Is It Right For You to Be Angry? - Jonah 4

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. -  Jonah 4:1

Reading about Jonah’s story up to this point, it’s easy to look at Jonah as someone who is just filled with hatred and stubbornness. It’s easy to see Jonah as the villain of the story since he’s been the one trying to keep the city of Nineveh from being saved; he wants to see it, and the people that live there, destroyed.

So, when they turn towards God, which leads to God sparing them, Jonah gets so angry about this. According to God himself, they are wicked and deserved his judgement based on what they’ve done; maybe things they’ve done that have affected Jonah. Jonah agrees with God on what they deserve.

There are many people and nations who may look like Nineveh today. Someone who has intentionally hurt others, has been selfish, has done things that have negatively affected you, someone you love, or the community you live in.

I’m not referring to someone who is just rude, mean, or disrespectful without realizing that they are. I’m talking about someone or something, like Nineveh, who is just plain wicked. We think of them and what they’ve done, and the anger rises within us…just like Jonah. And just like God asks Jonah, he asks us…

“Is it right for you to be angry about this?” - Jonah 4:4

Yes, actually. They’ve done the worst things possible…and what’s even worse is that they intentionally do it. They are wicked.

The original word used when describing Nineveh was raʿ, which means 'evil.' So, yes, like Jonah, we would agree that it is right for us to be angry.

After being asked this, Jonah sets himself up in a place that is the perfect view of the city to wait and see what happens to it.

And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. - Jonah 4:6

Throughout this book, we’ve seen God use all kinds of the things to reach Jonah - a storm, getting thrown off a ship, being swallowed by a giant fish - but this time, he does something kind for him.

And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. - Jonah 4:8

But then, he takes it away - the only good thing he has had throughout this entire journey. Though it was small, it brought a huge relief to him. Jonah is on his last straw and says he would rather die at this point. God intentionally brings him to this point, and then he asks Jonah,

“Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” - Jonah 4:9

Knowing evil people aren’t going to get what they deserved, being thrown off a ship, almost drowning, getting swallowed by a giant fish, being vomited out, sitting in the scorching heat with hot air blowing at your face, and then the only thing holding you together also gets taken away from you - a relationship, a friend moves away, a job, closing a business, losing someone you love. If you are honest with yourself, we would have responded the same way. We do all the time.

Reading about Jonah’s story up to this point, it’s easy to look at Jonah as someone who is just filled with hatred and stubbornness. It’s easy to see him as the villain of the story, but if we are honest with ourselves, we are all just like Jonah.

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” - Jonah 4:10-11

God used everything to reach Jonah. The Book of Jonah was never only a story about God telling someone to obey so He could save a city. The Book of Jonah is also a story about a patient Father using anything and everything to show Jonah how deeply anger had taken hold of his heart.

We are more like Jonah than we would like to admit, but the God of Jonah is the same God who loves you, is patient with you, and cares so much about you that he’ll use anything and everything to reach you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Jonah 4:1 says Jonah became angry when God showed mercy to Nineveh. When you think about a person, organization, group, or nation that has caused real harm, what makes it difficult to want God’s mercy for them?

2. Jonah 4:6-9 shows that Jonah cared deeply about losing the plant that gave him relief. Why do you think Jonah cared more about losing the plant than he did about the people of Nineveh? Where might we do the same thing?

3. Throughout Jonah 4, God uses the plant, the worm, and the scorching wind to reveal what was happening inside Jonah. What has God used, or what might He be using right now, to reveal anger, hurt, or resentment that has taken hold of your heart?

4. In Jonah 4:4 and 4:9, God asks Jonah whether his anger is right. What would it look like to surrender your anger to God while still being honest about the harm caused by a person, organization, group, or nation?