There is a certain character on a British TV situation comedy who is always saying to someone else, “I have good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first?” Somehow the bad news always turns out to be worse than the good news is good. One day a hospital surgeon told his patient, “ I have some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?” The patient said, “Give me the bad news.” The doctor said, “We are going to have to amputate both of your feet.” The patient said, “Oh, that’s terrible! What’s the good news?” The doctor said, “The patient in the next room wants to buy your slippers.”

Our scripture today has both bad news and good news about God. The bad news is that He is a God of wrath who can not abide our sin. But the good news is that even his wrath…