Angry at Providence Part 3

Introduction

Angry at unmerciful providence

Jonah is angry at first because God is merciful, now he is angry that God is punishing. Jonah’s anger is inconsistent and illogical. This proves to us that it is not actually God’s harsh providence that Jonah is angry at in general, but he is angry that God’s will is sovereign and his is not. He wants God to be gracious when he wants, and he wants God to withhold grace when he wants. This is opposed to how God described himself to Moses when he made his goodness pass before him in Exodus 33:19

Exodus 33:19 ESV

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

What Jonah has a problem with, and what most people have a problem with in the nature of God, is that God’s grace is not ours to extend or withhold. God is not ours to control.

The Backwards Priorities of Jonah

The first thing that reveals Jonah’s controling desire over God is his backwards priorities. Instead of alligning his desires to God’s providence, he is upset that God’s providences do not line up with his priorities.

To Jonah, his own private comfort is more important than the lives of thousands.

To Jonah, a single plant is more important than human life and even the lives of many cattle.

To Jonah, the sins of Israel, sins comitted in the knowledge of God, were not nearly as bad as the sins of a pagan nation who do not know their right hand from their left ie. they are completely without moral knowledge.

Serve me, O God

The second way we see Jonah trying to control God’s hard providence is his attitude towards God as being one of a master to a servant. While David woud pray, “search me, O God,” Jonah says, “serve me, O God.” This is evident,

In his ungodly expectation that God would destroy a repentant city. While it is a display of faith to expect God’s promises to come despite seeming impossibility, it is a display of unbelief to expect what God has not promised or what is opposed to God’s character and revealed will.

In his thanklessness when the plant springs up.

In his anger, as if the plant and its shade were a right.

Jonah a failed image-bearer

All this leads us to one conclusion about Jonah’s character: that as an image-bearer of his God he had failed.

He had failed to bring the Word of God to a lost world.

He had failed to follow God. An image is judged by its likeness to the real thing.

He has failed to embrace God in his heart.

Sinful hearts are very inconsistent. The main characteristic that sinners don’t like about God is not his anger or wrath or justice. It is his sovereignty. Its his power over all things. Its his complete immunity to being overthrown and our complete inability to ruling providence ourselves. This is the only reason people get angry at God.

Not everyone who is angry at God admits that they are angry at God.

Those who grumble about their lot in life.

Those who get angry when their plans are foiled.

Those who get angry at people or forces they cannot control.

Those who take pride in controling themselves. This is essentially to indulge in a fantasy that, while God may be Lord of all else, he isn’t Lord of me.

Those who do not recognize God’s hand in both times of blessing or times of difficulty.

How we can Submit Ourselves to God’s Providence

Faith is to submit to God.

In his character.

In his law.

In his providence.

Each of these submissions requires self-denial. It requires us to deny our own thoughts and feelings and embrace God’s. In his character we are called to deny any identity apart from being his image-bearers. In his law we are called to deny the desires of our flesh and the lifestyle we might choose according to those desires. In his providence, in the same way, we are called to deny our desire to be in control and leave ourselves at the mercy of God with thanksgiving and humility. So how do we go about doing that?

Make sure you are submitting to God in his character and law. We cannot submit to God’s soveriegnty in faith if we are failing to walk in his ways.

Stay in the Word of God. Only there will you find the means to be faithful, hopeful, and confident in your Good Shepherd who leads you to green pastures. Stay also in prayer.

Keep serving. One of the best ways to be content with God’s lot for you is to make youself concerned with the needs of the church and the individuals that make it.

Meditate on God’s sovereignty displayed at the cross. How Christ suffered the worst pain even when he had prayed for another way if possible, and how that death resulted in Christ’s resurrection and kingly authority over the nations.

Also, consider Christ’s attitude towards the Father in his darkest hour in the garden. Matt 26:39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” He is our great example.

In times of hardship, consider the greatness of your sin before a holy God and what you deserve compared to the grace you have been shown. Even in our greatest losses, we experience more grace than our works could ever earn.

Consider the great promises that you have in God. Although God’s providences may seem harsh, his disposition to his children is always kind and loving. He promises to hear our prayers, sympathize with our cries, intercede in our groans, and walk with us in the darkest times. His Word will continue to be a sweet retreat from the difficulties of the world and his Spirit will continue to be our strength despite our weakness. Those who grumble against the providences of God are not able to clearly see the reality of the promises.

Read biographies, letters, and journals of those who endured harsh providences before you. Read about those who were persecuted like the English Reformers and Bible translators, who were left alone like Paul in 2 Timothy, who suffered mental exhaustion like Charles Spurgeon and David Brainard, who lost everything like Horatio Spafford (author of the hymn It is Well with my Soul), all of whom came to the cross of Christ and saw Jesus as their worthy Lord is their worst times.

God may be disciplining you in love. If you are a believer, he certainly is showing you love, either to draw you away from sin, to make you more dependant on him, or to prepare you for greater, eternal blessings. Difficulties don’t necessarily mean God is disciplining you, but it is wise to consider this possability.

Conclusion

The faith we need is not easy to have. Implementing these things into your life are impossible without the grace of God. Know that such grace is available to you freely if you will bring your knees down and turn your face up to a patient and merciful God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Are you right to be angry? Probably not. But if you are angry, bring that to him too, not like Jonah but in humility looking for help. He is more than glad to grant that help.