Jonah Chapter Four

In our study of Jonah chapter four, we look at Jonah's reaction to the mercy shown to a people that he did not approve of and God's correction in his attitude.

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Jonah 4:1

But this was very displeasing to Yonah, and he became angry.

Jonah did not like the fact that God showed mercy to the people of Nineveh after they repented. We may be quick to criticize Jonah for his outward display of this attitude but many of us hide the same type of attitude in our hearts and God knows what is in our hearts. The simple fact of the matter is that Jesus died for all men and NONE of us deserve God's mercy.

Jonah 4:2 & 3

He prayed to ADONAI, "Now, ADONAI, didn't I say this would happen, when I was still in my own country? That's why I tried to get away to Tarshish ahead of time! I knew you were a God who is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in grace, and that you relent from inflicting punishment. Therefore, ADONAI, please, just take my life away from me; it's better for me to be dead than alive!"

He was mad to the point of praying for death. This is much the same as a child holding their breath in an attempt to get their way. It is as if he was saying "see God I told you that they would be saved". Jonah knew God well enough to know that He would show them love but his hatred for the people clouded his judgment.

Jonah 4:4

ADONAI asked, "Is it right for you to be so angry?"

I love how God just gets to the point and many times He does so with a question. God's answer to Jonah's childish attitude is to provide him with something to think about. Jonah may have got caught up in being a prophet and God needed him to think about his position and how he got there. The same may be true of some of us as we have been given a gift but sometimes we forget the One that makes it possible.

Jonah 4:5

Yonah left the city and found a place east of the city, where he made himself a shelter and sat down under it, in its shade, to see what would happen to the city.

So, Jonah doesn't argue with God but simply goes out of the city and sits down to pout like a little child. He didn't believe that the Ninevites had truly repented because he simply did not like them and didn't want it to be true change. So, he was watching and waiting to see them go back to their old ways.

Jonah 4:6

ADONAI, God, prepared a castor-bean plant and made it grow up over Yonah to shade his head and relieve his discomfort. So Yonah was delighted with the castor-bean plant.

Now, God begins to give Jonah a lesson in how ridiculous it was for him to be angry. God caused this vine to grow and give him shade. Jonah was happy as it is easy to praise God when His will agrees with our own and adds to our physical comfort. But, we are called to praise God for what He does in the lives of others as well because we are all one body in Christ.

Jonah 4:7 & 8

But at dawn the next day God prepared a worm, which attacked the castor-bean plant, so that it dried up. Then, when the sun rose, God prepared a scorching east wind; and the sun beat down on Yonah's head so hard that he grew faint and begged that he could die, saying, "I would be better off dead than alive."

Now, we see the second part of the lesson for him. God removed the blessing of the vine and brought a trial through a scorching wind. Jonah got mad because he thought that he should have the vine. His agreement with God's will and plan ended pretty quickly and in fact we are told that he got mad enough that he wanted to die. The praise stopped when the blessing stopped and we are all probably guilty of that many times in our own lives.

Jonah 4:9-11

God asked Yonah, "Is it right for you to be so angry about the castor-bean plant?" He answered, "Yes, it's right for me to be so angry that I could die!" ADONAI said, "You're concerned over the castor-bean plant, which cost you no effort; you didn't make it grow; it came up in a night and perished in a night. So shouldn't I be concerned about the great city of Ninveh, in which there are more than 120,000 people who don't know their right hand from their left - not to mention all the animals?"

Now, God showed Jonah that the right of ownership goes to the Creator. We, like Jonah, have bought into the idea that we own things and God is reminding Jonah (and us as well) that, as the Creator, the only true owner is God Himself. If we remember this passage, it will truly help us to live in freedom because with ownership comes upkeep. For example, when you own a car or a house, effort is required to maintain them. But, when you realize that you do not own anything and that God is the owner, the responsibility for maintenance goes to the owner (God). God may use us to do the work but, since He owns it, it is up to Him to provide for its upkeep.