GOD DEALS WITH A PROPHET’S HEART
A. Jonah’s complaint.

1. (Jonah 4:1) Jonah’s displeasure at the repentance of the people of Nineveh.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.

a. It displeased Jonah: This was strange, because usually the preacher is pleased when the congregation repents, but Jonah wasn’t. There was something about the whole matter that displeased Jonah.

b. Exceedingly, and he became angry: Not only was this strange, it was very strange, because Jonah was very upset at the success of his preaching. We should not miss Jonah’s intensity here, because the language in the original Hebrew is strong.

2. (Jonah 4:2-3) Jonah explains his anger.

So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

a. I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm: Jonah was angry because God granted repentance to the Ninevites, and the Assyrians were enemies of Judah and Israel. Jonah wanted God to bring judgment upon these people he hated.

b. Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country: Jonah knew that God was full of grace and mercy, and that was why he was afraid to tell the people of Nineveh. This was at least part of the reason why Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh — he was afraid they would repent, when all along he wanted God to judge the Assyrian capital.

i. Jonah himself called on the mercy of God and enjoyed the mercy of God when it was extended to Jonah. Now he resents it when it is extended to others. What if God treated Jonah the way Jonah wanted God to treat the people of Nineveh?

c. For it is better for me to die than to live: The repentance and salvation of the people of Nineveh is so painful to Jonah that he would rather die than think about it; and he also states that this was the reason he fled the call – not out of fear that he would be ineffective, but fear that he would be effective!

B. God confronts a prophet.

1. (Jonah 4:4) God questions Jonah’s heart.

Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

a. Is it right for you to be angry? Jonah, in expressing his anger against God, was being honest about his feelings — something good; but we should not for a moment think that all of our feelings towards God are justified.

i. God likes to ask us questions, because they reveal our heart. It also put us on proper ground before God, because He has every right to question us and we owe Him answers.

• Where are you? Who told you that you were naked? What is this you have done? (Genesis 3)
• Where is your brother Abel? What have you done? (Genesis 4)
• What have you done? (1 Samuel 13:11)
• Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? (2 Samuel 12)
• Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? (Isaiah 6)
• Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16)
• What do you want Me to do for you? (Matthew 20)
• Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22)
• Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9)

c. Is it right for you to be angry: This is the question we should and even must ask ourselves if we find ourselves angry with God. The answer must always be “No, LORD. All Your ways are right even if I don’t understand them.”

i. Yes, Jonah was angry towards God, and yes, it was alright for Jonah to state his anger towards God; but he must also repent of his anger towards God.

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