Anger. It’s a tricky thing, isn’t it? God asked Cain:

“Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it”.
- Genesis 4:6-7

Shortly thereafter hearing this stern warning from God, Cain killed his own brother because Abel’s deeds were righteous, and Cain’s evil (I John 3:12).

My anger is also dangerous. Haven’t killed anyone yet. Well, not actually. Does what I do in my imagination count. Apparently I still have some work to do. The same sin that crouched at Cain’s door is also at my own. Anger weakens my resistance to it.

Jonah also had an anger problem. He warned the hated Ninevites about God’s impending judgment and wonder of wonders they repented in sackcloth and ashes. An even greater wonder may be that the mercy God showed Nineveh angered Jonah.

God asked him, “Do you have good reason to be angry?”. That’s God. Always with the probing questions. The account ends without telling the reader whether Jonah got a handle on his temper or his attitude. I believe God left it like that for a reason.

God guarantees there will be justice in the end. He has told us about his throne and how his children will be on his right and the rest will be gathered in terror on his left (Matthew 25:31-46). Those will be sent into a place of eternal fire that will not be extinguished and where their worm will not die. Outer darkness. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. All Jesus’ words by the way, not mine. Horrible.

Until then, he’s trying to teach you and me through stories like these of Cain and Jonah to rein in our anger. Like James said, the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

So get ready. Arm yourself with truth and peace, because tomorrow the world will likely throw something else at us seemingly designed to enrage us. But don’t worry. As with Cain and Jonah, God knows how to see us through it.