LifeWay Family Bible Series for Dec. 28 When God doesn’t make sense, trust him still_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

LifeWay Explore Bible Series for Dec. 28

When God doesn't make sense, trust him still

Jonah 4:1-11

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

James Dobson wrote a book titled “When God Doesn't Make Sense.” Jonah might well have written a book with a similar title.

God called Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1). A large fish swallowed Jonah, and Jonah ran to God, crying out and seeking God as God's mercy spit him on the shore (Jonah 2). Jonah followed God's call to preach judgment to Nineveh as Jonah ran with God by doing his will (Jonah 3). Jonah proclaimed thunder, lightning and God's judgment so strongly that God moved, and the people of Nineveh listened to God, confessed their sin and repented of their actions. God spared Nineveh and the people by his tender mercy.

Jonah, in chapter 4, does not understand why God did not finish destroying the people of Nineveh. God did not make sense to Jonah.

Anger

When God did not bring disaster on Nineveh (Jonah 3:10), Jonah became displeased and angry (Jonah 4:1). The idea of “displeasure” is that Jonah felt highly irritated, crushed, embarrassed and restless. Things moved beyond Jonah's control. Jonah felt like a fool before the people of Nineveh. The concept of his “anger” meant Jonah boiled with a burning anger at God yet failed to understand God's compassion and the repentant relief of the people as God showered his mercy on them. Jonah possessed a narrow view of God, an inflated sense of embarrassment and a lack of love for the sinners whom God loved.

Jonah's responses to God in his displeasure and anger are typical of a pouting prophet: (1) “I told you so!” (2) Get me out of here! (3) Life is not fair! (4) I've earned the right to act this way!

Jonah whines, “I told you so!” (v. 2). He acknowledged God's character, nature and quality as one of grace, mercy and patience that goes beyond what is often necessary. Jonah prays much like he did in the belly of the large fish (2:1). Jonah's prayer indicates that his “storm trouble” (Eugene Peterson) returns.

Jonah's troubles often come because of his attitude toward God and his stubborn unwillingness to listen faithfully to God and understand his plan–in this case, God's tender compassion that spares sinners who repent. Jonah is angry, but God in his loving kindness withholds his fury, rage and harm.

Jonah then cries out, “Get me out of here!” Jonah is like the children of Israel in the wilderness who desire to turn back to Egypt (Exodus 14). He groans like Elijah in a cave on Mount Carmel, begging God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Jonah asks God to do to his life what he would not do to the people of Nineveh: Take my life! Destroy me! Remove my soul from earth! Jonah's anger rages like a fire out of control because he cannot control life or God. God asks, “Is it right for you to rage in anger?” (Jonah 4:4).

Jonah continues his tirade as if to say, “Life is not fair!” Jonah moves to the east side of the city, pouts, waits in hope God will change his mind again, and then watches as a plant grows above him producing shade (vv. 5-6). Eugene Peterson calls it “the unpredictable plant.” Jonah feels happiness and gratitude for the shade (v. 6).

However, morning dawned as a worm ate the shade tree and it withered (“dried up”). The scholar Banks says the worm is God's orchestrated message “of man's insignificance.” The hot sun and fierce wind beat down on Jonah and led him to the point of exhaustion (v. 8). Jonah's emotions went from anger to gratitude to weariness to a maddening, internalized frustration both with himself and God. Again, Jonah wished for death (v. 8).

Jonah's frustration with the God who does not make sense was, “I've earned the right to act this way!” God asks Jonah if it is right for him to act the way he is acting in his rage and anger. Jonah, surprisingly, replies, “Yes, it is right for me to be angry even unto death!” (v. 9). Jonah feels he has earned the right to contest God and his activity. Beware of such pride. C.S. Lewis says, “Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” Jonah's anger boiled and his pride swelled. Then God spoke.

God's word

God spoke to Jonah, saying, in essence, “Just as I created the tree and gave it life and growth and made it shade for you, so too I made human beings, have grown them and supplied life for them, and provided for them in ways they do not even comprehend. When you cannot understand and when I do not make sense, trust me” (vv. 10-11). Jonah's anger problem became a pride problem that became a trust problem. God asks for simple trust and an acknowledgment that he is in control.

How can you trust God under the unpredictable plant and in moments when you do not understand him or his ways? Focus on who God is, not what you want him to do for you. His thoughts and ways are higher than yours (Isaiah 55:7-8). Pray God's good for others and welcome God's blessing for all. Rejoice in mercy for all. Trust celebrates God's mercy.

Question for discussion

How would you counsel someone having a hard time deciphering what God was trying to do in her of his life?