Jonah 4:1-11 NLT
1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.
7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.
9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
“Is it right for you to be angry?”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
How to Know If You Are Angry About the Right Things
1. Reflect Upon God’s Character
2 I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
- Merciful
- Compassionate
- Slow to Get Angry
- Unfailing Love
Contrast that with Jonah’s anger
- Irrational
- Selfish and Hypocritical
- Harmful
2. Speak Life
The tongue can bring death or life;
Proverbs 18:21 a
Jonah speaks death three times:
Verse 3 “kill me now”
Verse 8 “death is better than this”
Verse 9 “angry enough to die”
Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do.
DALE CARNEGIE
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
James 1:19 NLT
QUICK TO LISTEN + SLOW TO SPEAK = SLOW TO GET ANGRY
FORMULA FOR NOT SPEAKING IN ANGER
3. Don’t Let Anger Control You
Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Psalm 4:4 NLT
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT
It’s not a sin to be angry, but it is a sin to let anger control us.
Think About It & Remain Silent
SNAP BEFORE YOU SNAP
STOP – PAUSE
NOTICE – HOW ARE YOU REACTING
ASK – WHAT’S REALLY MAKING YOU ANGRY?
PIVOT– CHANGE
Deal With It
Don’t:
- Divert
- Distract
- Delay