Four Men Who Wanted to Die

1. Moses wanted God's presence with his people.

Moses had an amazing experience. He went into the tent of meeting and spoke "face to face" with God. He hid in the cleft of the rock as the shining glory of God passed by. He went on Mt Sinai in the glorious presence of the Lord and came down glowing in God's radiance. Moses communed with God and knew something of the awful and yet beautiful presence of God.

Moses had almost the opposite experience with the people of Israel. They were constantly failing and complaining. They were faithless and undermining of his leadership. The frustration Moses must have felt thinking about these people called to be God's shining light from the promised land was surely overwhelming. Moses realized that there was no future for such a people unless they would know God's mercy and forgiveness. There was no point for God's people without God's mercy and presence.

Moses says to God, "But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." Exodus 32:32.

2. Elijah wanted God's sustaining friendship in his weakness.

Elijah felt alone. He had gone to battle with the prophets of Baal. He had seen God's fire from heaven consume the altar and clearly display the glory of the one true living God. The evil Jezebel, consumed with rage, embarked on a violent vendetta after Elijah who ran into the wilderness to be protected in the presence of his God. Alone and despised, Elijah was in such sorrow that he asked God to take his life.

1 Kings 19:3-4 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."

God ministered to Elijah after this moment and revealed to Elijah that he wasn't alone. Not only was God with him but there were 7000 other Israelites who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah saw that he was a weak and lonely man in ministry, but God graciously sustained him and raised up the next man to succeed him. Like Moses, Elijah's great concern was that God's name would not die in Israel.  

3. Paul would have done anything to help his countrymen see God's grace.

Paul was a Jew, saved by Christ, and called to the gentiles. Even though Paul's mission was particularly to the gentiles, he had a heart for his fellow countrymen to know God's saving grace in the gospel. In fact, if it were possible, Paul would have given his life for it.

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Paul's heart was for Israel not to reject their God but to come to know their Messiah. Paul was concerned that God's name would not be lost even among those who were national brothers.

4. Jonah couldn't bear to see Nineveh receive God's mercy.

Jonah was unwillingly put on the road to give warning to Nineveh that they might repent of their evil and come to know the mercy of God. When God showed this mercy, Jonah was angry. 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."

Imagine you would give up your own life for one of these - which one would it be?

May we never go to our death bed begrudging the saving work of God in the world.