“Now, O YHWH, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But YHWH replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”
YHWH was telling Jonah he had no right to be angry. No right. Scripturally speaking, to my understanding anyway, there is nothing given to us as to why Jonah wanted the judgement to fall so bad. I’ve heard some say the situation with Nineveh and Israel in the days of Jonah could be compared to the days of Germany and the Jews at the time of Hitler. I have no idea if that claim is correct at all.
However, what if it was true? Let’s say for the moment that it was. That being said, consider verse 4 again in that light.
4 But YHWH replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”
IF… IF, that was the case, we could see and understand, at least a little bit more, the reasoning to Jonah’s actions. However, YHWH was still saying Jonah had no right to be angry that judgement didn’t fall. No right.
What kind of “rights” are you trying to justify in your life today?
Let this be a focus in your time of meditation throughout the day. Until next time, Shalom.
SOURCE: Steve Moutria at TorahFamily.org (Posted with permission)
https://torahfamily.org/no-right-jonah/
Jonah wasn't angry that judgement didn't fall, he was angry because of the Character of God, that God is merciful, slow to anger, repenting of evil, full of grace. Jonah WANTED Nineveh to fall, even after they repented, and was angry with God that He didn't smite them anyway.
Jonah is displaying the opposite characteristics of God: Jonah is without mercy, quick to anger, etc Jonah was determining ("knowing") good and evil for himself, just like Adam and Eve in the garden. Jonah called God's mercy "a great evil". WOW! That's not the fruit of the spirit, it's a different fruit.
Jonah figured being angry with God meant that God would take his life (he would surely die). He even says to God "Take my soul away from me." Jonah still didn't really understand the character of God, he "knew" His character, but didn't understand it. God is not upset with anger (even towards Him), but with sin and disobedience.
BTW, this is the Sign of Jonah to the wicked generation in Yeshua's day - just as Jonah preached that the city would fall and Nineveh repented, but Jonah was still hoping Nineveh would be destroyed - that was the message to Jerusalem... except a prophet GREATER than Jonah is "here" (in the Heart of the Earth), the sign of the Son of Man is a prophet preaching "Repent! The Reign of God is at hand!" Nineveh will rise up and judge the wicked generation because they repented.