RAGE

This is a synopsis of a series on Jonah that was presented at summer camp.

Part 6 of 7: 

THE GREAT RAGE  (Jonah 4:1-4)                                                

"And Jonah prayed and said, 'O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that your are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." (2)

Wow! This insight shifts the entire paradigm of Jonah. We see that Jonah's heart is much more twisted, rebellious and off center than imagined. Jonah confesses that he didn't run to Tarshish because he was afraid of failure, he ran because he feared God would bring success! 

How much do you have to hate and look down on other people to run from the Lord's command to help them?

Jonah isn't just upset and appalled at the Ninevites sin, he is upset and angry with God's mercy toward them. Jonah doesn't like how God is operating with the Ninevites and would rather that God act in line with his desires.

The qualities that Jonah ascribes to God are the same qualities that God revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 34:6-7. 

Sin creates in us a blindness. 

Jonah was proud to be Hebrew. He was proud to be a part of God's people. Israel was in. Others were out. That was the way it should be. Jonah was happy for God to act in line with his characteristics as long as it was a blessing to his goals, but to extend that same mercy to his enemies was more than he could bear. Again we see that our sin runs deep and colors so much of what we think and do. It takes an act of God's grace to break us out of these ruts.

Sin creates small habits.

The book of Jonah is about breaking out the the small boxes we build for ourselves. It is about exposing the greatness of both our sin and God's grace. Jonah is being blown up right here and he doesn't like it. At the same time he is becoming more honest and open about who he really is. God's grace is at work.

In response to his great anger, God asks Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry?" 

He is basically asking Jonah, why do you do this to yourself? Are you sure your right on this? Are you sure you know more than me?

If I take an honest look, the issue with Jonah is mirrored in my heart . I can know God's word and enjoy being part of God's people, but all to often I make other things the center and use God to support those things. C.S. Lewis says, "There is but one good and that is God. Everything else is good when it looks at him and bad when it turns from him." Jonah is being asked to turn back to the good by turning back to God.

God's grace continues to work on Jonah's perspective. As Jonah's heart is being expanded we see he leaves the city to see what will happen. He waits and watches, hoping for God's justice to be executed. Which way will this tale turn?

Next time we'll see how God finishes this story. Until then you'll just have to wait (or better yet, read the story for yourself and find out) For audio recording click below: