God doesn't hold grudges

Isaiah has a phrase he often uses in describing the Lord. He will acknowledge many of the sins of the people and then say God is angry. Then he ends with this phrase: For all this his anger is not turned away, but his ^fhand is stretched out still.

Here's 2 examples in 2 Nephi 19:

12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall^adevour Israel with open mouth. For all this his ^banger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have ^amercy on their fatherless and ^bwidows; for^cevery one of them is a hypocrite and an ^devildoer, and every mouth speaketh ^efolly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his ^fhand is stretched out still.

In verse 17 he states that a large number of his formerly chosen people are wicked. He's angry as a result, but he still reaches out to them to help them if they'll reach out to Him in return. That's such an instructive lesson about anger. So often when we're angry we end up not caring about results but just being angry. We hold grudges. God does not do that. He's only angry because of what people are doing, but he always keeps in mind the ultimate goal, have his children be happy because they're living correctly and therefore can come back to live with him.

It's important for our hands to always be stretched out.