Unholy Anger

Unholy Anger
Words of Faith 10-5-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Jonah 4
[4:1] But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. [2] He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. [3] Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." [4] But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

If you grew up with brothers or sisters close in age, you probably remember the childhood rivalries that often go on between siblings. There are the little arguments over who got the larger ice cream sundae, the battle over who sits by the window, and the ever-present "you love him more" claim. As children, we can find ourselves pretty angry if we think that a sibling was given more or allowed more grace. "It's not fair!" we cry. We would like to think we outgrow such things but, sadly, we can see many of the same feelings within the family of God.
Jonah was angry. He made no bones about it. He had never wanted the Ninevites to repent. That is why he ran away, to begin with. He knew that God would have compassion on them and relent in sending the calamity Jonah thought they deserved. It was an unholy anger.
Jonah was so angry, in fact, that he would rather die than watch this revival of repentance among the Ninevites. Most scholars agree that at the core of Jonah's feelings was a racial prejudice in his heart. God asked the question‑‑ "Have you any right to be angry?"
We can thank God that the Bible is honest enough to deal with this very real stuff. Our childish nature within the human family is all too familiar and makes for a story often repeated in history. The Jews grew to hate the Samaritans, their closest Scriptural and geographical neighbors. In the early church, the Greek-speaking Jews resented the Hebrew-speaking Jews. Later, the Jewish followers of Jesus resented the Gentile followers of Jesus. Still later, the Gentile followers of Jesus rejected the Jewish followers of Jesus!
In our sinful nature we somehow find ways to resent, reject, and even hate our siblings in the human family because God wants to be gracious to them as well. Some people claim the name of God and resent the fact that God wants to save people of another race, nation, or culture.
It can hit close to home when we least expect it. Have you ever become angry because God was gracious to someone that you did not like? Have you ever bristled that God would show grace toward a particular group that is different from you? Jesus made it clear that God has every right to give grace to the workers invited to His vineyard in any way He would please (Matthew 20:1‑-16).
The fundamental question this: Do we have a right to be angry at God because of the blessing He gives to others? Do we have a right to be angry because of the grace and salvation that is offered to others?

O God, open my heart to those who are different from me. Give me compassion for the lost no matter what group they are a part of. Give me Your heart for the world You loved so much You sent Your only son to die for. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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