God’s Revelation under the Leafy Plant

Intro

Doubts about the Inspiration of the Bible? If men had written the Bible without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we would have only 3 chapters in the book of Jonah.

In fact, chapter 3 ends with happiness and repentance.

Men like happy endings.

Men like happy endings in both stories and experiences.

Although chapter 4 is not a happy chapter, we want to thank the Lord for giving it to us.

Indeed, from this last chapter we can learn important lessons for our Christian life.

Jonah's Backstage. Chapter 4 is the "Backstage" of the book of Jonah because the mission of the prophet ends in chapter 3 with the repentance of Nineveh and God's forgiveness.

But in chapter 4, God has to face the anger of his prophet.

Under that leafy plant, God will reveal himself as the One who is interested in his prophet, who cares for Jonah and does not want to leave him in his anger and in his pain.

Do you know that God is interested in you?

Do you know that God cares for you and he doesn't want to leave you in your anger and bitterness?

He reveals Himself to us this morning as the God who cares for His children.

Sermon's Outline. The prophet Jonah is angry with God, while the Lord is sorry for the behavior of his messenger.

Under the leafy plant we want to consider:

Jonah's Anger (Jonah 4:1);

God's Questions (Jonah 4:4, 9);

God's Agents (Jonah 4:6-8).

N. 1 - Jonah’s Anger (Jonah 4:1)

Anger. One of the most used adjectives in the book of Jonah is the term great:

A great wind (Jonah 1:1);

A great fish (Jonah 2:1);

A great city (Jonah 3:3);

A great sorrow (Jonah 4:1).

The great displeasure produced by God's decision to forgive Nineveh created a strong, great anger in Jonah.

The Hebrew text, in describing Jonah's anger, uses the same term used to identify the spiritual condition of the Ninevites: But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened (Jonah 3:8-10 - NIV).

Jonah was not only annoyed, the prophet had become wicked, he had become evil.

The same feeling. the same spiritual condition of the Ninevites now belonged to God's prophet.

Can a believer be evil? This question is easy to answer: sure!

When we turn away from God we can become anything.

Intemperate anger deprives men of their senses.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

Even David, despite having defeated Goliath the Philistine, was part of the Philistine army for a certain period of time.

When pain is not brought to Jesus' feet, as it was with Jonah, that pain will lead us to anger and wickedness.

When anger is present, look for the pain.

R. C. Sproul

Let’s be smart and wise! Don't let anger kill you: For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple (Job 5:2 - Modern English Version).

Being angry is normal and acceptable, but acting, thinking and living out of anger can be very dangerous: “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, (Ephesians 4:26 - NIV).

N. 2 - God’s Questions (Jonah 4:4, 9)

Questions from Heaven. 3 times, in just 11 verses that make up chapter 4, Jonah asks God to put him to death (Jonah 4:3, 8).

But God does not give up on Jonah!

He is interested in his prophet, takes care of his messenger and begins to communicate with Jonah.

God questions his servant (Jonah 4:4, 9).

With regards to these questions I would like to consider:

They were simple questions. The answer shouldn't have been complicated: yes or no?

Let me encourage you to answer Jesus' simple questions: 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road (Mark 10:51-52 - NIV).

God is able to ask tough questions too: Job 38:1–5 “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?”.

2. They were clarifying questions. Jonah did not realize his dangerous spiritual condition.

Even the "older brother", in the parable of the prodigal son, did not realize that he was out of the house, out of celebration and joy: “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him (Luke 15:28 - NIV).

God's questions serve to shed light on our spiritual condition.

3. They were the same questions. Jonah does not answer the first question but leaves the city (Jonah 4:5) of Nineveh.

God will ask him the same question.

In the Christian path we cannot skip God's questions as if we were taking a school exam.

The Lord will continue to ask us the same questions, because He cares about us and is interested in our spiritual progress.

Lord we thank you for your simple, enlightening and persistent questions.

N. 3 - God’s Agents (Jonah 4:6-8)

God is in control. In the book of Jonah there are 5 occasions in which we see God moving the circumstances around Jonah to cure and heal His prophet from his erroneous beliefs:

God sends the wind against the boat (Jonah 1:4);

God sends the big fish (Jonah 2:1);

God makes a leafy plant grow (Jonah 4:6);

God sends a worm (Jonah 4:7);

God sends the east wind (Jonah 4:8).

All these actions on God's part reveal His interest in Jonah.

For our salvation, God is ready to move heaven and earth.

One more time, God's love and care for us are reaveled through His agents.

The Purpose of God's Agents. The purpose of God's actions towards his prophet is to heal him, to save him from his misery: The Lord God appointed a little plant and caused it to grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue him from his misery. Now Jonah was very delighted about the little plant (Jonah 4:6 - New English Translation).

If God is moving heaven and earth around your life it is because He wants to heal you of your anger and remove your bitterness.

Maybe the Lord is bringing, with His agents, tension and discomfort into your life only because He wants to deliver you from your pain and anger.

Do not despise the Lord's corrections, nor His agents: My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:11-12 - NIV).

In fact, God’s ultimate punishment is not when he disciplines, but when he walks away. His final act of reproof is when he allows his children to live unfettered and undisciplined lives without his chastening.2

Peter Jeffery

Conclusion

God's desire triumphs! Under that leafy plant the desire of God will triumph.

In fact, although the prophet tries with his anger to take over the scene, the book of Jonah ends with God's desire.

Let us not be led by anger and bitterness, but let God's purpose have victory over our negative feelings.

Just like Jonah chapter 4, we want that our life will end proclaiming God's desire: salvation for the lost and healing for the sick: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 - NIV).