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God’s Mercy Drives Some To Anger (Jonah 4)
(compare Matthew 20:1-16; Luke 15:25-32). He was happy when God saved him, but was angry when God saved Nineveh. The valuable lesson for Jonah was about God’s mercy and forgiveness. It was not just for Jonah and the Is- raelites, but for all who re- pented and believed.
He knew the fivefold char- acter of God — gracious, com- passionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and relent- ing from sending calamity— but it made no difference in his life.
God Provides Jonah 4:5-8
Jonah needed to be con- verted as much as (or more?) than the Ninevites. He needed a crash course on the sover- eignty and love of God.
No matter how bleak things seem, God is never out of con- trol. Earlier God sent a storm, then he sent a fish, and then he provided (appointed, num- bered, or ordained—the word appears in 4:6, 7, and 8) a plant.
Jonah had set up shop east
of the city in a makeshift shel- ter. God supernaturally caused a plant to grow quickly to give Jonah some shade. Jonah was very happy about the plant (the only time in the book where Jonah was happy about anything—except when he was rescued from the fish). The plant eased his discomfort (a form of the word for evil). The next day was a different story. God provided a worm that ate the plant and wind that bore down on Jonah unbearably. Once again he wanted to die. Concern And God’s Love And Mercy | Jonah 4:9-11
Jonah was angry about what happened to the plant, but not over what could have hap- pened to Nineveh. God’s method of dealing with Jonah reflected his character. God was concerned for Jonah as well as Nineveh. God could have destroyed Jonah for his defiant anger, but instead he gently taught him a lesson.
God noted a lesson from the plant. Jonah did not tend it or make it grow. God oversaw its birth, growth, and demise (see
also Mark 4:26-29). God’s concern (pity or compassion) was what motivated his re- sponse to repentant Nineveh.
The Ninevites’ knowledge of God could be put in a thimble. Like little children they did not even know their right hand from their left. But for that moment in history, their hearts were genuine, and God responded with his flowing love.
God saved the sailors. He saved Jonah in the belly of the fish, and he saved the people of Nineveh when they responded to Jonah’s preaching.
Sometimes people wish that judgement and destruction would come upon wicked and sinful people immediately. But God is merciful. He feels com- passion for sinners we want judged.
God answers the prayers of those who call upon him. If we respond to God’s warnings with obedience, he will be gra- cious and we will receive mercy and love, not judge- ment.
God’s love and mercy are pervasive (expanding, spread- ing, and permeating). Jonah’s love and mercy were narrow and shrunken. The angry prophet did not want God to give salvation and spare Nin- eveh. In Jonah’s day, Jews did not want to share God’s mes- sage with other nations. But Jonah needed to get on the same page with the Lord when it came to his wide embrace of all people. That is the story of Jonah 4.
Last week’s lesson dealt with forgiveness. Jonah could an- nounce the forgiveness of God—but he could not live it.
Anger and God’s Love Jonah 4:1-4
Is there room for anger when God’s love pervades? In
Jonah’s heart, love had not flowed through. Jonah had anger issues. The word angry means to burn, kindle, or be incensed. It appears three times in this chapter (vs. 1, 4, and 9) with another word ap- pearing in verse 2 concerning God’s character (slow to anger).
Whether Jonah was more concerned with his own repu- tation than God’s. He knew if Niveneh repented, then none of his warnings would come true. This would embarrass him, and glorify God. The question today is the same.
The prophet, who earlier wanted to live (Jonah 2), now wanted to die (see also 1 Kings 19:3, 4). Jonah had a problem with the grace of God
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