In Jonah 4:2 we are told Jonah is mad at God. And what is it about God that makes him so angry? Well, we don’t have to guess, for he tells us, “For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” Simply put, Jonah hates God’s grace! Now that does not seem to be something that you or I would normally protest about God. “Lord, I’m just so ticked at you, and do you know why? Well, of course you do. You’re just too darn good, kind, caring, loving, patient, forgiving. I want you to cut that out!” Now this would make no sense to us at all if Jonah was saying that he did not want God to be so good, kind, caring, loving, patient, forgiving towards him. In fact, that is what Jonah praised about God when he was inside the fish, near death: “Salvation is of the Lord.” So why the anger towards these attributes now? Well, because now they are directed towards someone Jonah hates.
Follow me closely on this one. Jonah, deep down, thought that the Israelites were better than everybody else. Just like us, Jonah had begun to believe his own press reports started to feel as if God was obligated to bless him. Then when God poured out His grace upon a people that Jonah knew were totally undeserving, it made him realize that Jonah had not earned God’s grace; all he had done was receive it!
Do you see how many times I, my, and me appear in this prayer of Jonah? Eight times in this prayer against God’s grace towards those that aren’t on Jonah’s “A” list, he uses the first-person pronouns. All Jonah can see is how God’s grace towards others affects him.
Is there something wrong with Jonah’s theology? No! Nothing wrong with Jonah’s theology; he is right on the money with the character of God. You see, the problem with Jonah is not a head problem; it is a heart problem! Jonah has a great grasp upon the character of God, but he had no grasp at all of how that should impact his own life towards others! How about it, Christian? Are you still harboring bitterness towards someone? Do you not want God to shed His grace upon someone because you think you have earned His grace they have not?