No Reason To Be Angry

-January 26, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry” (Jonah 4:1).

“Then the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to angry’” (Jonah 4:4)?

We normally think of Jonah as the wayward or prodigal prophet. When God spoke to him and told him to go to Nineveh to preach a message of judgment and repentance, he booked passage on a ship going to Tarshish, the exact opposite direction of Nineveh. The Assyrians in Nineveh were wicked and the sworn enemies of Israel. The last thing he wanted was to see God’s favor on them. There were 120,000 people in this large city.

God brought a storm at sea and it endangered the ship and everyone on board. It was determined that Jonah was to blame because he was running away from God. Any believer outside the will of God is in big trouble. God will bring His chastisement on him or her to bring about repentance and restoration.

As it turned out God caused a great fish (likely a whale), to swallow Jonah. He was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. He repented and God made the fish spit him out right near Nineveh. He preached God’s message and everyone in the city including the king were saved. Imagine, a 100% conversion rate. There was great joy in Nineveh, yet Jonah wasn’t happy.

Jonah sat down outside the city and the Lord appeared to him. He asked the Lord to take his life. It was very hot and God gave him a gourd to shade him from the hot sun. Jonah’s anger turned to delight over the plant. Then God sent a worm to damage the plant and it withered. Jonah loved the plant and got very depressed. God showed him that he didn’t grow the plant or care for it; God on the other hand had compassion on a whole city of people who didn’t know their left hand from their one.

The question is, ‘Do we have the right to be angry? The answer in most cases is a resounding NO!’ The only good anger is righteous anger. This anger is not for self but for God’s righteousness and glory. It is an anger against sin and unrighteousness. It is anger when the Lord is maligned or when His name is used in vain. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “‘ Be angry and do not sin’ do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

Unrighteous anger is never justifiable. James wrote, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Our anger hurts others as well as ourselves. There no reason to be angry with God or others. Anger is a sin that damages relationships, families, and churches. Jonah was the angry prophet. May we not be known as angry Christians. Have a blessed day showing peace, and patience not anger. Stay safe and healthy.

Being self-controlled, trusting God,

Dean