When God's People Get Mad
St. Charles | Bob Ingle
September 20, 2026
Jonah 4:1-3
“Be angry and do not sin.” Ephesians 4:26 (ESV)
Sinful anger is what happens when a DESIRE becomes a DEMAND.
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”” Jonah 4:1-3 (ESV)
*SINFUL ANGER REVEALS…
1. WHAT YOU THINK YOU DESERVE.
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.” Jonah 4:1 (ESV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (ESV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
“What do you have that you did not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO CONTROL.
“And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” Jonah 4:2 (ESV)
KNOWLEDGE about God without DEVOTION to God is dangerous.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
God will not surrender His CHARACTER to your CONTROL.
3. WHAT YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT.
“Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3 (ESV)
An exaggerated REACTION reveals an excessive ATTACHMENT.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 (ESV)
An idol is a GOOD thing asked to do a GOD thing.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25–26 (ESV)
What you can’t LIVE without may be what you are LIVING for.