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Daily Devotions

Jonah

Jonah 
Day 
Day 23

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly"

Text: Jonah 4:1

AN ANGER PROBLEM

Jonah had an anger problem that needed to be addressed. As he saw the repentance of the Ninevites and how God had relented from destroying them, his angry spirit got the better of him!

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.
So he prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Ah, LORD,
was not this what I said when I was still in my country?
Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish;
For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness,
One who relents from doing harm.'”
Jonah 4:1-2

1. “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly”

a) Jonah seemed to have forgotten himself.
b) What right had he to be displeased?
c) What was he displeased about?
i) That the Ninevites had repented and turned from their wicked ways.
ii) That God had relented from judging Nineveh and would not destroy the city.
iii) He wanted the Ninevites to perish under God’s judgment!

2. An awkward prayer

a) Remembering the first time God gave him a command to preach at Nineveh.
b) Jonah had refused to obey God.
c) He knew that if he had preached at Nineveh the people there might well repent.
d) And that God would spare the city of Nineveh.
e) He did not want that to happen.

3. Jonah’s knowledge of God

a) He was a gracious and merciful God.
b) He was slow to anger and abundant in mercy.
c) He would relent from doing harm if people repented from their sins.
d) Jonah could not appreciate why God had to be so good and compassionate!

AN OLD UNRESOLVED PROBLEM

Jonah had not resolved his anger problem. His spirit had not been deeply impacted enough, even though God had rescued him from a watery grave! His unresolved sin problem came right back to cause him to be exceedingly displeased and angry! He had forgotten his place as a servant of God!