"JONAH STUDY-WEEK FIVE"

(RECAP: NINEVEH TURNS TO GOD AND HAS REVIVAL)

JONAH 4:1-4 “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 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. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?””

>>>Jonah is not submissive to God’s will for Nineveh.

>>>(v.1) Jonah was “burning with anger” over the revival of Nineveh.

*Displeasure led to anger.

>>>(v.2) Jonah’s displeasure with God prompts him to pray to Him. In this prayer, Jonah’s heart is finally revealed.

*Jonah “said” something while he was in his country-communicated in some way his refusal to go to Nineveh.

*He “made haste” to Tarshish-quickly tried to get away from this command. Some translations say “get ahead”.

*God’s grace and mercy on Nineveh was why Jonah fled. He described the character of God.

JONAH UNDERSTOOD GOD’S CHARACTER.

*Jonah emphasized God’s love.

*“slow to anger” provides for “steadfast love”-why they are linked.

*2 PETER 3:8-9 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

>>>(v.3) Due to this, Jonah wanted God to take his life.

JONAH THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO DIE THAN SEE A REPENTANT NINEVEH.

>>>Jonah could not live in a world where the Ninevites were forgiven.

*Luke 15:25-30 ““Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’”

(v. 1-2) What causes us to take up this type of attitude toward others? What does this say about out hearts?

>>>(v.4) God’s response was a question about Jonah’s right to be angry-a question not answered.

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JONAH 4:5-8 “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. 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. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 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.””

>>>(v.5) Cuts to a new “scene”. Jonah goes out of the city.

*His anger/complaining must have taken place while in the city-seeing the revival.

>>>He does not fully leave the city but sits in a place to see what would happen to it.

*Made a booth (hut)-sort of highlights Jonah’s selfishness.

*Almost expecting to see if God changes His mind again.

*Remember “east”

>>>(v.6) God appointed a plant to grow and be shade to Jonah.

(v.6) Where have we seen the word “appointed” before?

*“Appointed” is same as when the fish was appointed-selected for a purpose.

*The plant was to save (deliver) Jonah from his discomfort in the sun. God showed Jonah He was source of deliverance.

>>>Jonah’s emotion goes from great displeasure/anger to great happiness. But it was because of the plant.

*The plant was the source of happiness-not the God Who provided it.

>>>(v.7) A switch happens: God "appoints” a worm to destroy the plant.

*“Attacked” means “destroyed”

>>>(v.8) The sun rose, and God “appoints” east hot wind.

IN THE EAST: SUN RISES, WIND IS SENT, JONAH WAS SITTING.

>>>The sun “beat down” on Jonah-made him weak.

*“beat down” is same word as “attacked” in verse seven.

>>>Jonah responded again by asking to die.

*Jonah was not angry about plant until the sun-not when plant died. It grew/died in cooler parts of the day.

*Even w/o plant or hot wind, Jonah would have been affected by sun. He chose to sit in east-mad at God over his own choice (selfish).

>>>Anytime Jonah is uncomfortable/resistant/angry he asks to die.

*(1:12) Would rather die than surrender to God.

*(4:3) Would rather die than see a Nineveh spared.

*(4:8) Would rather die than be in the sun w/o the plant.

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JONAH 4:9 “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.””

>>>(v.9) “But God”-contrast to Jonah’s request.

>>>This is first verbal interaction between God/Jonah.

>>>This is the second time God asks the question but specifically asks about plant.

*Jonah responds that he does have right to be upset about the plant

*He did not respond about anger toward Nineveh.

(v.9) Jonah’s response: over-dramatic or overly bitter?

>>>Once again, nothing is Jonah’s fault-always has justification.

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JONAH 4:10-11 “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. 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?””

>>>(v.10) God proves His point in the plant and worm-he points out Jonah’s compassion over something he did not affect nor really affected him.

*The plant grew and died withing cooler hours of day.

JONAH HAD COMPASSION ON WHAT DID NOT MATTER AND ONLY AFFECTED HIM.

>>>When we are not surrendered to the heart of God, we only care about the heart of ourselves. We ignore the love of God for others and our obligation to love others. We live for what benefits us.

>>>(v.11) God did not say Jonah was wrong to be upset (though implied)

>>>God asked this question to make a point about His love and compassion on people lost in their own sin.

*Implied question: why did Jonah have more rights than God?

*Even throws in the cattle-hinting to king’s proclamation that animals fast/wear sackcloth.

>>>No answer/actions by Jonah mentioned. His story just ends.

What is the difference between Nineveh and Jonah?

>>>We can be very quick to condemn and decide who it is God should save while we ignore our own heart issues. We end up not looking much different than the world we criticize.

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>>>Throughout the Bible, many characters have flaws/mess up, yet that is not how they are remembered. However, Jonah is just the guy who disobeyed God and got swallowed by a fish.

THREE WAYS JONAH’S STORY ENDS:

1.) SAILORS REPENT. JONAH REBELS.

2.) NINEVEH HAS REVIVAL. JONAH HAS ANGER.

3.) PAGANS SPARED JUDGMENT. JONAH EXPERIENCED DISCIPLINE.

How does the story of Jonah challenge you in your walk with Christ?