Selfish Anger

When God saw what [the Ninevites] did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.

Jonah 3:10 - 4:4

On first reading, Jonah's response made me laugh. His theology told him that God would save the sinful, godless Ninevites and he tried to run. But he ran onto a ship that encountered tempestuous winds and storms and was finally thrown overboard expecting death, only to be swallowed by a great fish. After this series of miraculous events, Jonah's anger invokes God's question, "Have you any right to be angry?"

I wonder why Jonah is angry. One reading of the book of Jonah is as a fictional allegory, a story that represents something with deeper meaning. Perhaps Jonah represents the people of God as selfish beings, jealous that God is gracious and compassionate to ALL peoples. I also believe that God can allow a man to be kept alive in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights. Jonah's example and reaction is very human, but strangely so. Is it possible to have experienced so much and still have enough emotion to be angry at God? Is it possible that Christians have experienced the grace of God and withheld it due to selfishness?

Whatever Jonah's story represents, one thing is clear: If you try to run from God's will, you won't be successful, which reminds me of a cynical quote Fran, Sammi, and I saw the other day. It read, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans."