The Vine

Introduction:

· The book ends with three questions God asks of Jonah – but they’re really meant for all of us.

LET’S ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF OURSELVES. FIRST OF ALL, GOD ASKS, ‘DO YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY?’

I) What Does Jonah’s Anger Reveal About the Nature of Grace?

A. A Time and Place for Mercy & Judgment (vv. 1-4)

i. Jonah is hoping for a show of judgment because they “deserved it”

1. Jonah “knew” God would be gracious on Nineveh rather than just

2. Thus Jonah believed he knew better than God how to deal with people

ii. God’s grace to Israel is good, his grace to Nineveh is evil (vs. 2)

1. Jonah recalls God’s gracious salvation to Israel (Ex. 34:6, Joel 2:14)

Joel 2:14 ESV

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?

Exodus 34:6 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

2. God’s mercy was more evil to Jonah than Nineveh’s evil was to God

B. We Are Selfish About Grace (and Generous with “Justice”)

i. We value grace for ourselves, justice for others

1. Our sin has an explanation and a justification – others’ deserve judgment

2. EXAMPLE: In your marriage – you’re criticized vs. YOU criticize

ii. We envision the line of grace being horizontal when it is vertical

1. Jonah (and we) divide people: good & bad, and believe God saves good

2. EXAMPLE: A conversation with Chris

3. But grace isn’t: where do I fit on the totem pole of deserving?

JONAH THINKS HE’S QUALIFIED TO DECIDE WHO SHOULD RECEIVE MERCY – BUT HE ISN’T. SO GOD ASKS A SECOND QUESTION.

II) What Does Jonah’s Anger Reveal about our Idols? (vv. 5-9)

A. Anger Reveals Our Idols

i. Discerning “Good” and “Evil” anger (vv. 5-6)

1. God confronts Jonah about whether his anger is appropriate

2. “Good” anger guards what is righteous; sinful anger guards idols

3. EXAMPLE: Someone goes above your head àRage! (Power? Control?)

ii. Jonah is selfish about Grace

1. Jonah valued grace for “his” country – not others (vs. 2, 3)

2. APPLICATION: A caution against the sin of nationalism

B. Jonah’s Joy & Anger Reveal He Loves the Gifts But Not the Giver

i. From exceeding anger to exceeding delight, back to anger (vv. 1, 6)

1. A city lives – Jonah is angry; a plant dies Jonah is angry

2. Joy in the gifts not the giver

ii. APPLICATION: Our anger reveals our idolatry

1. Does my prayer life heat up when I need something from God?

2. Do I get bitter when bad things happen, since “I don’t deserve this!” 

OUR ANGER CAN REVEAL HOW WE USE GOD TO GET THINGS FROM GOD

III) What Does God Reveal About His Sovereign Grace? (vv. 10-11)

A. God’s Question: How Do We View A Morally Confused World?

i. God drives the point home: What do you think about a morally confused world?

1. From the left hand to the right hand…children? (vs. 11)

2. No: people who are morally and spiritually ignorant and confused

ii. We live in an equally morally confused world

1. ILLUSTRATION: A senate hearing: a man can get pregnant

2. What Posture does God wish to show?

B. God’s Answer: His Gracious Love that Goes to a Cross

i. God is sovereign in salvation

1. God who sends a storm, fish, plant, worm, wind, is free to show mercy

2. God’s mercy would be tempered with judgment for Nineveh

3. But God is free to decide and determine

ii. God is gracious in salvation

1. Is God’s patience world permanent? No, a day of judgment will come

2. But: God who commanded the storm, fish, plant, worm, wind also commanded his Son, who stretched out his left hand and his right to a cross to die not for good, but for sinners

Transition:

Conclusion

A closing question