“Then the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’”
Then the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?
At this point, the LORD addressed Jonah’s values (4:4-8). God tried to reason with this rebellious prophet. Jonah sulked, yet God still sought him. The LORD did not reproach Jonah but compassionately asked him a question that should have stirred him to the true condition of his soul.
Jonah had no entitlement to be angry. He had no right to be angry at what God chose to do with the Ninevites. He did not have reasonable grounds for his bias against the Ninevites.
Notice that Jonah did not answer this question from God. He just went out obtusely to the edge of the city to see if God would judge Nineveh. Jonah was resolved to destroy Nineveh, regardless of Jehovah’s question.
PRINCIPLE:
The callousness of the soul causes unconcern for others.
APPLICATION:
God tries compassionately to awaken us to the true condition of our souls. He will not allow our mistaken values to remain unchallenged. This is especially true in our callousness toward those without Christ. Coldness of soul keeps us from reaching out to those without Christ. What is the true condition of your soul about this?
