Jonah: Some People Never Change[Bible Study]
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Jonah 4
One of the most enjoyable parts about reading books and stories is character development. We have all seen it, and expect it. Little Tommy is afraid of the thing, and then throughout the story has to face the thing, until the thing no longer is a big deal, and he learns a lot about himself by the end of the story. Jonah, as usual, continues to be the opposite of everything he should be.
As we reach this final chapter, one would expect at this point to see a major change in the life of Jonah. That is what NORMALLY happens. Normally, people learn from the things they have been through, especially when one of those things is being eaten by a whale. But shockingly, not Jonah. He doesn't learn. All of the drama up to this point, including the evil city of Nineveh repenting should bring Jonah to tears that, although he at once tried to escape, God used him to accomplish something amazing. But we find in chapter 4 it’s just more of the same. Jonah is still the hateful, selfish joke of a prophet that he’s been since chapter 1. If you thought he was a terrible person already, chapter 4 captures how awful he is by a long shot.
Jonah remains a solid example of who we should strive NOT to be.
Jonah 4:1-3
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,and he was angry. (Blake here, just in case you forgot, this is referring to the city of Nineveh being spared by God) 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
What does a toddler do when they don’t get their way? They throw tantrums. That’s what Jonah is doing here. He would rather die than see God show mercy! We can learn from this. It’s never alright to point our fingers at God because we feel like He handled a situation wrong. In this case, Jonah is so upset that he wants to die because God chose to be kind, instead of pouring out His wrath. Can God bless those who He wishes? Yes, He certainly does not need to seek for our counsel, He can do as he wishes.( Matthew 20:15)
Jonah continues to be the exact opposite of how a man of God should be. Moses (Exodus 32:32) and Paul (Romans 9:3) both cared for people so much that they’d rather lose their souls than see their people destroyed. But Jonah would rather die than see the people he was sent to avoid being destroyed.
Jonah 4:4
4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”
God understands that most people would be rejoicing that an entire city repented of their evil ways and that the preacher got to play a role in the preservation of that city. God calls out Jonah for being angry when he should be rejoicing. (Luke 15:7)
Jonah 4:5
5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.
Jonah, the same guy who tried to flee from God, now has a second wind of hope and decides to set up a place to watch Nineveh get destroyed, just in case God changes His mind. Imagine being so excited to see the death of an entire city that you set up a little area to watch it all go down! Jonas' excitement to see the destruction of Nineveh is so unlike our heavenly Father. (Ezekiel 33:11)
Jonah 4:6
6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.
Here again God is treating Jonah better than he deserves. As Jonah bakes in the sun, crossing his fingers to see the death of souls that God made in His image, God decides to bless him with a little shade. God still cares for Jonah. He also has another reason for this plant above Jonah’s head, and it goes a lot deeper than simply providing relief from the sun. It's to teach Jonah a lesson.
Jonah 4:7
7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
Jonah was so happy over his plant because it benefited him. He was exceedingly happy for the plant God gave him, but was exceedingly unhappy at the mercy God gave Nineveh! We as God's people should be invested in the well-being of others, even more than our own comforts and happiness. (Philippians 2:3-4 )
Jonah 4:8-11
8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
In the conclusion of the story here, God is pointing out to Jonah just how backwards his heart really is. He cares more about the life of a plant than he does for an entire city and their animals. The story ends with God asking Jonah “should I not care for their lives?" That is a super valid point. Should God not care? Absolutely not. He should care, and He does. He cares about HIS creation. He doesn't just sit up there with His eyes closed, He is invested in the events that are taking place here on earth.
The end! That’s it. Not a super satisfying ending. Jonah is highlighted as a selfish, hateful prophet who lacks compassion. God is highlighted as a loving, all powerful Father who wishes to show mercy. Although the ending is abrupt, the entire message of the story is obvious. We find ourselves well aware of the fact that man is sinful, and God is holy. As simple as this truth is, it’s precious, and we need to allow this truth to push us closer to God at every moment.
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English
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