4:1Why did Jonah become angry when God spared Nineveh? The Jews did not want to share God’s message with Gentile nations in Jonah’s day, just as they resisted that role in Paul's day (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). They had forgotten their original purpose as a nation—to be a blessing to the rest of the world by sharing God's message with other nations (Genesis 22:18). Jonah thought that God should not freely give his salvation to a wicked pagan nation. Yet this is exactly what God does for all who come to him today in faith.
Life Application Study BibleJonahChapter 4
Jonah 4
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original page: 1462
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4Jonah 4
Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Mercy
14 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why Iran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what f predicted will not happen.” 4The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” 5Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. 9Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” 10Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,* not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't] feel sorry for sucha great city?”
Life Application Notes 5 notes
4:1,2Jonah revealed the reason for his reluctance to go to Nineveh (1:3). He didn’t want the Ninevites forgiven; he wanted them destroyed. Jonah did not understand that the God of Israe! was also the God of the whale world. Are you surprised when some unlikely person turns to God? Is it possible that your view is as narrow as Jonah’s? We must not forget that, in reality, we do not deserve to be forgiven by God.
4:3Jonah had run from the job of delivering God’s message of destruction to Nineveh (1:2, 3); then he wanted to die because the destruction wouldn't happen. How quickly Jonah had forgatten God's mercy for him when he was inside the fish (2:9, 10). Jonah was happy when God saved him, but he was angry when Nineveh was saved. Jonah was learning a valuable lesson about
4:11Hebrew people who don’t know their right hand from their left.
4:12Jonah knew that he had disobeyed and that the storm was his fault, but he didn’t say anything until the crew cast lots and he lost the toss (1:7). Then Jonah was willing to give his life to save the sailors, although he had refused to do the same for the people of Nineveh. Jonah’s hatred for the Assyrians had affected his perspective.