Angry at Providence Part 1

Introduction: Jonah’s living Parable

The rest of this chapter, and indeed the rest of this short book, is a sort of parable that God plays out for Jonah in his own life.

The point of this parable could be summarized like this: men, even God’s people, do not have the right to be angry at God for being God. It is we who need to align our thoughts and hearts to him.

First we will look at how Jonah is angry enough to die because God showed mercy to Nineveh but not to him. He is angry at God because of how God shows mercy. Then, we will look at Jonah’s anger at God for his Providence, how God works things out in the world in ways that we may disagree with or even hurt from.

The end goal of this illustration God makes out of Jonah’s life is to understand the nature of faith.

True faith praises God for who he is.

True faith trusts God in what he does.

True faith submits to God in all his ways.

Anger Towards God

Twice in this chapter, God asks Jonah if he is right to be angry. Both times Jonah communicates that he is so angry he is ready to die. This may be an attempt at blackmail towards God, but God patiently works with Jonah.

But why is Jonah angry? And what causes anyone to be angry with God?

Anger with God motivated by Fear

The Assyrians were the bullies of this era of the Ancient world. They were both cruel and effective at conquering and managing the countries they conquered. Eventually they would take the northern Kingdom, while the tribe of Judah would be saved only by miraculous intervention. Jonah hates the Ninevites because he is afraid of them. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have genuine, heartfelt good will towards those we fear.

Of course we are to fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord produces the opposite effect. When we have a healthy, biblical fear of God we submit ourselves, heart and soul, to his will and purpose. Jonah’s problem is not that he fears, its that he fears the wrong things. Instead of fearing Assyria, he should fear the Lord. But the opposite is true. He is haughty towards God, rebellious, disobedient, and selfish. He does not fear God because he does not have a consistent view of who God is and believes that God should change to suit himself.

Fear of God would remove his fear of man. He would trust God’s plans and character and obey with joy, knowing that the outcome of his ministry would be the glory of God. The only way for Jonah to truly reject his bigotry and fear of the Assyrians is to embrace a loving fear of and trust in God alone.

Anger with God motivated by anger with men

Or vice versa. Anger with God and anger with others are almost always related. If someone is angry at one, you can be sure they are probably bitter towards the other. People rage at each other because God will not give them the idols of their hearts (James 1:1-2) and People rage at God because they are upset with how they’ve been treated by others.

The remedy is to treat the original root of this anger: our hearts. We want to control God and we want to control others, the former is not willing to oblige and the latter rarely is. Each man is his own god, and we make war with each other when they refuse to give us the tribute we desire. How wicked it is when we turn this same attitude towards heaven.

Jonah’s problems is ultimately spiritual adultery and idolatry. He worships himself and his own interests, and this makes him angry at both God and men.

Anger with God motivated by guilt

This is very common, and often we can fall into this without realizing it. Many have hidden shame that they have tucked away so well that they are not conscious of it. The sins and wickedness of others become a way to divert their attention from their own sin and guilt.

The most judgmental and condemning people are usually hiding shame in their hearts that they have not yet brought to the cross. When they do, they are confronted with the magnitude of their sin and the greater grace of God, and as a result are full of compassion, not judgement, towards others.

Instead of being angry that God is showing mercy to Nineveh, Jonah should consider that his own sin is just as great as their. Greater, in fact, because of the light of revelation he has. If he considered this thoroughly, he would rejoice to see God’s great mercy, the same mercy that saved him.

Conclusion

Human anger is quick, inconsistent, personal, and uncontrollable. It is always motivated by self-worship and is our sinful reaction to those who refuse to worship us and our thoughts and desires like we do.

God’s anger is patient, which he shows both to Nineveh and to Jonah.

“Do you do well to be angry?” is a question we should ask ourselves often when we feel anything from rage to annoyance. Most of our anger is rooted in self worship.

When we feel angry, we must turn our attention to the Gospel.

Jesus suffered for our evil, which is far greater than anything someone else could do to make us angry.

The Holy Spirit suffers grief everyday because of our sin.

God elected us as his loved ones despite our refusal to worship him.

Reflecting on God’s patience displayed in the Gospel can correct our unrighteous anger and make us open to submit to God and find joy in his providence.