Today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindahl tackles one of the most honest questions we rarely dare ask aloud. Through the story of Jonah, a person. Prophet who knew God well but struggled to accept his mercy. Chuck exposes the bitter disappointment that can poison our souls when life doesn't go as planned. This isn't just another Bible story about a man and a fish.
It's about the resentment we carry when life delivers a raw deal.
So let's discover how to move from angry pouting to peaceful surrender. and finally find the relief that comes with saying, I'm not in charge. We're going to draw our thoughts from a book so ancient.
Some find difficulty even dating it. And it has suffered from All kinds of intellectual malpractice, if you will. I'm referring to the book of Jonah. And most anyone will tell you, even it's even if it's it's harsh, it's Critic. that it's a story about a man who was swallowed by a fish.
That is a tiny, tiny infinitesimal part of the book. It's the story of a man who is disappointed with God.
Now, it's unusual for him because he happens to be a prophet. And we don't think of preachers as being those who struggle. with God, but he did. In fact, he never seemed to find a peaceful. Route.
To take. He seemed to be a misfit. to his calling Interesting, the passage we're looking at today in the early part of the fourth chapter of the book that bears Jonah's name. Tells us why. He has had such a struggle.
Interestingly, He knew God very well. He just didn't agree. with what God was doing. I want to read for you from the last verse of the third chapter. And the first Five verses of the fourth.
Chapter of Jonah. If you're not familiar with your Bible, it is in a section toward the end of the Old Testament. filled with smaller books. They are all books of prophecy called the minor prophets. minor in the sense of small.
As opposed to larger books like Isaiah and Ezekiel. And Jeremiah. This is the little book, four chapters only. The book of Jonah. Chapter 3 Verse 10.
Through chapter 4, verse. Five. When God saw what they had done, Referring to the Ninevites and their repentance, and how they had put a stop to their evil ways. He changed his mind. And did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
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 Tarsus. 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. The Lord replied. Is it right for you to be angry about this?
Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city. and made a shelter. To sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. Isn't that interesting? He knew God very well.
But he so wanted the city destroyed. Because he's a racist. He's a prejudiced Profit. And when God didn't destroy these people whom Jonah hated. Jonah said to God, then take me.
Instead. Yeah. You're listening to Insight for Living. To dig deeper into the story of Jonah on your own, be sure to purchase our Searching the Scriptures Bible Study Workbook by going to insight.org slash offer. Chuck titled today's message, The Grumblings of an Angry Prophet.
There is nothing more childish than an adult Who pouts?
Now we expect pouting among little children. and it's hard to deal with them. But it's necessary. And we hope by the time they've gotten out of the sandbox, and beyond kindergarten that they've learned that They don't always get their own way and getting mad over that. is a waste of time.
But to see an adult pout is pathetic. Just pathetic. Whether it's because we didn't get what we wanted at work, Or at home. Or we were overlooked in a promotion when someone else got it. And we thought we deserved it.
Or we weren't recognized in an achievement when the names are given and they left ours out. Or if when we didn't win the game. Or we didn't win the election. We respond with angry pouting. proving that we're still in the sandbox.
We need to grow up and stop all the grumbling. How easy to say that, but if Your will wasn't snapped into shape when you were growing up. Chances are good. You're still a powder. Matter of fact.
Life is full of disappointments. Just packed with them. It's helpful to remember that and to teach our children that all through the years as they are growing up under our roof. Life. Isn't Fair.
Right is not always rewarded. Wrong is not always punished. The clown who drives around you and speeds on ahead and breaks the speed limit and gets to a stop sign and only pauses, never gets a ticket, you will get a ticket for not using your directional signal two blocks from your home. It's not fair. It's not fair.
You may be the hardest worker in your office, and the lady who is at the next desk may be doing her nails when the boss is sitting around. Doesn't work that hard when he is. You are a hard worker the whole time. And when they hand out the raises, she gets one and you don't. It isn't Fair.
That's a disappointment. I remember enjoying reading to our children as they were growing up a wonderful literary classic, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It's a great book. Judith Bjorst has written it, and she does a masterful job of taking you to situations where things don't work out right, and Alexander all the way through feels a sting of disappointment. Welcome to life.
Alexander. And what's interesting is when you begin to read your Bible, you find the same thing is true. Disappointments start to finish. For example, Noah, who has lived through the flood having courageously built the ark when his neighbors must have given him fits for doing so. rides out the storm, but it isn't long before He is a shameful disappointment to his family.
Joseph. Grows up, his father's favorite, his brothers hate him for it. They're worse than a disappointment where they take him out to an area, drop him in the pit, and hope he dies, as they abandon him there and then lie about it to his father. Who believes his son is dead? Interestingly, Joseph lived through it.
