Session 6 Jonah 4:1-11
JONAH 4:1-11 ! ~MEMORY VERSE: JONAH 4:4
As believers in Christ, we realize we are sinners and have been saved by grace through faith. But let’s be honest. We can be prone to think that some people deserve heaven while others deserve hell. In truth, apart from the mercy and grace of God, all of us are deserving of God’s wrathful judgment. Therefore, as we celebrate God’s grace being extended to us, we also should celebrate God’s grace being extended to all people.
(In PSG, p. 55)
After Jonah initially received his commission, attempted to run from God, was thrown into the sea, was saved by God and back on dry land, the Lord once again commissioned Jonah to go to Nineveh (Jonah 3:2). This time, the prophet did as the Lord commanded him. Jonah went to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s word to its people, even if it appears Jonah’s delivering his eight-word message was the least he could do and still be in obedience to God (3:4).
When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message, they believed in God (3:5). When the king heard the message, he also believed. He commanded every person and animal to begin a fast and be covered with sackcloth as an expression of repentance before the Lord, hoping God would relent of the judgment He had declared to bring upon them through Jonah (3:7-9). Consistent with His character, when the Lord saw them repent and turn away from their sin, He relented of bringing the disaster He had declared through Jonah and refrained from doing it (3:10).
The Lord was not the only one who demonstrated a consistency of character. Jonah was livid when he witnessed the Lord showing compassion on the people of Nineveh. It was then Jonah revealed the reason he did not want to go to Nineveh in the first place. It was because he feared this would happen. Jonah would rather die than to witness God show compassion to the Ninevites, so he asked God to take his life. When the Lord asked Jonah if he had good reason to be angry, Jonah offered no reply (4:1-4). Using a plant, a worm, and a scorching wind, God showed Jonah his selfishness and lack of compassion for others. In contrast, God communicated His concern and compassion for unbelievers like those in Nineveh (4:5-11).
Jonah had forgotten who he was. God had chosen him and His people Israel to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 18:17-19). Like Jonah, the people of God were delighted to be the recipients of God’s kindness but did not want to see God show His kindness to others. The message of book of Jonah was a rebuke not only to the prophet but to all the people of God who forgot the reason God had chosen them to be His treasured people.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “Please, LORD, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.
Apparently, forty days had passed since Jonah proclaimed to the people of Nineveh that God was going to destroy their city in forty days (3:4). When Jonah saw the city was still standing, he became furious. In Hebrew it literally reads, “it was evil to Jonah, a great evil.” One must not miss the play on words and the irony of it. The people of Nineveh turning from their evil ways (3:10) was “evil" to Jonah. While God turned away from His anger, the man of God became angry. How could God’s prophet react as he did? There are several possible reasons for Jonah’s anger. Perhaps Jonah believed that only Israel, God’s chosen people, should be the beneficiaries of God’s kindness. Back when he was on the ship headed to Tarshish, Jonah possibly indicated his fierce nationalism when he identified himself as a Hebrew before revealing anything else about himself (1:9). Maybe Jonah feared that if Assyria survived it would pose a threat to Israel, given Assyria had marched its armies toward Israel in the recent past. If the Lord God of Israel destroyed the great city of Nineveh, it certainly would have served as a deterrent to Israel’s other enemies. Or possibly, in his vanity, Jonah did not want to look like a failed prophet. He prophesied God would destroy Nineveh in forty days, and it did not happen. Whatever the reason for his anger, Jonah displayed a hatred for Nineveh in contrast to God’s compassion for the city. Tragically, the man of God did not share the heart of God for these people. Jonah felt constrained to obey God outwardly in the belly of the fish, but he continued to rebel against God in his heart.
Jonah at least did the right thing by taking his anger to God. He revealed the reason he tried to get away from the presence of God and flee to Tarshish. Ironically, the sailors in the ship heading to Tarshish did not know the Lord yet sought Him (1:6,14,16). The people of Nineveh did not know the Lord, yet they placed their hope in Him (3:9). In contrast, the reason Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh was because of what he did know about the Lord. He knew that God would relent of destroying Nineveh if its people believed God and repented of their sin. Jonah knew the Lord is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. He knew this because God said these words to Moses at a time when Israel had fallen into idolatry and was in danger of God destroying them (Ex. 32:10; 34:6-7). That was a defining moment for the people of God. It was important for Israel to remember the compassion the Lord showed them at that time and to never forget
the wondrous attributes God revealed of His character (Num. 14:18; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8).
