Why do people most often get angry?

Genesis 4:4-5The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

Numbers 22:29“You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted.

1 Kings 22:15-27“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me . . . Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water.”

2 Chronicles 16:7-10“Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.” . . . Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison.

2 Chronicles 26:16-21“Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned.” . . . Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious.

Esther 3:5When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage.

Anger is often a reaction to our pride being hurt. When we are confronted, rejected, ignored, or don’t get our own way, anger is a defense mechanism used to protect our ego. Feeling angry is common when we have been confronted about our sinful actions, because we don’t want others to think we have done something wrong.

1 Samuel 18:8This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands.”

Anger is often a reaction of jealousy to what others own or have accomplished.

1 Samuel 25:10-11, 21“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?” So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment. . . . David had just been saying, “A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good. May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!”

Often, we become angry when we are insulted or slighted. David was so enraged by Nabal’s insults that he was ready to kill him and everyone in his household until Abigail intervened.