Anger Projected ~ Jonah 4

“Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:3-4 NKJV

“And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live. Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah 4:8-9 NKJV

What are you angry about today?  I bet if I possessed the ability to drill down far enough into your thought bubble, I could discover one idea, one person, or one situation that sets you off in anger.  I know in total honesty, that I have not one…but several.  Maybe it is just for this reason that God talks so much about our human anger.  God in His Word utilizes the word anger around 350 times with the bulk of that addressing the pitfalls that our human anger can generate.  350 times.  Proverbs alone heavily addresses our human anger, containing dozens of practical warnings regarding hot tempers, fools giving full vent to their rage, and the value of being slow to give way to our anger.  Also, right out of the gate in the first chapter of the book that bears his name, James advises believers in Christ to be "slow to anger" because human anger does not produce God's righteousness. (James 1:19-20)  And Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus wisely lets loose the words that advise the disciple of Christ to not let their anger fuel sinful actions or to prolong that anger by “letting the sun set on it” (Eph 4:26).  So clearly God realizes us humans have a big problem with our anger or He would not spend so much of His page time addressing it.  So back to the opening question, what are we humans so angry about?

O, Jonah.  You reluctant prophet.  You stubborn servant of God.  You stiff-necked follower of God. You openly angry human so easily frustrated and perturbed by the life that surrounds you.  And don’t read these comments on Jonah as criticism….for Jonah may be the Biblical prophet I most easily and quickly relate with.  The four short chapters of Jonah drip with his honesty, transparency, and open frustration.  In those four chapters we see God call His prophet to deliver words of prophetic judgement to the bustling capital city of Assyria that holds 120,000 souls, Nineveh.  Recall that Assyria was a fierce enemy of Jerusalem and that historically God had used them to enslave rebellious Israelite sinners, sometimes even leading them off with fish hooks through their nose.  Yes, when Jonah received these instructions to go and save Nineveh, it would have been like asking a 1940’s Jew to go to Berlin and offer Hitler salvation.

The story is famous.  Jonah starts by running from God.  Instead of heading to Nineveh, he goes in the polar opposite direction.  And on his own dime.  Then as God corrects his obedience with a mighty storm, God then corrects his GPS coordinates with a really big fish that vomits out Jonah where God initially wanted him.  If you have not recently visited the book of Jonah, his repentant prayer in the belly of this fish in chapter 2 is something worth a revisit.

But instead of Jonah reveling in the amazing success God granted him through His prophetic words of repentance, he retreats outside the city walls to sulk in his anger.  He did not want these people to repent and be saved and thus, he asks God to kill him in his anger.  God’s response is something I need to hear almost hourly in my life:

“Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:3-4 NKJV 

Most often in my anger I truly feel I have a right to that anger.  I mean those people are clearly wrong in what they are doing, so I’m allowed to be angry at them right?  I mean I worked hard for this thing or event, prayed for it, and then somebody with what I perceive as ill intention messed it all up.  What other choice do I have but to respond by fuming in anger at them?  Well, it turns out that yet once again, God is right and Dan is wrong.

But if you carefully notice in this first instance of Jonah’s anger, it is directed at God.  Jonah is very unhappy with God and thus, angry that what God wanted, did not align with his personal desires.  But notice the projection of Jonah’s anger in instance number 2 shortly after God takes away the comfort and convenience of his personal shade tree:

“Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah 4:9 NKJV

Notice here that Jonah’s anger has cleverly and deceptively turned from God, to his circumstances.  But what truly is the difference between the two?  If you confess to be a disciple of Christ, loving Him through keeping His commandments (John 14:15) and believe that Christ rules and controls all, then being angry at your circumstances is truly just being angry at God, yes?  Wow, this human anger thing is more complex than I care for.  Is it possible for me to be angry at anger?

So what’s the answer?  Well, all praise be to God, the answer lies within His wise Words to His creatures, The Holy Bible.  Here are four heavy hitting points to lean on as you find yourself mad at the world around you and unable to control that anger. (points taken from manhoodjourney.org)

1) Gentleness over reaction. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.  Anger is a fire, learn to not let the flames increase to a wildfire, but instead snuff them out quickly.  This takes prayer and practice in being Spirit led.

2) Listen first, speak later…or don’t speak at all. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20.  I’ve never seen a fight started by someone holding their tongue and listening well.  Never.  Human anger is pointless and useless; it does not solve problems, and it does not aid in growing the kingdom of God.  If you do not have something good to say, say nothing.

3) Remember you’re a new creature in Christ. “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Colossians 3:8.  No, you do not have the right to be angry.  Christ commands us to put off the old self and dress in the new clothing of the Holy Spirit.  See your anger as simply what it is…sin.

4) Give Anger an Expiration Date. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…” Ephesians 4:26.  There is only one thing worse than anger…ongoing, smoldering, unresolved anger.  Anger not dealt with leads to bitterness.  And then that bitterness destroys not just relationships, but the very one that chooses to constantly carry the torch of that ongoing anger.

But the biggest reason to get a handle on our anger is the example we have from our creator, Almighty God.  We see nine times in the Old Testament alone that God is “slow to anger.”  And how easy is it for us to praise God for this characteristic?  I praise God every day that He is slow to be angry with my constant Jonah-like behavior.  Today, carefully analyze what is making you angry and then be even more aware of how you are processing that anger.  For it is only in effectively handling your anger that you can truly be the light that Christ desires you to be.

Be angry and sin not.  Blessings ~ Dan

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 103:8

“And rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:13

“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6

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