Jonah 4

FBC Baxley

April 6, 2025

Jonah 4

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

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.”

4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

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.

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.

7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.

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?”

-Pray

Verse 1 – Jonah’s Rage:

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry."

The Hebrew word for "displeased" (רַע ra‘) can mean "evil" or "great calamity." Jonah saw God's mercy as a disaster!

"Angry" (חָרָה charah) carries the sense of "burning with rage."

Instead of rejoicing over Nineveh’s repentance, Jonah is furious. How often do we respond poorly when God’s plans don't align with ours?

Application:

We must guard our hearts against resentment when God's ways challenge our preferences.

Verse 2 – Jonah’s Complaint:

"And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish..."

Jonah’s prayer reveals a bitter heart. He knew God was "gracious and merciful" (חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם channun verachum, Ex. 34:6).

He essentially tells God, "I knew You would do this! That's why I ran!"

Spurgeon: "Nothing more reveals the pride of man than an unwillingness to see others receive grace."

Application:

Instead of resisting God’s mercy for others, we should rejoice in His sovereign grace.

Verse 3 – Jonah’s Despair:

"Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live."

Jonah is so self-absorbed that he prefers death over seeing Nineveh forgiven.

John MacArthur: "Jonah had more zeal for his personal comfort than for lost souls."

Application:

When personal desires outweigh God's mission, we lose sight of true purpose.

Verse 4 – God’s Gracious Question:

"Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?"

God lovingly questions Jonah instead of rebuking him outright.

The phrase "doest thou well" (הַהֵיטֵב haheitēb) implies, "Is your anger justified?"

Instead of answering, Jonah sulks.

Application:

God's questions are meant to draw us into self-examination.

Are we resisting His will?

Verse 5 – Jonah’s Waiting Game:

"So Jonah went out of the city... till he might see what would become of the city."

Jonah still hopes Nineveh will be destroyed!

He builds a booth (סֻכָּה sukkah, a temporary shelter) as he waits.

Application:

When we refuse to accept God’s mercy for others, we isolate ourselves from His joy.

Verse 6 – The Gourd’s Lesson:

"And the LORD God prepared a gourd... to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad for the gourd."

"Prepared" (מָנָה manah) means "appointed"—same word used when God appointed the fish (Jonah 1:17).

Jonah rejoices more over temporary comfort than eternal souls.

Application:

Comforts are fleeting, but God's mission is eternal. Are we prioritizing rightly?

Verses 7-8 – The Worm and the Wind:

God "appointed" a worm to destroy the gourd.

He "prepared" a scorching east wind (רֽוּחַ קָדִים ruach qādīm).

Jonah once again wants to die.

Application:

When we place our joy in temporary blessings, we risk despair when they fade.

Verses 9-11 – God’s Final Question:

"Thou hast had pity on the gourd... And should not I spare Nineveh...?"

God contrasts Jonah’s concern for a plant with His concern for a city.

The book ends with an unanswered question, leaving us to consider: Do we share God’s heart for the lost?

Application:

The mission of God is greater than our personal preferences. Are we aligning our hearts with His?

Closing Applications:

God’s Grace is Greater Than Our Biases.

Like Jonah, we often resist showing grace to those we think are undeserving. But God's mercy extends to all.

Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

2. God’s Plans Are Higher Than Our Preferences.

Jonah’s story reminds us that God’s mission is greater than our personal desires.

Isaiah 55:9: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

3. God’s Heart Beats for the Lost.

If God loves sinners, so should we! Let’s align our hearts with His mission.

2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise... but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Final Quote:

John Piper once said, "Missions exist because worship doesn’t. Our call is to bring the lost into joyful worship of our merciful God."

May we learn from Jonah and embrace the heart of God!

"Jonah: The Runaway Prophet"

Jonah was a prophet, bold and wise, But when God called, he closed his eyes. "Go to Nineveh!" the Lord decreed, But Jonah thought, "That’s not my speed!"

So off to Joppa, he took his feet, Bought a ticket—first-class seat! To Tarshish, far from God's command, But winds and waves had other plans.

A storm arose, the sailors shook, They cast their lots and gave a look— "Who’s to blame for this great plight?" Jonah sighed, "Alright, alright…

It’s me, I fled, I went astray, Just toss me out, and calm the bay!" With great regret, they heaved him in, And down he sank beneath his sin.

But God prepared (as He oft’ does) A fish to swallow Jonah up! Three dark days in belly deep, Jonah prayed, “I should have heeded Thee!"

The fish then spat him on dry land, And Jonah dusted off the sand. "Fine, I’ll go!"—with great disdain, To preach God's mercy once again.

Through Nineveh he walked and cried, "In forty days, you're doomed, you’ll die!" But to his shock, from king to beast, The people bowed and fasted yeast.

God relented, spared the town, And Jonah wore a bitter frown. "How could You, Lord, let them go free? They deserve no grace from Thee!"

So off he went to pout and wait, Hoping judgment yet was fate. God grew a plant to shade his head, Jonah cheered—till it dropped dead!

A worm, a wind, the scorching heat, Jonah groaned and stomped his feet. "Just let me die, I cannot cope!" But God replied, "You love this hope,

A simple plant that lived one night, Yet Nineveh, lost in sin and plight, You wish I’d crush them in my wrath? Should I not show them love—my path?"

The story ends without a word, From Jonah, sulking, still perturbed. But we must ask, what would we do, If God’s great mercy came for you?

Would we rejoice, or would we frown, That grace would turn men’s hearts around? Oh, let us learn from Jonah’s plight, And love as God, with mercy bright!