Jonah 4 (NLT)
¹ This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. ² 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 I ran 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. ³ Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
⁴ The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
⁵ Then 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. ⁶ 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.
⁷ But 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. ⁸ And 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.
⁹ Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
¹⁰ Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. ¹¹ But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
God’s desire for salvation doesn’t stop at the people we like.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Jonah is clearly, and understandably, angry, yet God demonstrates tremendous patience and understanding. Consider how this demonstration of grace for one becomes grace for the many, and how this grace for the many impacts the faith of the one.
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- How does the demonstrated grace here help build Jonah’s faith even when he is upset by the situation?
- How does Jonah’s proximity to the people, a little time, and God having a lot of patience with him help Jonah see something different?
- Jonah declares that he would rather be dead than see Nineveh spared, clearly demonstrating that his desire is for wrath, not compassion.
- How does considering the wholeness of another help move us from a desire for wrathful vengeance to compassionate grace?
- What active steps can we take in our lives when confronted with some scenario in which we are justifiably upset?
- Perhaps the greatest obstacle to our faithful adherence to the teachings of Jesus is our anger and inclination to wrath.
- In God’s grace, what does it mean that God does not tell Jonah he shouldn’t be angry?
- Can we demonstrate grace while still being hurt or angry emotionally?
- In so many verses, we see a passage of time where the subject of the verse is afforded time to think things over. Do we take out time to consider the situation often enough?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. What steps can I take to ensure I don’t rush to an angry or emotional response? Where am I most likely to respond from anger or a desire for wrath rather than compassion?
2. Strong’s Concordance shows us the word “worm” is the Hebrew word Tola, a small parasitic worm associated with lowliness or decay. God created the plant, and then God sent the worm to the plant. How is this story a reflection on Jonah’s role?
3. When the plant is destroyed, it withers but will become food for more plants to grow. How does this transformation of the plant as shade for one into food for many reflect on the story?
4. What is this “Spiritual Darkness” in Jonah 4:11? What shape or form does this concept take in our world today? Where might I see this “Spiritual Darkness” reflected in my own life or responses toward others?
For further contemplation, consider these prompts:
1. God creates a plant, and the eventual worm that destroys it, that is large enough to offer shade in a very short span of time—measured in minutes to reach perhaps eight to ten feet tall. With all the other miracles in this book, what does the willingness of God to perform miracles tell Jonah of his role in all this?
2. Have you ever heard or witnessed God calling you to action or guiding you with such clarity? What was your reaction? Was that amount of miraculous involvement necessary for you to follow through? Why?