Session 6 Jonah 4:1-11

ANGER (JONAH 4:5-9)

visualize Jonah’s countenance.

5 Jonah left the city and found a place east of it.
He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade
to see what would happen to the city.
6 Then the LORD God appointed a plant, and it grew over Jonah
to provide shade for his head to rescue him from his trouble.
Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.
7 When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant,
and it withered.
8 As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind.
The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so much that he almost fainted,
and he wanted to die. He said,
“It’s better for me to die than to live.”

9 Then God asked Jonah,
“Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“Yes, it’s right!” he replied. “I’m angry enough to die!”

ASK:

• Why does anger blind a person to misguided priorities and hypocrisy? (p. 55)

DISCUSS:

Jonah was sure Assyria did not deserve God’s grace.
Why did Jonah believe his anger was appropriate?

TRANSITION:

Jonah showed contempt for the Ninevites, anger toward God,
and anger toward a temporary plant.
Things weren’t going Jonah’s way, and he wasn’t even pretending that he was happy.