When We Don't Get Our Way

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

Jonah 4:1-3 

God had told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them they needed to change their ways or God was going to destroy them and their city.  Jonah, with God's extra prompting, did told the people of Nineveh that they would be destroyed by God unless they changed their ways.  And guess what?  The king proclaimed that they would do as God had told them through Jonah.

Meanwhile, Jonah went to a hillside outside the city to watch God destroy it.  Apparently, men like to watch things go BOOM, and Jonah was no exception.  However, when God spared Nineveh, Jonah pitched a temper tantrum and pouted ("This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry").  

How many times have we pouted or thrown a temper tantrum when God didn't do what WE wanted?  Yep.....I'm guilty.  In OUR eyes, God isn't fair!  But what we don't see is the entirety of God's plans for us because we're so focused on what WE want, as if God is some magical genie who is supposed to give us candy and grant our wishes and let us eat what we want without gaining any weight.  If that is your idea of God, might be time to rethink who God truly is.

God's plans for us are far beyond anything we could ever dream!  And He will do what needs to be done to fulfill His plans for us!  Most of the time in spite of our pouting and temper tantrums.