Jonah 4:1-4
Anger is one of our defense mechanism in us that sometimes benefits us and at times not. We can get angry and do something about an injustice or something that needs to get done, and it works on our behalf. But, we can get angry and really blow things out of proportion, we can even sin with anger. The bible teaches us that we could get angry but we should not sin (eph.4:26). God told Cain that if did not master anger it would enslave him and become his master (Ge4:5-7). It also tells us that we should be slow to anger (Jm1:19), and the reason in part is because when we are angry we can become careless and become vulnerable to the enemies attacks. We all display anger differently, some scream off the top of their lungs, while some will shut down and not talk at all. Some will eat furiously, while others will drink like if there is no tomorrow when they are angry. But, the question that comes to mind is, when do we stop being angry? When do I just decide I am not going to be angry anymore.
4 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. 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 was living a happy life with is family and friends until God knocked on his door and sent him to preach to Nineveh. It was then that he decided to not do what the Lord had asked him to do and run away. We understand that Jonah was angry with the people of Nineveh for whatever the reason. One thing we learn that Jonah understood was that God is a merciful God and a loving God willing to forgive anyone, and that anger him even the more. The Psalmist says that God’s mercies are from everlasting to everlastings (ps103:17). We don’t know what happened between the people of Nineveh and Jonah, but he must have been really bothered by them to not want God to forgive them. I can’t imagine someone being so angry with someone that they would not want God’s loving kindness and forgiveness upon that person; although there are probably a good handful out there. Being angry with someone can destroy one’s life take for instance Jonah, that he did not consider the men on the ship he was riding on when the big storm hit them, he just simply slept inside the ship while they toggled and twirled.