JONAH 4 THE POUTING PROPHET Best of Both

JONAH 4 . . . THE POUTING PROPHET

Best of Both Worlds “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ” (2 Pet 1: 3 ESV)

God’s Simple Request …“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. ” (Jonah 1: 2) • Prodigal Prophet (Chapter 1) • Praying Prophet (Chapter 2) • Preaching Prophet (Chapter 3) • Pouting Prophet (Chapter 4)

Big Idea “…because God, by His grace and mercy finds pleasure and is glorified in saving repentant sinners, we His people must find our joy and pleasure in actively being engaged in His redemptive plan. ”

JONAH 4: 1 -11. . . THE POUTING PROPHET

JONAH 4: 1 -4. . . Jonah's Angry Prayer About God's Mercy

Jonah 4: 1 “ 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. ” Contrast to the great revival of chapter 3: 10… “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. ” (Jonah 3: 10 ESV)

Jonah 4: 1 “ 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. ” Jonah reacts with exceeding displeasure. – Disapproved and offended, to an extreme degree – Anger, or slow kindling fire producing a burning sensation in the throat

Jonah 4: 2 “ 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. ”” This extreme displeasure was caused by, according to Jonah, God being God!

Why Did Jonah Hate the Ninevites? Jonah, a prophet of God, did not understand, along with his people… 1. Israel, was the vehicle that God was using to call a people to himself, not just Jews, but also the gentle world. 2. They became very inward focused in their understanding as to who has a right to God’s mercy and grace.

How Does God View the Wicked? “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? ” (Ezekiel 33: 11 ESV)

Jonah 4: 3 -4 “ 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? ”” …like Elijah's prayer (1 Kings 19: 4), – self-righteous perspective – disgust with life because things didn't happen the way they thought

JONAH 4: 5 -11. . . Jonah’s Object Lesson About God’s Mercy

Jonah 4: 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. ” Jonah still seems to be hoping that God's Judgment will fall upon Nineveh, and longs to be there to see it happen.

God’s Four Appointed Objects In The Book Of Jonah… “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. ” (Jonah 1: 17 ESV) “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. ” (Jonah 4: 6 ESV)

God’s Four Appointed Objects In The Book Of Jonah… “ 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. ” (Jonah 4: 7– 8 a ESV)

Jonah’s Reaction “And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live. ”” (Jonah 4: 8 b ESV) As long as the God’s mercy through the plant benefitted Jonah, he was exceedingly glad. But, rock his world with circumstances that no longer benefit him, he wants to give up and die.

God’s Wrap-up “ 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 God equates the level of comfort the plant said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not provided Jonah with the level of comfort sinners labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into who repent of their waysinprovided 11 God. being in a night andsinful perished a night. for 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? ”” (Jonah 4: 9– 11 ESV)

So What? . . .

So What? 1. God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 2. Because God is who He is, God pursues His lost people relentlessly, and will stop at nothing until they are in His fold.

So What? 3. Life is not about us, it’s about God and His plan…not our comfort, but His glory…it’s God’s “gig” not ours! 4. We as God’s people must find our joy and satisfaction in being used by God for His purpose.