Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Compassion
4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” ESV
Jonah 4:1-4 What makes you angry? Do you know? Are you ever angry at God? Why is Jonah angry? Jonah tried to avoid sharing God’s message to Nineveh prior to knowing the message. Jonah wanted God to pour out wrath on the city for all their wickedness yet Jonah knew God to be a God slow to anger & judgement. After Jonah gave the message of the Lord the people both believed & feared God which caused them to humble themselves and repent. Jonah is now furious as this is what he wanted to avoid. The question that must be asked is how can a man that equally deserves God’s wrath & judgment be angry that God shows others the same mercy he received?