Jonah appears to have approved of the compassion God showed Israel after they made the golden calf and bowed down to it. He appears to have affirmed God’s kindness to Israel when he proclaimed to wicked Jeroboam that God would give Israel victory over its enemies (2 Kings 14:25-27). So Jonah approved of God’s showing compassion to his own wicked people; he just did not want God to show compassion to the wicked people of Nineveh. Jonah knew God but did not approve of His ways.
3 And now, LORD, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 The LORD asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?
Jonah concluded his prayer by asking the Lord to take his life. He preferred dying to living in a world where God showed mercy to people like the Ninevites. This is not the first time Jonah demonstrated he would have rather died than go to Nineveh and witness God’s compassion on them. When Jonah was on the boat headed to Tarshish, it was obvious to him that God had sent the storm and that his own disobedience to God had put everyone on the vessel in danger (1:12).
By Jonah’s own admission concerning God’s graciousness at the beginning of his prayer (2:2), Jonah knew God would have forgiven him if he had repented of his disobedience. If he had done so while on the ship, the seas would have calmed and Jonah would have been on his way to Nineveh. Instead, Jonah chose to have the sailors throw him into the sea rather than go to Nineveh and witness God’s compassion on those people. Now that he had witnessed the Lord’s compassion on the Ninevites, Jonah wanted God to take his life. Jonah, the servant of God, was grateful God had saved him from the clutches of certain death in the sea, though he had not fully repented of his sin. At the same time, Jonah resented God’s showing compassion to the Ninevites who believed God and demonstrated repentance of their sin (2:9; 3:6-9).
Jonah’s gracious and compassionate God ignored his request to die. Instead, He responded to him with a probing question: Is it right for you to be angry? Jonah had challenged God for God’s lack of anger, so God challenged Jonah in regard to his anger. The obvious answer was “no,” but Jonah refused to reply and persisted in his fuming rage over what God had done.
(In PSG, p. 57)
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.”
Just as Jonah fled when he did not like God’s initial call for him to go to Nineveh, Jonah left the city and found a place east of it to brood after God rebuked him with the challenging question at the end of verse 4.
It appears Jonah went to set up his shelter at a location where he could have a good view of the city, still hoping God would destroy it. While Jonah would have entered Nineveh from the west, his setting up his shelter to the east implies that perhaps Jonah was in no hurry to go home. Jonah may have likened his conversation with God to a conversation Moses had with God when Israel worshiped the golden calf at the base of Mount Sinai. When God declared He was going to destroy the people, Moses interceded on their behalf, and God relented concerning the judgment He said He was going to exact on them (Ex. 32:1-14). Perhaps Jonah thought God would reconsider and go ahead with Nineveh’s destruction after hearing the “wise counsel” of Jonah. Jonah was already arrogant enough to confront God; such hardheaded arrogance has no bounds. Or possibly, Jonah hoped the Ninevites would revert to their old ways and God would destroy them after all.
Once again, God had compassion on His prophet. He appointed a plant to provide shade over Jonah and relieve him from the scorching sun. The mean average temperature in that part of the world is approximately 110 degrees. The plant most likely was either a castor-oil plant or a bottle gourd. The castor-oil plant would have been a freestanding plant, while the bottle gourd would have wrapped itself throughout the supports of the shelter. Both have large leaves that are subject to rapid withering if damaged, especially under hot conditions. In Hebrew, the text literally reads “then Jonah rejoiced over the plant a great joy.” This reveals much about Jonah. He was enraged when God showed compassion on people Jonah hated, but he was delighted when God showed compassion on him. Jesus said there is great joy in heaven when sinners like the people of Nineveh repent (Luke 15:7,10). In contrast, Jonah was angry when the Ninevites repented. What brought Jonah great joy? His own comfort.