Wound up in Egypt. And as only God could make it happen, ultimately he was promoted to the prime ministership. And provided For those very brothers Who had ripped him off. Provided for all their families the best part of Egypt in the land of Goshen, and there they lived until. Until there lived a Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph.
And what a disappointment he was. Because to him the Hebrews were a threat. Not jests in the land of Egypt. And as a result, he turned them into slaves, and they remained slaves for 400 years. How disappointing is that?
And along comes Moses, who was himself a disappointment when he was around forty. as he murders an Egyptian and hides him in the sand. Escapes to the desert and lives there for 40 more years, and 80 years old is brought back into Egypt and he leads them in an Exodus, an Exodus, and the slaves, the Hebrew slaves, are now set free under Moses' leadership. And what a disappointment the Hebrews are. They complain from start to finish.
They don't like the food. They don't like the heat. They don't like the water. They don't like Moses. They don't like life.
Because everything is a disappointment. David comes along as the greatest king in the history of Israel.
However, after slaying the giant, And actually Helping Saul survive from being slain by that giant. Saul becomes a disappointment and turns on David out of jealousy. What a disappointment King Saul was. What a disappointment David was. When he and Bathsheba had that affair.
What a disappointment David's son was, Solomon. Whose name means peace? Shalom. Should have been living a life of ease and peace. And he is in fact living a life of Extremism.
He becomes an idolater and an extreme polygamist. Most of the prophets were disappointments. Daniel is an exception. But Daniel's colleagues are a disappointment because They are jealous of Daniel. And they're so determined to to make him look bad in the eyes of the king.
That they set him up for ultimately being thrown into the lion's den. What a disappointment that was. By the time Jesus comes, he's a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. One person after another is a disappointment to Jesus. John the Baptist is disappointed with Jesus.
Because he doesn't do what John thought he should have done. He even asked, Are you really the Messiah? John said that. And then there were those disciples. You trace them all the way to the end.
What a disappointing ending. They don't die as great models. Magnificent specimens of believers. Though they are strong to the end in their faith, 11 of the 12 are. They die as martyrs.
And John, the beloved disciple, is exiled to Patmos. And Paul is beheaded outside Rome. The story is a disappointment from start to finish. How easy it would be for whoever's name to shake a fist and say, Oh, God, what are you up to? How could you allow this?
Unless you're mature. And many of those I've named did not shake their fist at God. But Jonah did. Because you see Jonah never grew up. Oh, he was a prophet.
And he was the size of an adult. But life Just didn't satisfy Jonah. It never does when you're prejudiced. It never does when you're around those you hate. And your racism Sours you.
Toward half the world. And when God said to Jonah, Go to the Ninevites. And take them my message. Jonah got that first ship he could find to go in the opposite direction. You know the story.
Winds up being thrown overboard as a result of the storm, about to sink the ship he's on. He's rescued by the fish. He repents in the belly of the fish. The fish spits him out, and God graciously gives him a second chance and has the same call go to Nineveh. What we don't read is that Jonah still is entertaining the same prejudice.
He'll go. The message is in 40 days You will all be destroyed. I'll go. I'll take that message.
So he goes. But the amazing thing is The people of Nineveh hear what Jonah says. And they fear the living God. And out of respect and fearfulness, they turn to the God. Of Jonah's life and the Repent.
of the evil they have done, and they've done plenty of it. And as a result, verse 10 of chapter three. God changes from Destruction to to blessing. And the people of Nineveh As Jonah would put it, Get off the hook. They are not destroyed.
And Jonah Verse one of chapter four doesn't mince words. He became very angry. The Hebrew word means burn. He was burning with rage. He is, in our word, livid.
He's seething, he's aflame with anger. If I may put a twist on all of this. It's as if he was thinking. I can never trust you again, God. I finally agreed to come, and all this way, 500 miles east of where I lived.
Mm. I told him exactly what you told me to tell him. And not only did you not do what I predicted. You turned 180 degrees on me. And you change your mind.
And as we're going to read, Jonah's response was just. Take my life. I mean, he's at the bottom. I'm not mincing words. I'm not trying to make this sound better than it was.
He is one resentful, pouting prophet. Angry to the core. The change of plans greatly upset Jonah, he became very angry. And naturally, what do angry people do? They complain.
In this case, he complains to the Lord about it. And if you could believe it. He talks to the Lord like you would talk to a rented mule. I mean he unloads the truck. Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord?
That's why I ran away to Tarsus. I knew that you are merciful and compassionate, God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew that you were eager to turn back from destroying people. He could have passed Theology 101 in a heartbeat at Indy Seminary. Perfect theology.
