God managing difficult characters

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. (Jonah 4:1)

This is the fourth address in a series of four Thursday evening addresses "Mercy in the book of Jonah"

In the first we considered chapter 1 - "God's mercy to the disobedient to God." The second was chapter 2 - "Prayers in affliction" The third was chapter 3 - "Preaching that God bids" And this evening it is chapter 4 - "God managing difficult characters"

Everyone has an individual character. Character is defined as "The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual"
Some are more difficult characters than others. It may trouble the person concerned, and also others. Amongst the Lord's people we have the Peters, Moses and Jonah that stand out.
A wise parent will manage a child's character, suiting teaching, chastening and tasks given to match the character of the child.

In the book of Jonah we have God managing Jonah's character. We find encouragement and teaching in how he does it.

1/ Jonah's anger - The reasons for it, how it affected what he did and the way it was taken to the Lord in prayer.
2/ The Lord's method of teaching Jonah.
3/ What we can learn from Jonah's character and the Lord's dealing with it.