךְ nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Amos 4:10 I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. Most of the time our word is translated anger because of how our nose or nostrils change when we are angry. And the phrase burning or becoming hot is often connected to our word for anger. Job 42:7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am אַפִּ֤י angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. This is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 4:12-14 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֨ף anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. This is literally became hot his nose or nostril. When we see a person’s nostrils flaring open we know they are angry. God is describing himself in human terms so we can better understand him. The good news is said well in Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to אַפַּ֣יִם anger, abounding in love. And in Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to אַפַּ֙יִם֙ anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. What is interesting is that God’s slow to anger and mercy was the excuse another reluctant servant gave for not wanting for God to send them. Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to אַפַּ֙יִם֙ anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah didn’t think the Ninevites deserved God’s forgiveness so he didn’t want to go because he knew God’s character that he would save them if they repented. I’m glad God is slow to anger and turns his anger away from us because of what Christ has done on the cross. Instead of burning his anger out against us because of our sin he turns it away from us and directs it toward Jesus. This is why the cross was necessary. I’ll close with these great passages. 1 John 2:2 He is the turning away wrath for our sins...1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice that turned away wrath for our sins.
