Jonah - When Grace Makes You Mad

Connection – Recap

Jonah 1 → Runs from God → storm → thrown overboard.

Jonah 2 → Prays in the fish → God shows mercy → Jonah is saved.

Jonah 3 → Preaches → an entire city repents.

👉 Everything’s up and to the right!

People are saved! God’s moving!

You’d expect Jonah to be celebrating.

But instead…

Tension – When Grace Offends You

Jonah 4:1 NIV

1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.

Wait… what?!

Jonah’s upset after God just used him for revival.

He’s mad that God showed mercy to people he didn’t think deserved it.

Word – God’s Grace Exposes Jonah’s Heart

Right Theology, wrong heart.

Jonah 4:2–3 NIV

2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah’s got the right theology but the wrong heart.

You can know everything about God and still not be like God.

Knowledge doesn’t change you — encountering grace does.

Selective Grace

Jonah loved grace when it was for him, but despised it when it was for them.

Grace for my drinking problem, not their same-sex attraction.

Grace for my porn addiction, not their drug addiction.

Grace for my lack of generosity, not their greed.

Grace for my bad day, not her meltdown in Target.

Sometimes the people who understand grace the most…

…give it the least.

Jonah’s Tantrum

Jonah 4:5 NIV

5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

He’s sitting in the sun — bitter, angry, waiting for fire and brimstone.

And God gives him a visual lesson.

Jonah 4:6–9 NIV

6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

He’s mad at the circumstances he created.

He could’ve moved — but instead he stayed angry.

That’s how anger works — you sit in it, even when you could step out.

Isn’t it true that you’ve done this before? You’ve been angry with someone and you’re so stubborn with it?

God’s Gentle Question

Jonah 4:9 NIV

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

Jonah says, “Yes! I’m so angry I could die!”

Ever been there? So mad you’re bubbling like a kettle about to blow?

That’s Jonah — and God’s about to teach him something powerful.

God’s Perspective

Jonah 4:10–11 NIV

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

What a landing…what an ending. Mic drop.

The Lord teaches Jonah something very important that we should would be wise to learn.

Jonah cared more about his comfort than their souls.

God says:

“You’re mad about something temporary, but I care about what’s eternal.”

You’re mad about the past, I’m focused on the future.

Application – Dealing with Anger

Jonah’s story isn’t about a plant — it’s about a heart problem.

Jonah was consumed with his anger. It got in the way of following God and it got in the way of his relationship with God. Now listen…

Anger itself isn’t sin — it’s an emotion from God.

Even God gets angry.

Exodus 32:9-10 God’s anger burned against Israel after they made the golden calf.

“Leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them.” ⚡ God’s anger responds to rebellion.

Numbers 11:11 The Lord’s anger burned when His people complained about His provision.

They grumbled about the manna that was meant to sustain them. ⚡ God’s anger responds to ingratitude.

Judges 2:12-14 Israel abandoned the Lord for idols, and His anger burned against them.

God handed them over to raiders and enemies they could no longer withstand. ⚡ God’s anger responds to idolatry.

2 Samuel 6:7 When Uzzah touched the Ark, the Lord’s anger burned and He struck him down.

Even good intentions cannot excuse disobedience to God’s holiness. ⚡ God’s anger responds to irreverence.

2 Kings 17:18 After generations of sin and rejection, the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

Eventually, He removed them from His presence. ⚡ God’s anger responds to persistent sin.

Being angry isn’t the problem.

Staying angry is. Being obsessed with your anger, that’s the problem.

Anger shows up when we sense injustice — and that can be good:

Fighting for freedom. How the country got here.

Demanding reform. The Reformation of the Church in 1517.

Having the hard conversations at work or in your relationships. (with grace and truth)

That’s righteous anger — it moves toward what’s right.

But most of us, like Jonah, live with resentful anger.

The kind that roots itself in bitterness and blinds us to grace.

Now, the Apostle Paul gives he church in Ephesus instructions on how they are to deal with anger as a Christian and as God does.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Not literal — more principle. There’s a reason he’s telling us not to do that.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

When you don’t deal with your anger it becomes a root of bitterness.

Remember: Anger — a perceived in justice. Somebody wronged you, or something is wrong.

But most of us…don’t work through our anger and it all starts with this question…

Why am I angry?

