Jonah’s Anger
Open Your Bible
Jonah 4:1-11, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 10:29, Acts 11:15-18, Romans 5:6-11, Psalm 103:8
BY Raechel Myers
Text: Jonah 4:1-11, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 10:29, Acts 11:15-18, Romans 5:6-11, Psalm 103:8
This is part of a 7-day series on Jonah in the Lent 2016 reading plan.
At the end of chapter four, we find Jonah throwing a childlike tantrum in response to God’s extravagant mercy on a city full of eye-gouging sinners—the same extravagant mercy Jonah himself received inside the gut of a fish (Jonah 2:10).
The Bible tells us in Romans 1:16 (and many other places) that Jesus Christ came to save the Jew and the Gentile—everyone—and that there is no distinction. But do you ever find yourself, like Jonah, subscribing to a gospel of entitlement? Or maybe God’s tender mercy toward anyone He chooses sits quite comfortably with you, but the call to love others in that same undiscriminating way is harder to swallow (see James 2:1-12).
Whether regarding God’s love or your own, are you ever tempted toward a members-only mentality?
We are not entitled to God’s love. Not because of our nationality or upbringing, not because of our bank accounts or marital status, not even because of our charitable giving or our care for widows and orphans.
Scripture says that what we are entitled to is death.
Whoa. It sounds harsh, but it’s true (Romans 6:23). And here’s why it is important to say this harsh truth out loud: we cannot know the depth of God’s grace if we do not know the depth of our need.
I love how Matthew 9:36 describes God’s heart toward us, His needy children:
“When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a Shepherd.”
Do you hear the tenderness in those words? Jesus saw those crowds of people, and He sees us, as we really, truly are: weary and worn out. Utterly lost and hopeless in sin and despair, and desperately in need of a loving Shepherd. And in His great mercy, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And for Jonah. And for the people of Nineveh. And for all of the unlovables.
Christ loves the unlovables. And we are all the unlovables.
The compassion the Lord shows the Ninevites stands in stark contrast to Jonah’s contempt for them. Yes, he had obeyed and gone to Nineveh like God commanded. But when the Lord’s purposes were fulfilled there, Jonah was enraged. The condition of his proud heart prevented him from seeing that, while the Lord had been pursuing Nineveh, the Lord had also been pursuing him. The Ninevites’ wickedness was a mirror, showing Jonah the ugliness of his own sin.
Understanding the depth of our sin not only shows us the depths of God’s mercy, it enables us to pour out God’s love and compassion on those around us. For all have sinned and fallen short—including me, including you, including the prophet chosen by God to deliver the message of salvation to the entire city of Nineveh. All of us.
If we walk away from our reading of the book of Jonah with one thing, know this:
God’s mercy is far-reaching. It is deep and wide and for you.
Thanks be to God!
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
-Romans 5:6-8
71 thoughts on "Jonah’s Anger"
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Thankful for God’s endless mercy.
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Oh Jonah! You obey and you go but you’re not happy about any of it. You’re angry over the salvation of others. And you want to just die because it’s so unjust to save those sinful lost Ninevites. You pout and don’t notice that God blessed you with a shade tree. And you want to just die because you nearly fainted from that scorching east wind. Yes, die over the weather. Oh Jonah, you fuss over a plant while God fusses over souls! You complain and God has compassion. The salvation of the Ninevites, the arrival and demise of the plant, and even the scorching wind are all appointed by God. All is under God’s control. He knows you are weary and worn out and He loves you more than.
And…
Churchmouse, you obey and you go and you are not always happy about it. You get upset over the unfairness of life, the blessings others receive, the more noticeable gifts they have. And sometimes you just want to give up and run away and eat worms. You pout and you don’t notice the oh so many blessings He showers on you every. single. day. And it snows and there’s ice and even though this has been a mild winter, you complain and you wish the days away till spring. The very days He has given you, chosen for you, appointed for you. God is in control. Really He is. Always He is. Oh, Churchmouse, He knows you are weary and worn and He loves you more than.Jonah. Churchmouse. While you were yet sinners. God’s great love.
(thank you, Jesus, and SRT, for this lesson today. I’m in a puddle of gratitude right here. )
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powerful, thank you for this!
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Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this.
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Awesome. Thank you!
