When We See God's Mercy

(Jonah 4:1-4)

By the end of today’s message, I want you to be able to answer this one question, “Where are you arrogant with God?”

1. WHAT IS ARROGANCE

   1. What is the “it”? (Jonah 3:10)
      1. God saw (they turned)
      2. God relented (of the possible destruction)
      3. God did not do it.
   2. Arrogance is
      1. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
      2. James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
   3. What displeased Jonah
      1. “What’s wrong with you people.” R.C.Sproul “Question from the audience - since God is slow to anger we're always learning since God is slow to anger and patient then why when man first sinned was his wrath and punishment so severe and long-lasting Response from R.C. Sproul - Time out! Didn’t we just have that question a second ago? we did hat God’s punishment for Adam was so severe, this creature from the dirt defied the everlasting, holy God after that God had said the day that you shall eat of it you shall surely die and instead of dying, Thanatos, that day he lived another day and was clothed in his nakedness, by pure grace and had the consequences of a curse supplied for quite some time, but the worst curse word came upon the one who seduced him, whose head would be crushed by the seed of the woman and the punishment was too severe? What’s wrong with you people! I’m serious! I mean this is what’s wrong with the Christian Church today. We don’t know who God is and we don’t know who we are. The question is, the question is why wasn’t it infinitely more severe! If we have any understanding of our sin and any understanding of who God is that’s the question, isn’t it?”
      2. Exact translation “it was exceedingly evil to Jonah.”
         1. He was angry (at who? For what?)
         2. The pagans had gotten rid of their “evil”
         3. God had gotten rid of the “disaster”” He had threatened
         4. The pagans are now sin harmony with God, but Jonah is not!
   4. Why did Jonah pray? (2-3)
      1. To the LORD (similar words to the prayer in chapter 2)
      2. And said (didn’t ask)
      3. I told you so
         1. God is gracious
         2. God is merciful
         3. Slow to anger
         4. Abounding in steadfast love
         5. Relenting from disaster
      4. All of this given to Jonah filled him with thanksgiving, Now extended to Nineveh fills him with anger
      5. That is why I fled
      6. I knew you would do this
      7. I want to die (compare 2:6-7)
      8. Life - Soul and life/soul was revived
      9. Now extended to Nineveh, Jonah wants to have them taken from him.

2. ONE QUESTION FOR YOU (Jonah 4:4)

   1. The LORD said, “ do you do well to be angry?”
   2. Are you justified in being angry?
      1. Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
      2. Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Conclusion: I told you at the beginning of the message I wanted you to think about WHERE you are arrogant in your relationship with God.

1. Are you like Jonah, and you think you know best?
2. Do you get angry when God does your life differently than you think?
3. Are you willing to submit your arrogance to God?