What does Psalm 90:11 mean?

Moses had extensive experience with those who did not fear God as much as they should. That was the case both in His role in Israel's rescue from Egypt (Exodus 6:6) as well as their wandering in the desert (Deuteronomy 9:6–8). Here Moses wonders, rhetorically, who can know the power of God's anger and wrath, as a true fear of God demands?

Sin invites God's anger, and in wrath He executes judgment. Knowledge of this fact should cause individuals to refrain from violating God's commands. The generation of Israelites that fell in the wilderness experienced God's anger and wrath. Would those Israelites have made the right decision and entered Canaan if they had correctly assessed the power of God's anger and wrath?

While Scripture communicates God's love and mercy, it also communicates His righteous anger and wrath. Sinning against a perfectly holy Creator necessarily incurs His judgment. And yet, because God loves sinners, He provides forgiveness for those who turn from sin and receive Jesus as their Savior. Romans 8:1 assures us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. However, those who spurn God's love and forgiveness revealed in Jesus must bear the eternal wrath of God (John 3:36; Revelation 20:10–15).