Do you do well to get irritated ?

Sunday July 11, 2021

Do you do well to get irritated ?

So God regretted the evil with which he had threatened them (the inhabitants of Nineveh) and did not do it. Jonah took it very badly and was irritated... The Lord answered : Do you do well to irritated ? Jonah 3:10 4:1,4

The Lord asks Jonah to warn the inhabitants of Nineveh of the punishment which will befall them because of their wickedness. But Jonah disobeys and runs away. The Lord catches up with him and renews his mission for him. This time Jonah complies, grudgingly no doubt, but he obeys. And the men of Nineveh believe God (Jonah 3:5), repent and ask for forgiveness. God then suspends his judgment and spares the city.

How will Jonas react ? Instead of rejoicing at the good dispositions of the Ninevites and the happy result of his prophecy, he becomes angry and disputes the measure of grace they have just received. He considers his credibility and honor to be at stake. His reputation is more important to him than the lives of many human beings. Apparently, he would willingly have sacrificed an entire city on the altar of his personal glory. But through this measure of grace, it is God himself that he challenges, it is against him that he is angry and revolts. He becomes angry with this God whom he nevertheless knew as a God who gives grace and who is merciful, slow to anger and great in kindness (Jonah 4:2).

Jonas’s attitude is certainly open to criticism, but let’s be vigilant for ourselves. When our self-esteem is at stake and it is a question of defending our image or our dignity, we can also show, not only harshness towards men but, even more serious, rebellion against God. The only right attitude before Him is submission and obedience together with a spirit of grace towards others.

In his sovereignty, God allows many things that we do not understand. Doubt, and even anger, can come over us. But if we are attentive, we will hear the same voice that spoke to Jonah : Do you do well to get irritated ?, the gracious voice of a God who is merciful, slow to anger, and great in kindness.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)