He just didn't agree with it. Certainly not with the Ninevites. These are words of resentment. These are words from the sandbox. And he says, I'd rather be end of versary, I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.
Guess where his eyes are? all over himself. I told them they were doomed. And you turned around and changed the plan. I knew you'd do that.
It was just like you. It's just like you. If you won't wipe them out, wipe me out. In Philip Yancey's fine book, with a strange name. Disappointment with God.
Which, by the way, Philip admits, was a bit of a struggle when he named it. Because he knew it would be misunderstood. That's usually not a phrase used. by people who love God. And Philip Yancey certainly does.
But is writing about those who struggle. with God. Those who pray that the paralysis will not affect them and they get polio. Those who ask that the Lord would preserve their baby from dying and they lose their baby. Those who say the Menevites will be destroyed, and they are not.
Disappointment with God. Interesting, it's a 260-page book. Very insightful, as only Yancy writes, freshest. Pen and town. He sets aside one paragraph Regarding Jonah.
I've lifted it from the book. And I want to quote it here. Listen closely. Nothing expresses God's yearning to forgive better. than the book of Jonah.
It contains but one line of prophecy. Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned. But to Jonah's disgust, That simple announcement of doom sparked a spiritual revival in hated Nineveh. And change God's plan for punishment. Jonah admitted He had suspected God's soft heart all along.
I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who. Relents from sending calamity thus? The whole madcap scenario of bulky profit. Ocean storm and Whale detour Came about because Jonah could not trust God. Could not.
That is, trust him to be harsh. and unrelenting toward Nineveh. As Robert Frost summed up the story. After Jonah, you could never trust God. not to be merciful again.
I love that line. As I read through all this verbiage of pouting Jonah burning with anger. I found it interesting that God is absolutely. Silent. Silent.
He doesn't interrupt Jonah. He doesn't stop him and give him a lecture. He doesn't even rebuke him with a word or two. He stays silent. He doesn't even remind Jonah of how grateful he should be.
Just to be alive. God doesn't pull rank on this angry man. Slap him across the face and say in a thundering voice. Do you know who you're talking to? I am the God of heaven's armies.
In a split second. I could unload on you the worst kind of punishment. For speaking to me like this. I could reduce you to a no-name beggar. Blind.
Paralyzed. Destined to sit at the side of the road the rest of your life. You don't do that. God doesn't do that. He's even patient and gracious.
with an angry prophet. Who is more a spoiled child? Then he is an adult. Jonah has every reason in the world to thank God. For his grace Remember Throwing into the sea.
Remember the seaweed around his head? Remember The almost drowning Until he's gulped down by the fish. Sure you remember. How gracious of God to rescue him. Back when he didn't deserve it.
Wow, aren't you glad that our God lavishes His grace and mercy on us even when we don't deserve it? There's more encouragement ahead when Chucksmundahl continues our study on Jonah. He titled today's message The Grumblings of an Angry Prophet. With only a few more studies in this series, just a reminder that Insight for Living has prepared a searching the Scriptures Bible study for these messages on Jonah. This spiral bound workbook is perfectly suited for small groups or for independent study.
In addition, all nine of Chuck's sermons for this series are available on CD or MP3. You can purchase these resources by calling us at 800-772-8888. These daily programs and the study materials we produce are designed with you in mind. In that same spirit, as you measure the value of Insight for Living in your life, would you be willing to reciprocate with a much-needed donation? Your gift will become a blessing to someone who hears this program and perhaps for the very first time understands God's mercy and grace as never before.
When you make a donation today, we'll be saying thank you by providing a brand new booklet called Look Beyond. Will you focus on eternity? It features the final sermon Chuck delivered to the congregation he shepherded for more than 25 years. And he preached this message on the weekend of his 90th birthday. In his last sermon, Chuck reflected on the final words of the Apostle Paul.
In his letter to Timothy, he looked back on his lifetime of service to Christ as he looked forward to eternity with him. It's an emotionally charged booklet from Chuck as he describes the implication of Paul's wisdom for you and me. To support Insight for Living and request the booklet called Look Beyond, you can send your gift in an envelope addressed to us at Insight for Living. Post Office Box 5000. Frisco, Texas 75034.
You can also go to insight.org slash donate. Or call us at 800-772-8888. I'm Bill Meyer. Chuck Swindahl continues to describe what he calls the grumblings of an angry prophet. Thursday on Insight for Living.
The preceding message, The Grumblings of an Angry Prophet, was copyrighted in 2018, 2019, and 2025, and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2025 by Charles R. Swindahl Incorporated. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited.
