Jonah’s Anger
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Jonah 4:1-11, Acts 11:15-18, Romans 5:6-11
BY Andrea Lucado
Scripture Reading: Jonah 4:1-11, Acts 11:15-18, Romans 5:6-11
The final chapter of Jonah gives us a unique glimpse into a conversation between God and His prophet. The majority of prophecy depicts the prophets relaying God’s message. Here, we get to see the struggle between the reluctant prophet and a faithful God. I’m almost uncomfortable with Jonah’s level of irreverence, confessing he is angry that God has been merciful. It’s cringe-worthy.
And yet, Jonah was not the first, nor would he be the last, to express discontent with God’s mercy toward a wayward people. In fact, Scripture is full of stories like this. The older brother in the parable of the prodigal son is angry at his father for throwing the rebellious sibling a party (Luke 15:11-32). The Pharisees are angry at Jesus for not following the law like they think he should (John 9:13-16). The disciples are concerned when Jesus addresses a Samaritan woman, someone whose ethnicity and gender signified a person to avoid, not converse with (John 4:1-24).
We like to belong, and we like to decide who doesn’t belong. They deserve God’s mercy. They don’t. They do. They don’t. Maybe this is why I cringe at Jonah’s anger; because I’ve seen that same anger in me. I’ve seen it on a personal level when blessing and favor are poured out on someone’s life whom I don’t feel “deserves” it. I’ve also seen it on a more global level when I generalize an entire people group as “evil” or “lost,” beyond God’s redemption.
This sin tendency was in Jonah, and it is in me too.
How quick I am to forget that I was an outsider once! As Romans says, “For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). I was ungodly—as evil as a Ninevite. It is only because of God’s mercy through His Son Jesus that I am now in the family as an adopted child of God.
I think it’s interesting that God has the last word in the book of Jonah. We don’t know what Jonah’s response was to God’s question, “Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh…?” (Jonah 4:11). But we know what Jonah’s answer should have been. We see it modeled much later in the story, in the book of Acts.
Peter is trying to convince his fellow Jews that Gentiles can indeed follow the way of Christ. He tells the group that he saw the Holy Spirit descend on a group of Gentiles, just as it had descended upon them. When Peter’s audience heard this, Scripture says, “they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, ‘So God has granted repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles!’” (Acts 11:18).
Perhaps they fell silent in awe. Perhaps they fell silent in skepticism. We don’t know. What we do know is ultimately, instead of feeling anger toward God, they glorified Him. They rejoiced that His mercy reached further than they had ever fathomed it could.
Oh that our response would be the same. That we would never underestimate the breadth and depth of God’s mercy. That we would rejoice every time His mercy blesses someone around us, remembering that it was this same mercy that welcomed us into His family. And that it is only by grace that we remain.
36 thoughts on "Jonah’s Anger"
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I’m running a little behind on the study, but am enjoying it thoroughly. The verse that immediately popped up in my mind was Romans 2:2-4. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance.
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Amen Susan – yesterday in church our pastor said to “always remember to remember” everything God has done for us. All the ways he’s loved me, redeemed me, called me as his own even while I was still steeped in sin — if we remember all the ways God has rescued us, it’s hard to judge others wherever they’re at, because we will know we’ve been there too. We all need God and we can rejoice because he’s made a way for us to ALL be reconciled to HIM! His kindness leads us to repentance, amen!!!
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“What mercy!” I keep exclaiming to myself as I read this short book. It is only thru God’s mercy that Jonah himself is “in,” tho he would deny this same mercy to those who have wronged him. It is God’s tender mercy to shade His petulant servant, and then to use the plant to teach him of His own heart of mercy. What mercy God expresses in His longing for these “outsiders” who are so helpless and ignorant and needy! And what mercy that God spares us, like He spared Jonah, from being the executors of grace or judgment!
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All I can think of is “Jonah was a prophet, (Ooh, ooh) but he really never got it! (Sad, but true.)” :-D
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Love some Veggies Tales!
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how often am I Jonah? eww…I’m so glad you paired that with the chapter in Acts. how convicting on they way we should respond like Peter. In Christ there is no Jew or Greek…
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Just replace Nineva with America, and I feel like Jonah. I’m so angry with our country but maybe He actually cares about us.
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I know what you mean. He does really care about us though, both the marginalized and the powerful! :-) ♡
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Brilliant post. You have articulated exactly what I am learning. I recently got angry at a few false prophets in ministry, instead of loving them after many months of trying to sway them privately, and they become even more stiff necked , I got very mad that YHWH didn’t take them out of ministry. After all, I said to myself, they have stolen money and are causing many to got astray, who am I to say those things, right? His ways are higher than ours. Amen. Repentance leads to peace.
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Just yesterday, God gave me insight into a flight or fight reaction I had to a situation at work. I see this same knee-jerk reaction in Jonah and it both made me laugh at our human-ness and in awe of God and his Divine Grace toward each of us. Like Jonah, my first reaction was to run, want to quit, just get out of there – I’m done, forget it, I’m sick of this (all about me). My second reaction was frustration and anger for not being able to just move on with a better plan (my plan and what others at work wanted as well). But then God calmed me down, had me step back and look to him. Only then was I able to see that he is at work here. Only then was I able to let go of my expectations of what may/may not happen. So I took off my running shoes and put down the boxing gloves. I am now watching what he is doing and looking to him for direction rather that fleeing or fighting. Divine Grace – what an amazing gift he offers, something to embrace for ourselves and pass along.
Thank you God for the book of Jonah – for revealing his struggles and your heart so we can learn and grow.
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As I read the end Jonah’s comment in verse 4:2, I wonder if he might also have been embarrassed by God’s actions. After all, Jonah had spent three days proclaiming God’s coming judgment and then God extended mercy instead. Jonah may have anticipated that what he was going to prophesy would not come true because of God’s character. He didn’t want to put himself out there only to have God not follow through. And I have been guilty of the same thing. How many times have I felt a prompting from God to speak but instead I sealed my lips for fear that I misheard God and would embarrass myself? Rather than be concerned for my own reputation, may I be willing to be a fool for Christ’s sake.
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Great point! I was wondering the same when it came to Jonah’s response. Thank you for sharing. :)
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I have also felt this, sealed my lips too many times risking my reputation, yet may have lost a soul for Christ! Help me Father God to stomp out my pride, to bring You Glory!
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Amen!
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