Hanged Up So Wrath Turns Away
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.”Numbers 25:4 (KJV)
At Baal-peor, Israel joined itself to an idol, and God’s anger burned. His instruction to Moses was severe: “Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.”
It is a hard passage. But it shows something we need to see. Sin brings real wrath, and wrath doesn’t simply evaporate. It is turned away when judgment falls.
Paul tells us where that judgment fell for us. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Jesus was hanged up before the LORD in our place.
Because of that, the anger we deserved has been turned away. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” What fell on him will never fall on those who are in him.
Read it yourself
Read Galatians 3:10–14. What does Paul say we receive through faith because Christ became a curse for us?
What does it mean to you that God’s wrath was turned away by the cross?
Lord Jesus, you were made a curse for me and hanged on a tree. Thank you that I am saved from wrath through you. Amen.