Sitting Around Brooding and Angry

Scripture: As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so much that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, “It’s better for me to die than to live.” Then God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “Yes, it’s right!” he replied. “I’m angry enough to die!” Jonah 4:8-9

Observation: Jonah has preached against Ninevah, and they have responded with repentance. The Lord thus relents from destroying them, and will soon even use them to punish Israel for its sin. Jonah, waiting to see what happens, not only doesn't witness the destruction of the enemy, but suffers under a hot sun because the plant that gave him shade has died.

In other words, Jonah (reluctantly) obeys the Lord, as a result over 120,000 repent to the Lord, and Jonah ...

-- Hopes the people will die instead

-- Voluntarily sits in the sun for no reason but his wish for death on 120,000 people

-- Proclaims it would be best for him to die he is so hot and angry

-- Declares he is 'angry enough to die' over the life and death of a meaningless plant

Jonah's misery is 100 percent self-inflicted. There was no reason for him to even remain at Ninevah once he had proclaimed God's word. He could be at home, comfortably eating breakfast. Instead, he decides to sit on a hill brooding. He leans into his hate for a people-group, wishing and hoping for the chance to witness the death of thousands. He does so in intense heat to the point of physical exhaustion. He becomes so angry that when a basic plant dies ... I mean, plants die when it's hot ... he argues with God and wishes for his own death.

Application: How many times do Christians - myself included - just sit around angry about some group of people that are in open defiance to the Lord, and wonder why the Lord hasn't just erased them from the face of the earth yet? And how often does this act ... our brooding, our anger ... negatively affect us, not that group of people? The answers are, of course, 'too often' and 'every time'.

Sitting around angry at the people who are disobeying the Lord affects us just like it did Jonah. Our lives become drained of energy. We don't enjoy the blessings in our lives that the Lord has given us. We become so angry about little, meaningless things that we lose rational thinking. Worst of all, we argue with God himself over the situation, pridefully assuming our righteous anger and logic is best, and the Lord's mercy and timing and plan are flawed.

Prayer: Lord, it is true that we all often ask for your action against people of this era. I totally and completely love your love and mercy, but every once in a while I desire to see some rebellious group or cause crushed by your righteous judgment in an obvious move of your authority. I pray that I not become Jonah, brooding in discomfort and anger, when instead I can just live within your love and blessing, because in either circumstance your plan is best. Thy will be done. Amen.