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Thank you for this I plugged my name right in there too. right in
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Whoa! On point straight to the hear! Thank s for your words today!f
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Yes, an exceedingly well-written, heart hitting, sin exposing narrative.
Well said, churchmouse, well said. -
Amen
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Couldn’t have said it better
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Adding my whoa and amen. Thank you Churchmouse for this prayer that hit home so hard.
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Thank you Churchmouse.
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Teary eyed. How guilty I am of a Jonah mentality. A prayer of truth. Thank you.
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“You complain and God has compassion.” Amen!! Heart conviction in those short, simple words. Lord, forgive my complaints and give me your compassion this morning, that it may overflow into others around me today. Thank you!
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Amen!
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Amen! So,true and so sad that we can’t see more easily the blessings God has for us daily! Right there with you all and begging for forgiveness.
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Love this. Thank you!
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Amen!
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Jonah was angry. Deeply angry. His anger must have rooted and grown from somewhere, clearly a part of his story outside of these four chapters.
Anger. I have passionate thoughts on anger. (I hope you don’t mind me sharing.) Because I don’t think anger is an emotion we can just brush under the rug. I believe it is an emotion that needs to be faced. Looking around our world today there is so much anger. And horrible actions resulting from anger, not just hate crimes or civil wars or random shootings… People are angry, and it breaks my heart.
Anger is rooted in hurt. I heard this once and it’s stuck with me, as I personally can attest to it’s truth. When I look my anger in the face, it looks like deep wounds and shame and unforgiveness. These are the roots I have to bring before God if I want healing. Because if I don’t, bitterness takes root and all sorts of ugliness ensues. But bringing these painful pieces of my self before God postures my heart to receive His mercy and peace. It may not be instantaneous healing, but He walks with me through the heartache and hurts and soothes my tangled, angry heart. Awareness of my own heart allows me to bring my WHOLE heart to Him. And that is what He desires most. Because there is such freedom when I lay down my boxing gloves and seek His face. His love is overwhelming.
Whenever I read Jonah, I wonder how His story ended. Did he finally bring his own anger before God to be released from its grasp? Or did he wallow in it living a miserable, bitter life until his end? I can only hope that he brought it before the Lord and received His peace. Because it’s Jonah’s sheer honesty before God that gets me. He didn’t stuff it or hide it or avoid it, he shared it with our merciful God. And that, I believe, is the first step to healing.
Our God is so good and merciful. Only He can make our angry hearts clean, but like sin, we need to shine His light in there and work with Him to heal.
Anger is a heavy, but necessary topic, especially in light of our world today. Praying we all have the courage to face our own anger and hurt – whatever the size – with His help. He can set our hearts free and grant us His peace that passes all understanding. Because our world could use so much more of God’s love and light. Let’s be and share His glorious light and great love today, sisters!-
Re-reading my post, I’m surprised by my own voice. Praying it is empowering and encouraging to someone. :) Love and hugs to you all!
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Beverly, I desperately wish I could convey to you how specifically your comments answered a very real and specific prayer I prayed not 5 minutes before I found this. So thank you for sharing your heart. The Lord used it to convict and guide my heart today.
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Beverly,
Thank you..encouraging, convicting, much to think and pray about. -
Thank you! Needed to hear this!
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“Because there is such freedom when I lay down my boxing gloves and seek His face.” I cannot even put in to words the truth that this has just spoken in my heart. Tears flowing freely. Thank you for sharing.
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Your words speak so directly to me about something that I believe God has just recently put on my heart. And I’m so grateful I take time to read through some comments when I do my devotional, because somehow the devotional itself didn’t bring this particular issue to my mind! If you happen to read this, please say a prayer for my angry heart. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
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Praying for you, Alicia. That God would soften your heart to His love and mercy. We are never beyond the great reach of His abundant love (Romans 8:38-39). I’m so grateful for this truth.
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Christ died for the ungodly. Love that!!
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We cannot know the depth of God’s grace if we do not know the depth of our need.
Powerful!
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Amen!
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I loved this as well.
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Thank you all for being so real and transparent. I too have struggled with forgiveness and my attitude. God is so gracious….so thankful! I have been praying that God will handle a situation after confrontation didn’t work. Really want revival to happen, but it will not until Christians start turning from sin. We all sin every day, but the grace of Jesus is not a card to live however we want. With much grace, comes much responsibility. This is where I am today. Praying for God to work in a might way…especially with the upcoming election in America.
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