Jonah Devo - Day 6

Friday, July 22, 2011 – Day 6

*Read Jonah 4:1-4 – Why so Angry?

Chapter 4 opens up with Jonah’s pride creeping back onto the scene, which causes Jonah to become angry. We also find out that real reason that Jonah originally boarded the ship to Tarshish. Jonah wasn’t afraid to go to Nineveh because of what harm might come to him, although that would have been understandable, but rather Jonah was afraid because he knew that his God was the one true God, a loving God, that if he preached to the people of Nineveh they would repent and be forgiven. He knew that the gentiles would receive God’s grace, and his pride was having trouble accepting that fact. Israel was supposed to be a light to the world, but Jonah let his pride take over, which resulted in him seeing the Israelites as better than the rest of the world. God’s decision to be merciful to the Ninevites offended his own pride so much that he would rather die than witness the salvation of the gentile nation.

I can still remember the night, as if it was yesterday, even though it was almost 10 years ago, that I finally understood God’s call in my life and submitted to His will. I had many different emotions running through my body that night and anger was definitely one them. I think that anger gets a bad rap most of the time, and I believe that most people would say that anger is a bad thing.. I am not one of those people. I think that anger is a very healthly emotion and I wish that people would get angry more often that is as long as it is Godly anger and not anger that is sinful and self destructive

RBC Ministries explains the two different types of anger as follows –

Selfish anger is provoked when we believe we've been treated unjustly or unfairly. We want something, we don't get it, we feel deprived, and now someone is going to pay for having treated us this way (James 4:1-4). The goal is revenge. When driven by vengeance, we demand that someone pay now for the injustice we've suffered. We impatiently demand immediate execution of justice according to our specifications, and refuse to allow time for God to work in the hearts of those who have offended us (James 1:19-20). Our anger becomes a caustic acid intended to burn those we feel have burned us unfairly. When offended, we can be ruthless, hard, unreasonable, and devoid of mercy in our response.

Conversely, godly anger is provoked in us when we witness persistent violations of God's standards of justice (Psalm 119:53). There is an appropriate time to be outraged over those who hold God in contempt and mar the beauty of His creation. The goal of godly anger is to warn the person who has breached God's divine law so that once exposed they can have the opportunity to change (Ezekiel 3:18-21). This kind of anger is like iodine, an ointment intended to purge infection and promote healing in the recipient (Proverbs 27:6). It is painful at first, but in the end, it soothes and heals.

Godly anger is motivated both by the love of Christ that works in us to extend His love to others (2 Corinthians 5:14), and by the fear of His coming execution of perfect justice (2 Corinthians 5:11). Godly anger is marked by a confidence in God's longsuffering character (Psalm 86:15; 2 Peter 3:9), knowing that only He is qualified to carry out vengeance equitably. Godly anger refuses to resort to personal acts of revenge now, but is willing to wait for God's wrath to be poured out against evil in His good time (Psalm 73:16-19; Romans 12:19).

Questions:
1. Why is Jonah angry with God?

2. In v. 2 we learn the real reason for why Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh. What, if anything, does this tell us about the heart of Jonah? His motivation?

3. Why does Jonah ask God to kill him?

4. In Chapter 1 Jonah’s disobedience brought him near death. Compare his reaction to God’s saving grace in his own situation vs. his reaction to God’s grace and mercy towards the Ninevites:

5. How would you interpret God’s response in 4:4?

6. Have you ever tried to control God, and then got angry when He did not conform to that image?

7. What is your motivation for being on this mission trip?

Other things to explore…
1) In 4:3, Jonah recites Moses’ revelation of God’s blessed character. Read Exodus 34: 6

2) Read 1Kings 19:4 and compare Elijah’s request to die with Jonah’s request to die.

Take away…
God is God and we are not; God is not bound by our limits, prejudices or misconceptions.


Prayer Starter

As we near the end of the trip, it's likely that you're feeling a bit run down. This is our last day of work. Ask God for the strength to continue to show forth Jesus' love among the people with whom we are working. Ask him for the strength to recognize the things these people can give to YOU! And pray for the people and the neighborhoods with whom and in which we are working. Be sure to leave spaces during your prayer where you listen for God's side of the conversation.


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