Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious.2 He prayed to the Lord, “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. 3 And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”4 The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry? ” -- Jonah 4:1-4

Is It Right For You To Be Angry? (Jonah 4:1-4)

This week at NorthStar we continued our "Questions God Asks" series as we looked at God's question in Jonah 4:4 where God states,

"Is it right for you to be angry?"

This question from God to Jonah comes towards the end of Jonah's story. The preceding verses Jonah 3:10 states, "God saw their actions--that they had turned from their evil ways--so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it."Jonah 3:10 describes God's lovingkindness in relenting from His just wrath against the Ninivites. Jonah describes this in more detail in verse 2 he states, "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster". Jonah asks for the Lord to take his life from his disgust that God has spared them. And then God utters the questions:

"Is it right for you to be angry?"

Once again, God does not ask these questions because he does not know, instead, God asks questions to lead us somewhere to make something of us. The obvious answer is: no.Jonah has no right to be angry. The irony and the hypocrisy in Jonah's response is that he too has been offered the loyal love of God, he too has tasted the deep waters of God's love, yet he is unwilling to extend that mercy to this people group.I don't want us to miss another aspect of this story. Even God's response to Jonah demonstrates God's character. Instead of being angry at Jonah's ignorance, hypocrisy, and sin; God attempts to reason with Jonah. He asks him the question, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

God is patient with Jonah. And thankfully, God is patient with us.

Today, may we rejoice in our God's character, that He is patient and His Loyal love is for all to see.