Surrender…Submit…Obey

“But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry” (Jonah 4:1).

Look at the opening words again: “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong.”

What seemed very wrong? What was Jonah so upset about? Who was Jonah upset with?

God.

You see, God sent Jonah to Nineveh, the terrible enemy to all Jews. These were people who terrorized, murdered, raped, and pillaged the Jews. This would be like saying God sent Jonah, a Jewish man, to Hamas.

As odd as sending a Jewish man to the Hamas, the message which Jonah proclaimed was more palatable. Jonah prophesied doom: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). If any message from God were to be uttered, this was it! This was more to Jonah’s liking.

BUT…

The people of Nineveh believed the prophet’s words. They believed Jonah and repented. They repented not even knowing if God would listen to their prayer or not. But they knew they were guilty. They knew God’s judgment was correct. So, they confessed their sins and repented and placed their lives in the hands of God.

AND…

God relented. God forgave. God heard the prayers of the people of Nineveh.

That’s why Jonah was so angry. What? No damnation and destruction? Forgiveness? Are you kidding me?

Jonah had a massive meltdown. Not only did Jonah think God was wrong and messed up, he was ticked. He was angry.

Friends, if you ever find yourself at odds with God, where you think God messed up, where you think God is wrong, so wrong that you are furious with what God says in his word? When you are at odds with God, when you are at odds with what God says, who do you think is wrong?

Yeah. It’s silly isn’t it? When you find yourselves at odds with God…surrender anyway, submit anyway, obey anyway. One hundred million percent, you are wrong and God is right.

Surrender. Submit. Obey.