Just as God had appointed a plant to grow for the sake of Jonah, God appointed a worm to attack the plant and cause it to wither. This too was for Jonah’s sake, as it would serve a significant role in God’s message to Jonah. This plant thrived for only one day, providing Jonah with refreshing relief from the heat. Then God moved quickly, using a worm of all things to teach Jonah an important lesson. The type of worm is unspecified but could have been a black caterpillar that thrives in that region.
In His sovereignty, God had the right to cause the plant to grow and to cause it to be destroyed. Only God has the authority to determine who or what will live and who or what will die. Jonah had no say in these matters and needed to be reminded of this truth.
Another irony in the book of Jonah is that, with all of the talk about destruction, the plant that brought relief to Jonah was the only thing that actually was destroyed. What was important to God, the city of Nineveh, was not destroyed. Instead, what had become important to Jonah was destroyed. Whenever people fail to value most the things that God values most and instead place more value on their own comfort, along with the things of this world, they set themselves up for loss and disappointment.
To increase Jonah’s difficulties, God appointed a scorching east wind to accompany the sun in bringing down more heat on Jonah. Here is yet another irony. In Jonah 4:1, the text reads that Jonah became angry. In Hebrew, it literally reads Jonah “became hot” or “burned.” The one who aimed his heat at God was now experiencing heat from God, and it became too much for Jonah.
Still another irony is in the word appointed. This is the fourth time it is used in the book of Jonah. (See the article, “God ‘Appointed’ in Jonah.” The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah (1:17). He appointed a plant to provide shade for Jonah (4:6). He appointed a worm to attack the plant (4:7). Now He appointed a scorching east wind to harass Jonah. All of these creatures and mindless entities readily obeyed the Lord. In fact, the only one who did not respond rightly toward God in the entire book of Jonah was the one who knew God personally, the man of God, Jonah.
Furthermore, for a third time in the book, Jonah wanted to die (1:12; 4:3,8). If Jonah could not get his way, then he preferred death. In verse 3, Jonah was upset because God chose to deliver a people who believed God and repented. In verse 8, he was upset because God chose to destroy a plant that gave him comfort. Jonah could not understand how God could allow the Ninevites to live and allow him to suffer. If Jonah could not live life on his terms, then he did not want to live at all. God’s prophet failed to realize that while he was just as undeserving as the people of Nineveh, God had shown him compassion all along his journey.
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!”
God then responded to Jonah with the same question He asked in verse 4, but in this instance he added about the plant. What right do we have to question the wisdom and sovereignty of God? What right do we have in expecting God to show us favor and not show favor to others? What right do we have to dictate to God what He should and should not do? Jonah failed to recognize that the One he claimed to worship, “the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land” (1:9), has the right to rule over it all as He pleases because it all belongs to Him. What’s more, the Lord can be trusted to do so because He is altogether powerful, wise, and good. Jonah’s last words in the book reveal his stubborn arrogance, his defensive posture, and his refusal to repent of his sin.
(In PSG, p. 59)
10 And the LORD said, “You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night. 11 So may I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?”
Ultimately, the last word rested with the Lord. God pointed out the absurdity of Jonah’s caring for a plant that he neither planted nor nurtured, yet taking issue with God for caring about the hundred twenty thousand people made in God’s image along with their large number of livestock in Nineveh. What’s more, unlike Jonah, the people of Nineveh were ignorant of the things of God. Jonah was much more culpable for his actions given his background as part of God’s covenant people and as a prophet of God. God’s final rhetorical question reveals His love for people of all nations.
The writer of Jonah is unknown, but hopefully Jonah came to his senses and penned this book as a personal testimony of God’s compassion for all peoples, as a reminder that God has chosen believers to be a blessing to the nations, and as a warning to every believer who allows arrogance, prejudice, and rebellion to rule their hearts.
(In PSG, p. 62)
Evangelism and Missions
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. (See Genesis 12:3; Matthew 28:18-20.)
Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage.
Read the following verses: Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 72:17; Isaiah 43:8-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Galatians 3:8. Note what these verses have to say about God’s concern for the nations. What do they reveal about God’s purposes for believers in relationship to the nations? How would you summarize the teaching of these passages in one sentence?