Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry. Jonah 4:4 Then said the Lord, Do you do well to be angry?Jonah 4:9 And God said to Jonah, Do you do well to be angry for the loss of the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die! – Do you perceive a theme in the above?

Have you ever stubbed your toe while walking barefoot or in flip flops or sandals? That’s how Jonah felt when he realized God was going to have mercy on the Ninevites. Jonah 4:2 states why he was angry: That is why I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger…. Why was Jonah angry? Because God is slow to anger. Jonah believed God should release hell fire and destruction on Ninevehs’ inhabitants. Jonah failed to ask what he deserved from God.

Behind Jonah’s anger is a deeper issue. Jesus warned of it in the Last Days: And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. (Matthew 24:10) Did you catch it? In the Last Days many will be offended, distrust, and pursue one another with hatred. Matthew adds: …will stumble and fall away. Why is that interesting? 1 Peter 2:7-8 records: Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” ⁸ and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. (NKJV)

This passage reveals the roots of offense: (a) They cease trusting God; (b) God is no longer precious. In other words He is not valued, honored, revered or respected. If you value God’s Presence you know you cannot remain in offense because offense is rooted in judgment, and unforgiveness. You cannot abide in His Presence and remain unforgiving and judgmental; (c) All these things lead to disobedience. In fact an offended Christian reflects a disobedient Christian. Because they don’t trust God, and He is not valued or revered, they quit being obedient. Jesus said if you loved Him you would trust and obey Him. (Show me an offended Christian and I will show you a disobedient Christian); (d) Naturally, when you factor in all the above it leads to a person stumbling spiritually, eventually falling away from God altogether. (Worse case scenario? They will create a god in and after their own image deceiving themselves into more deception and lies)

Psalm 119:165 adds: “Great peace have they who love your Law (Instruction) and nothing shall offend them.” If you love the Law – you love His Instruction. If you love His Instruction – you love His Word. If you love His Word – you love Him because He is the Word. If all of the above is true eventually you become unoffendable. On this ninth day of Elul (season of seeking God, connecting to Him, meeting Him in the dust to change your thinking about sin) take the time to ask yourself the following:

Are you or have you been offended by anyone or anything? This can be government leadership, institutions, church, denominations, family members, etc. Have you judged any of the above as deserving punishment? When you talk about any of the above do you find yourself becoming angry? If you need to make a list and release them one by one.