Day #170: Jonah 4:4-11

This week's blog is written by Pauline Lo Alker

Background

Jonah finally delivered God's warning of impending judgment to the Ninevites for their evil ways, and the whole Nineveh turned to God for mercy. God had compassion on them-- the same compassion He had repeatedly shown Jonah -- as He saw how they had repented and spared Nineveh from destruction. While acknowledging God's abounding grace, mercy and love, Jonah was so exceedingly angry and resentful that God had extended the same to those he considered unworthy that he actually prayed for God to let him die.

"But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" (4:4 NIV)

Of course Jonah had no right to be angry. The same God who brought salvation to the Ninevites was the same God who saved his life. How patient and loving is our God! Instead of giving Jonah a "How dare you?" reprimand, He gently asked him a rhetorical question.

But Jonah didn't even bother to answer.

A Pouting Prophet

"Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city." (4:5)

Jonah the Prophet acted like a pouting, spoiled brat! He went out of the city and built himself a make-shift tent as shade from the scorching sun. He sat there, hour after hour, waiting and watching, watching and waiting, to see if the Ninevites were really serious about repentance. "There's no trusting those heathens," Jonah thought. "They were just giving lip service to God; you'll see."

He wasn't concerned about their faith; on the contrary, he was hoping the Ninevites would blow it and return to their former wickedness. This would mean that God might pass final judgment on them and that he would prove God wrong.

Some of us, like me, probably have had enough of Jonah by now and are about to give up on him. We easily forget, however, that we are more like Jonah than we'd like to believe and that we so lack the patience and compassion like our Lord God.

God's Protection

"Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine." (4:7)

Jonah's little 'tent' provided very minimal shade from the boiling mid-day sun, so God provided a plant and made it grow to give Jonah lots of shade. Can you imagine that? Here was this ill-tempered, ill-mannered guy who whined and pouted and threw tantrums time and time again, and yet God was concerned about his discomfort!

Here's an assurance we can take to the bank: No matter how objectionable and obnoxious we become, and in spite of our repeated disobedience, God will never abandon us. On the contrary, even as we try our best to run away from Him, He is constantly in pursuit to offer us His grace of forgiveness and restoration.

As for Jonah, now that he could wait in relative comfort under God's shaded protection, he was "very happy." At least for the moment, that is.

Another "Second Time"

"But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." (4:7-8)

This segment of the Jonah's journey reminds us of Elijah's run from the wicked Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-18). While Elijah was in the wilderness, he also sat under the shade of a tree. Before he ran from Jezebel for killing all the prophets of Baal, he hoped for a great revival to occur in Israel. He was profoundly disappointed and in such distress when it failed to happen that he asked God to take away his life (1 Kings 19:4).

And Jonah? He asked to die the first time because he was greatly disappointed that God did not bring destruction to his enemy. Now he was wanting to die again, the second time, because he was 'suffering' too much from the blazing sun and the scorching east wind when his protective 'shield' was gone.

There is a big difference between Elijah and Jonah: Elijah hoped for revival, but Jonah hoped for destruction.

Right now Jonah was a mess, probably lying on the ground in a fetal position! He had totally lost it. He again asked that he might be allowed to die because the little plant had "withered," thus causing him so such "discomfort."

Well, boo-hoo, Jonah!

Again God asked Jonah the same question: "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"

"I do," he (Jonah) said. "I am angry enough to die." (4:9)

Enough Already!

We have now come to the climax of Jonah's story. After patiently making allowances, time and time again, for Jonah's endless moans and groans, God had had enough. "Jonah, you've said more than enough already. It's now my turn to speak."

"You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" (4:10-11)

God was saying to Jonah, "Life is not always about you, Jonah. You cried over the death of a plant and yet you don't care about the lives of 120,000 Ninevites and their livestock. My compassion is not just for you alone but for everyone. Should I forsake the pagan Ninevites who are morally and spiritually unaware?"

The story of Jonah ended abruptly here. God’s question was left unanswered, leaving it to our imagination as to what happened after this final episode of Jonah's encounter with God.

As always, God had the last word. He also left us with a final question .......

So What? (What will I do with what I have read in this week's blog?)

As I said at the beginning of this week, the story of Jonah is filled with subtle but complex and altogether important messages that beg for reflective examination of our hearts before the Lord. It is a story about our frequent disobedience and personal power struggles with God. Above all, it is a lesson of God's overwhelming mercy, compassion and salvation for mankind, who have "all sinned and fall short of the glory of God," like Jonah.

Imagine what would happen if many of us would come together to answer God's call to go to our "Nineveh," to preach His Good News of compassion and salvation to those who do not yet know Jesus! Eternal life is not extended just to a few "chosen" ones; it is to all who willingly accept Jesus' free gift of redemption and restoration.

I pray we will all make God's concern for others our concerns. And may the compassion and love of God reign completely in our hearts! God bless you all.