What Would You Have Me Do?

Often we think of Jonah as a mission-imperative book. It is not. Rather, it is a book that is deeply theological, wrestling with the depravity of man and the graciousness of God, the Imago Dei (Image of God), the sovereignty and might and power of God, etc.

So, let’s work our way through chapter four a bit, make some sense of what we just read, and then try to put the book of Jonah together as a unified whole.

Remember that Nineveh has just repented…

Jonah 4:1 “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.”

Jonah’s response to God’s graciousness toward others? Anger. This is beyond what Job experienced

Does God’s salvation of the wicked cause us to rejoice or to become angry.

Then, Jonah gives the reason why he fled in the first place: Jonah 4:2 “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.”

At this point, we should be asking, “Did Jonah ever have the things of God in mind?” What about us? Do we try and pick and choose with God’s will?

Knowing the graciousness of God, we see another prayer by Jonah — take my life (Jonah 4:3). In essence, it’s better for me to die than to deal with a God who would be gracious to the Ninevites. One caution that I always give when reading Scripture is to be leary of casting yourself in the hero role. Just as Jonah was a prophet of God by the grace of God, so we are who we are solely by His grace. And, at the end of the day, He’s the hero, not us.

God then responds to Jonah — Jonah 4:4 “And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”” There seems to be nod back to Genesis 4 and God’s conversation with Abel in His dealing with Jonah.

God asked Abel why he was angry and encouraged him to do “well.”

Those are the same words God uses here with Jonah.

Learn the lessons of the past lest you travel the same road!

So how will Jonah respond? He goes outside the city and makes a booth for himself there, probably to see if God indeed relents (Jonah 4:5). This is Jonah mad but sitting and fuming by continuing to watch the very thing that is leading his heart astray. His answer to God’s call to repentance? No thanks.

What happens in our lives when we camp by the very thing that will cause us irreparable harm?

If you hold on to a lit match long enough, it’s going to burn you!

So, God responds with another object lesson (remember that all of Jonah has been an object lesson!).

Jonah 4:6 “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.”

That word for discomfort, it’s the word for evil. And it’s the second time it’s come up in the passage. Remember that the first time was in verse 1. God saves Jonah from his evil. And what is Jonah’s response? Joy. We’re starting to see something of the character of Jonah, where his own self-righteousness and self-centeredness sit on the throne of his heart. Save me and I’m happy about it. I deserve it. Save the wretched Ninevites, and I’d rather die…they don’t deserve God’s mercy.

But God, ever the teacher, notice what happens: Jonah 4:7 “But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.”

Who caused the plant to live? Who caused the plant to die?

Jonah 4:8 “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.””

When his blessings are removed, right back to pit of despair he goes. How dare God be gracious to the Ninevites but take away the thing that brought salvation to Jonah. Ah, but here in Jonah’s heart is once again revealed. Remember last week we talked about how repentance moves the heart of God. But has Jonah truly repented? His heart has not changed. He’s not wrestling with God’s grace…His unmerited favor to an undeserving sinner…the mercy of God that withholds what we truly deserve. So, it’s back to the prayer for death. I can’t live with a God like You!

Has there ever been a time in your life where you’ve made a similar sentiment?

Our hearts are idol factories, and sometimes we even try to fashion an idol out of God Himself, trying to recreate Him in an image we’d prefer over and above who He is and how He has revealed Himself.

But God is a God of many chances. Jonah 4:9–10 “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.” 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.” God is teaching Jonah right now. He’s speaking the truth his heart needs to hear. You care more about a vine that’s here today and gone tomorrow, a vine that you had absolutely no investment in, than you do others. Take note of your heart, Jonah. There are two great commands — love God with all you’ve got, and love others like you love yourself. Jonah, you love you some you. When I provided salvation for you, oh the joy. But when I brought it for others, oh the anger, so much so that you are willing to forfeit the thing that is most valuable to you — your own life!

It’s God’s grace that takes the time to put us in to situations where He can reveal our own hearts to us. This is His kindness.

2 Peter 3:9 “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.”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

So God gives one last call to repentance: Jonah 4:11 “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?””

God’s heart is for His creation. Jonah must realize this. And if he will, repentance will surely follow. If not, his life very well could go the way of the plant, withered under the hand of God and scorched by an eastern wind (BTW, Assyria, who will conquer Israel/the Northern Kingdom, comes from the east…) of judgment. Broader in scope, we do well to embrace God’s will and trust His character, for He is good…not necessarily safe, but always good!

It’s interesting, then, that the book ends of a question from God to Jonah. The point of the book is not a missionary imperative, but again it is deeply theological, wrestling with the grace and mercy of God, the depravity of man, and God’s claim over all of His creation. Even in this last chapter, go back and take note of how creation moves when God appoints it to do so.

With this in mind, here are three things I think we can take away from chapter 4:

All men are made in God’s image, so they have value.

All men are sinful, so they need mercy.

All men deserve judgment, but God is gracious.

Jonah begins with righteous judgment and a prophetic call. It ends with mercy and grace. In between, it’s the least-likely characters who taste and savor this grace of God. It’s a reminder that whoever and wherever you are, no matter how rebellious and dastardly your sin, there is a gracious and patient God who offers salvation if we will repent.