Genesis 48:17
When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head it displeased him, and he graped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
This is the only time that I recall Joseph getting mad. He went through horrible circumstances: being betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, being framed as a rapist and having been forgotten by the cupbearer whom he helped in prison. In all these settings Joseph isn’t shown losing his temper. Yet when it comes to one of his kids being treated unjustly, he gets mad. The reason is that the younger one is receiving the greater blessing. This is ironic as Joseph was the younger brother who was the recipient of greater blessings. This is what enraged his brothers. Now the same actions are seen as unfair by Joseph. He has spent his life trusting God with all sorts of wild experiences, but not this. So much so that he gets physical and reaches out and grabs his father’s hand. This is a higher level of anger. We need to trust God with our circumstances. It’s often when I feel the need to lookout for myself. I am being taken advantage of. It’s probably safe to say that when we get angry for these reasons, we aren’t trusting God. We don’t need to fight for our share. We do see Jesus getting angry. This was different. His reasons were because the leaders where interfering in people’s relationship with God (cleansing the temple) and having the wrong attitude towards those deemed unacceptable (adulterous woman and tax collectors). David says in Psalm 139:23,24, search me and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (paraphrase). When our anger gets triggered, a flaw within is highlighted. We need to yield this to God. Lord, help us to submit to your ways. Teach us to be patient.