Todays Scriptures https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%204:1-11;%20Romans%201:8-17
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
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?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Anger Management
What is the angriest YOU have ever been? Think back and identify with how YOU felt. What was the cause? What did YOU do about it? Anger has a way of wanting to take control of our mind and body until something or somebody pays the price. For me, it was a wall in my apartment. Before I had time to fully process the consequences I punched and suddenly there was a hole in my wall and soon to follow in my wallet. How did I lose control like that? Honestly to this day, I cannot tell YOU but I can say it happens.
In our text today from Jonah 4, Jonah is angry and the source of his anger is the compassion of YHWH. Jonah was angry because Jonah wanted Ninevah to be punished but YHWH wants Jonah to preach to them. After his encounter with the big fish, Jonah relents and preaches and to no one’s surprise, Ninevah repents. From the King to the commoner everyone repents. YHWH is pleased and Jonah is peeved. YHWH then provides an anger management lesson for Jonah. A big leaf pops up and gives Jonah shade on a sunny day and as quickly as it pops up a worm eats it and causes it to wither. Jonah gets angry with the tree and YHWH challenges him with the reality, YOU did nothing to make the tree grow but YOU enjoyed its shade.
Friends, how often have we eaten fruit from trees we did not plant with any thought of the farmer, or worker in the field, or truck driver who drove it to market? We often benefit from blessings and yet buckle when others who may have wronged us get blessed. During this Lenten season, let us choose gratitude over grudges. Identify with the Ninevites and repent. Identify with Jonah and see how we have received compassion we were not ready to extend to others. Today, I encourage YOU to be more patient, loving and forgiving.
Point to Ponder: After YOU cooled down, How could YOU have handled YOUR anger differently? How will YOU deal with anger in the future? Forgive a past hurt by building a bridge and getting over it. LIVEBIG
Ten Tips to Deal with Anger
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/anger-management/art-20045434
40 Days of Lenten Meditations 