If you know you’re struggling with bitterness or anger… this question is the beginning of healing. Answer it honestly.

Extras

Complain to God about certain things that were prayer requests from God.

Kids

Job

Wife

Husband

Complaining isn’t the problem, the problem is we stay in complaining. We need to shift over to giving the problems over to God and then thanksgiving.

Do good things happen when you’re angry?

Jonah 4:4 ESV

4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Is life better for you when you’re angry?

Work better? Marriage better? Kids better? Better leader?

———

Now… initially if I was to ask you this question you would respond… yes b/c… and you would go one to explain it to me. And you would probably be right, at first… Let me ask you this how many good things happen when you’re angry?

But ask yourself this question…

I should be the happiest guy alive…there are days when I get up and there is this struggle of anger that I am fighting through.

See anger is an all encompassing emotion, it’s hijacks your emotional system and it becomes the driver of the car.

Righteous anger — anger that aligns with the heart of God.

That’s different than what I’m talking about and what Jonah is experiencing.

STOP : IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TYPE OF THOUGHT THEN GET WITH US AND WE WILL GET YOU HELP.

God heals through…

Prayers — People — Pills

We want you healthy. So if you are struggling at all please please please talk to us and we will get you help.

Intro

Do a full recap

Jonah 1

Jonah 2

Jonah 3

What’s next? All good stuff, up and to the right! People are saved! You should be so excited!

Word

Jonah 4:1 NIV

1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.

Wait… this is wild, you’re unhappy after God used you so powerfully?

Jonah 4:1–3 NIV

1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

I knew this would happen Lord, I knew you would do this. Now these people are going to be saved, and it’s your fault.

Notice something, Jonah has the right theology about God. God is all those things, but yet all those things make Jonah mad.

You can have all the right knowledge and still have a bad heart.

Knowledge doesn’t change you. A interaction with the grace of Jesus is what changes you.

Jonah 4:3–4 NIV

3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah is thinking...yes… it is right for me to be angry. Lord they where horrible people, the worst kind if people, they didn’t deserve your grace and your mercy.

Notice that Jonah was ok with God’s grace when he needed it, but not when others needed it.

Don’t look around — I think sometimes Christians have the same problem.

Like God’s grace when it comes to our drinking problem but not when it comes to same-sex attraction.

Like God’s grace when it comes to your own porn addiction but no grace for the person who is wrestling with a drug addiction.

Like God’s grace when money was tight for you and you didn’t have a lot to give, but no grace for the wealthy person who hasn’t learned the principle of generosity yet.

Like God’s grace when you’re having a bad day and snap on your husband, but no grace for the wife who does the same in Target.

I’ve noticed that sometimes Christians, who understand God’s grace the most, give it the least.

Jonah 4:5 NIV

5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

Wanted to see the city be destroyed. That’s what he was expecting and what he was hoping for. He was absorbed by his anger.

Jonah 4:6–9 NIV

6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah is mad at his circumstances even thought it was him who decided to go east and sit on a hill in the scorching sun…but he’s mad that the circumstances he put himself him in aren’t good. The solution is very simple…MOVE) 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

Jonah is furious with God.

Now, have you ever been so mad you could die? So mad that it’s like tearing at your insides and the feeling is bubbling to the top and you feel like a steam kettle? Like you’re about to blow a top. That’s exactly where Jonah is and God is going to teach him a very important lesson.

Jonah 4:10–11 NIV

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

What a landing…what an ending.

The Lord teaches Jonah something very important that we should would be wise to learn.

Application

Jonah is angry. He’s angry with God but he’s also angry with the situation. Anger is something that we all experience and let me the first to tell you that anger is not bad. In fact, anger is an emotion from God and even God gets angry. Anger is not a sin.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Being angry isn’t bad. Anger is the response of a perceived injustice. It can be a good thing.

Slaves being set free.

Governmental reform.

Have the conversation with your spouse you’ve been needing to have.

Righteous anger is good anger. That’s anger that does not cause you to sin.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

In other words, do not let anger take root in your life.

Here’s the deal, many of us… can we be honest for just a moment…

… many of us live with an undercurrent of anger in our souls.

That’s b/c of the verse 26...and it’s because you’ve never asked yourself the question God asked Jonah.

God asked Jonah something twice…

“Is it right for you to be angry?”

Why am I angry?