Who Shot J.R? Can you believe it's been 35 years since the Texas oil baron J.R. Ewing was working late at his office when he was shot twice by a mysterious assailant? J.R. fell to the ground, his fate unknown, and every cast member a possible suspect until the TV series resumed the following fall. With that, the end-of-season cliffhanger became a popular trend in television. 

But the writers and producers of that popular TV show of the 80s have nothing on the writers and Producer of God's Word. Look at the book of Jonah - talk about a cliffhanger!  The story of Jonah comes to an abrupt end in Jonah 4:9-11 and, to coin another popular catchphrase, we never find out "the rest of the story."

The study guide we're using asked us what questions we would still like to see resolved at the end of Jonah. I jumped on that question and wrote down all sorts of things: Did Jonah come to his senses? Did he go back to Nineveh? Did he rejoice over the repentance of his former enemies? Was his life permanently changed after seeing God's hand  in everything? Did he ever get on a boat again? (I had a lot of questions.)

The next paragraph in the study guide went on to say, "While we are tempted to consider what we're not told, our time is better spent focusing on what we are." (Oops - I really fell for that one!) So....rather than contemplate the possible ending to Jonah's story, we have much to ponder and incorporate into our own lives and what part we are playing in God's plan.

A  thought-provoking comment was made during our discussion time, "Maybe we don't know the end of Jonah's story because his story is ours - we don't know what's ahead for us." We need to focus on what we do know:

• God is in ultimate control

• God can turn the mess we make into a masterpiece

• God pursues us, never giving up, because He wants to give us yet another chance to be usable in His plan

As with every Bible study, we need to decide what are we going to do now? Where are we headed with this? 

• Will we respond with renewed perspective when we encounter difficulties?

• Will we yield to God's instructions instead of seeking to run in the opposite direction?

• Will we be willing to share the Gospel with our "Ninevites"?

The rest of our story is yet to be written............

Our Bible study on Jonah is quickly coming to a close and since I missed the last two weeks blogging, I'm going to do a quick recap.

• Jonah ran from God.
• Jonah was pursued by God.
• Jonah was given another chance by God.
• Jonah repented.
• Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh.

And finally, 

• Jonah saw immediate and hugely successful results when the Ninevites turned to God.

You would think that Jonah would have been ecstatic, rejoicing that these people repented and believed God, humbled that God used him despite his initial response, thankful that he was alive and not digested out into the ocean somewhere......

Nope, not Jonah. Jonah was very angry and threw a temper tantrum. 

Jonah 4:1 "But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry."

Jonah was just plain mad with the outcome - he did not want God to extend His mercy to Nineveh. Jonah wanted them to get what Jonah felt they deserved. In fact, Jonah was so mad, he wanted to die.

Jonah 4:3 "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, 

for it is better for me to die than to live."

And he doesn't stop there -  Jonah leaves the city, finds a spot to sit down, builds a shelter, and then watches what would happen to the city of Nineveh. While Jonah sat in his vantage point, God provided a vine to provide shade over the shelter. 

Then Jonah was happy again. But that was short-lived. 

The next day, God caused the vine to wither, sent a hot wind and scorching sun so that Jonah was extremely uncomfortable. Jonah's response:

Jonah 4:8-9 "...It is better for me to die than to live.......I do well to be angry, angry enough to die."

Doesn't this just make you shake your head and wonder what in the world Jonah was thinking?  I know I do. But then I need to consider my actions and relationship with God in light of Jonah's actions.

• Am I ever angry because don't think I got what I deserved?
• Have I been obedient in hope that I could control or manipulate God in some way?
• Do I become upset with God about an outcome He has allowed?

God's response to Jonah is also found in Jonah chapter 4:

Jonah 4:4 "The LORD said, Do you have a good reason to be angry?"

Jonah 4:9 "Then God said to Jonah, Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?"

A careful consideration of God's question to Jonah and the Holy Spirit's question to us in the situations that upset and anger us, should cause us to uncover two things: our inconsistency with God's character and our need for God's Spirit.

Psalm 103: 8-10 "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 

He will not always accuse nor will He harbor His anger forever. 

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities."

Aren't we glad that's the case? If He were inclined to angry outbursts, as we can be, all of humanity would be suffering at every point of the day. Knowing that the holy, all-powerful God could be angry and yet is slow to anger, should cause us to reconsider the anger we feel when betrayed, belittled, or just ignored. It should also cause us to question any anger we feel toward God. Knowing He could and should be angry at us and yet chooses not to be should cause us to rethink our position and how inconsistent we are with His character.

And the second thing to think about is our great need for God's assistance in molding us into His image. The only way we can ever be slow to anger is God's Spirit compelling us in that direction. Because of His Holy Spirit living in believers, we should be enabled to live beyond our normal human capabilities.

As I come to the end of today's blog, would you prayfully consider with me these two questions:

• Do you have good reason to be angry?
• If God doesn't do anything else for us, hasn't He already done enough?