Jonah 4

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Prayer Training after service. Give the why?

Jonah Intro

This is not an ending that we like… It ties up nothing.

Jonah is an abnormal story it is the rollercoaster of someone trying to follow Gods call on their life.

Recap Jonah

Now today we find ourself sitting with Jonah at the end of the story where he is angry at God.

Big Idea: Anger directed at God is misguided and leaves us unwell.

The Building search, Ministry transitions, a significant loss, being looked over for the job or opportunity.

Jonah is an imperfect prophet and if we are honest so many of us are sitting or have sat right where Jonah is.

Bring your anger with you into the sermon today.

Lets lay it before the Lord.

Read/Pray

Jonah 4 (ESV)

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 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. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Part 1: Sitting in Anger V. 1-8

Jonah 4:1–8 ESV

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 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. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Exceedingly displeased.

Even thinks Gods actions are evil.

Jonah does not want to see Nineveh turn to God.

Then the Plant:

Jonah is mad the plant is withered.

General context:

Jonah is hot and angry

Jonah is warm from the wind.

Ultimately:

Jonah is mad God has done what he knew God would do: I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,

Bitterness

Jonahs anger is debilitating (Think the Grinch)

Transition: This is where he sits. Maybe you have been there? Maybe you are there?

Part 2: Sifting our Anger V. 9-11

Jonah 4:9–11 ESV

But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Powerful illustration with a pointed exhortation.

Retell passage

God ask Jonah? What are you accomplishing with your anger?

Anger Compounds

Anger tends to lead towards more anger (mad at something at work, yell at your kids)

Does it do you any good?

What are you angry at?

Process of sifting our Anger (should we be angry):

1. What has God truly done?

A Calling for Jonahs life

Redemption for Nineveh

A storm to get his attention

Temporary shade for Jonah

How about your Your Life?

What are God done for you… (Macro + Micro)

Scripture, Prayer, Wise Counsel

2. What is my response?

We always have so much to be grateful for.

Anger turned into nothing is not productive.

Anger misguided is not productive.

there are things to be angry for… but the reality is the things we are angry at more often than not have no weight.

3. What am I left with?

A better perspective

Somewhere to go from here

Transition: The Story of Jonah ends with Jonah

Conclusion: Shifting away from anger

God is sovereign and we are not.

Next week we jump into a series in Habakuk that will help us get a better grasp on this.

We worship a God who understands our frustration.

A. Nineveh

B. Jonah

C. All of mankind

3. Shifting from anger to compassion

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Prayer Prompt

Where am I angry?

How am I angry with God?

How has God provided?

How has God provided forgiveness for me for the very thing I am angry about?

What is God calling me to do?