Grumpy With God (Jonah 4)

Bible Passage: Jonah 4

If the book of Jonah finished after chapter 3, it would feel like a natural conclusion to the story. God sent a prophet to Nineveh, who originally refused to go, but eventually did, and the city was saved. In some ways chapter 4 does not seem to neatly fit that narrative, but this is exactly why the chapter is so important. It is an unexpected twist that helps us feel the challenge that this prophetic book has for us, and causes us to examine our own hearts in light of its message.

Mad at God’s Mercy (v1-4): Jonah was not impressed that the Lord had compassion on the people of Nineveh. In fact he became angry, and suggested that it was because he suspected all along that God might do this that he did not want to go in the first place. To Jonah a message of judgement made sense, because the people of Nineveh had done bad things they ought to face the consequences for them. However, God’s grace didn’t sit as well. Part of this might be to do with pride. Jonah had announced a message of destruction, but this would no longer happen, so how would it look on Jonah as a prophet when his message did not come to pass? Part of it might also have to do with racial prejudice, with Jonah not wanting those people to experience God’s mercy. Whatever the reason, Jonah was quick to forget how God had already dealt graciously with him, and had no place for this same grace being shown to others.

Comfort versus Compassion (v5-8): The next section of the chapter presents a contrast that exposes just how warped Jonah’s perspective had become. He had made himself a shelter overlooking the city to watch what would happen, no doubt hoping that judgement would still happen. At the same time, he got mad when a plant that God had caused to grow over Jonah was chewed by a worn and withered. When Jonah’s own personal comfort was hampered then he reacted, but when a whole city full of people faced judgement he wasn’t bothered. This account was supposed to challenge the attitudes of Israel at the time, and it should also challenge our attitudes today. What are the things that cause us to get upset? Are they primarily things associated with our own ease and comfort, or are we moved by the plight of others, especially those who are far from God and are facing judgement.

God’s Heart of Love (v9-10): the book ends with God challenging Jonah’s anger about the plant and contrasting it with his own heart of love for people. The city was large, and many people lived there. God could see that the people are misguided, but he still loves them dearly, and this is what led to him relenting from judgement and offering mercy. This same compassion is picked up by Jesus as he speaks of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. Despite the evils done by the people of that place, he looks upon it with compassion and wishes to show mercy and gather it to himself. In these sayings we see the heart of God for cities, and particularly for the people in them. God’s heart for our own cities is no different, and as his followers, we should carry this same compassion and love for the cities in which we live.

Potential Applications:

• The passage challenges out attitudes to God’s mercy. Are there certain types of people that we wouldn’t want to receive God’s mercy? How can we see our hearts changed in this?
• For many people, issues of personal comfort have become a higher priority in our hearts than the lost. Challenge people who have drifted into this kind of complacency to cultivate a renewed love for those who are far from God.
• Spend some time together praying for your own city, that God will break in and many will be saved.