As a pastor if someone were to ask me, “Who are the most difficult people you have to deal with in your church?” by far my answer would be, angry people. There is something about anger that makes people act irrationally. When people don’t deal with their anger they do and say horrible and hurtful things and it doesn’t seem to matter to them who they hurt. It’s sad to say this but many churches are full of angry people. Angry because someone hurt, stole or offended them. Angry because they see other people being blessed and they seem to be falling behind. And as a believer when you allow anger to get the better part of you eventually you will turn your anger on God. Eventually you will do and say some terrible things even to God.

One of the most interesting things about the story of Jonah is that it’s not until we get towards the end of the story that we discover why it was that he ran from God.

But before we get there let me give you a quick overview of the story. God calls Jonah to take a message to the people in a city called Nineveh. Nineveh was a pretty wicked city so Jonah declines the calling and hops on a ship going in the opposite direction. God intervenes by causing a violent storm to breakout. The storm causes Jonah to be tossed into the sea where God has a big fish swallow him. From inside the belly of the fish Jonah cries out to God and after three days God causes the fish to vomit him onto dry land. At which time God gives Jonah a second chance to proclaim the message to the people in Nineveh. Jonah goes into the city. It should have taken him no less then three days to cover the city but by the end of the first day everyone from the king on down had repented.

Jonah 3:10 NIV

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 4: 1-3 NIV

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2He 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. 3Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Now we finally learn the reason that Jonah ran from God … he knew that

God would have compassion and forgive the people of Nineveh. The irony is that more than anyone else, Jonah should have appreciated God’s graciousness and compassion. Jonah was the one who disobeyed God; it was Jonah who ran from God. And how did God respond to Jonah, with grace and compassion even giving Him a second chance. So the Lord asks Jonah the following question:

Jonah 4:4 NIV

4But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

How is it Jonah that you are acting so irrationally? How is it that you don’t want me to give to the people of Nineveh my grace which I extended to you even though you didn’t disserve it? They listened the first time; they didn’t run from me like you did. You think it’s right for you to be angry?

Most churches are full of angry people; angry because someone offended them, angry because they didn’t get the job, angry because things are not going the way they want, some are angry simply because they’re having a bad day but in the end, angry because the way they see it, God hasn’t intervened on their behalf. When we become angry the problem is that we begin to act irrationally and eventually we start doing and saying hurtful things to the people around us and the worst part is that eventually our anger turns to God. And I can almost hear God asking, is it right for you to be angry? After the price I had to pay to rescue and save you do you think you have any right to be angry with me?

It’s simple, the solution to anger as believers is to be grateful and where necessary, to forgive.

Heavenly Father deliver me from the anger that is so destructive to my life and to those around me, but most importantly it is extremely dangerous to my relationship with you. I thank you for everything you’ve done, you are doing and will do for me, because I don’t deserve anything, just thinking about this causes me to be grateful and to love you more and more.