Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Jonah

Jonah 
Day 
Day 26

"It is better for me to die than to live"

Text: Jonah 4:8

AN ANGER PROBLEM THAT REMAINED

God sought to reach out to Jonah deep into his spirit! The question was whether Jonah had learned the lessons God wanted him to consider.

“But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm,
and it so damaged the plant that it withered.
And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared
a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head,
so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said,
‘It is better for me to die than to live.’ Then God said
to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’
And he said, ‘It is right for me to be angry, even to death!'”
Jonah 4:7-9

1. What God did to help Jonah to learn needed lessons

a) He made a plant to give good shade.
b) He then made a worm that destroyed the plant.
c) He caused a dry east wind to arise.
d) He caused the sun to beat on Jonah’s head (No shelter now).

2. Jonah

a) He felt faint.
b) The weather got to him severely!

3. God’s word to Jonah (addressing his anger problem)

a) Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?
b) God knew that Jonah was very uptight!

4. Jonah’s reply to God

a) His reply bordered on being rude to the Lord God.
b) “It is right for me to be angry even to death”
i) Jonah justified his anger.
ii) To be so angry was right!
iii) He spoke in defiance.
iv) He would defend his right to be angry till he died!
v) He refused to deal with his anger problem.
vi) He refused to learn the lessons God sought to teach him.