Jonah 4 Following Jesus When You’d Rather Run AwaySample

Temper Tantrum

We see a stark similarity between Jonah and Peter in these texts. Jonah, having just seen the faithfulness of God through the whale and the repentance of Nineveh, doubts God. Jonah seems to be lacking the belief that the city’s repentance will last, and he leaves for safety. He’s safe, he’s seen the faithfulness of God, and he’s happy for the first time as God grows a plant for him to enjoy.

Peter has been watching firsthand God in the flesh. You can imagine watching Jesus heal people physically and spiritually and then seeing Jesus walk on water. The joy it must have been to walk on water with Jesus.

What are both of their reactions the moment something bad happens? Doubt.

Jonah gets hot and angry. Peter begins to sink. We get a flat tire. Our spouse says the wrong thing at the wrong time. We spill our coffee while sitting in traffic. We lose a friend. We lose a job. We get in a fight with a loved one.

How do we react? Doubt.

What if instead, we said, “no matter what, I will no doubt because God’s faithfulness to my past will shape my faith for the future He has for me.”

How easily are your emotions affected by your circumstances?

How do you respond when God responds differently than you expected?