But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." (Jonah 4:9)
Jonah is steaming mad. So mad that he is physically trembling. Why? Because God had the audacity to show mercy to those whom Jonah didn't feel deserved it. In short, God didn't meet Jonah's agenda. Jonah wanted life to operate one way and God said "no." And like a child, Jonah went up on a hill and pouted.
On that hill, God graciously gave Jonah an object lesson. A vine grew up over Jonah's head providing temporary relief from the sun. Then the vine died. Now Jonah is so mad and depressed that he says he wants to die. Then Jonah wished death for himself, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." (4:8)
Wow. Such drama. But anger does that to us. We lose rationality. We wallow in self-pity and depression. We vent our frustration so that everyone, including God, knows that we are not happy. And God asks a simple question to us, "Do you have a right to be angry?" Interesting question. Jonah thinks he does. In fact, he is willing to defend his right to be angry even to death if necessary. Jonah would rather die than let go of his anger…and his right to stay that way. Sad. But so true.
What goes on in the human heart that makes us more willing to die than to soften our hearts to God's Word, repent of our selfish attitude, let go of our pride and resentment, and rest in God's sovereignty and mercy? We are fighting for our own way. We are fighting for life to match our agenda. We are fighting for our right to have things be like we want them. And in the midst of our self-focused, God-resisting anger, God still speaks to us…quietly and gently…"Why do you value your convenience over My compassion? Why do you think your rights trump the needs of everyone else? Why do you trust your will over My own?"
