Pouting Prophet
Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Wow! Jonah still had an attitude; he obeyed but his heart had not changed. He was angry that Nineveh had repented, he wished them dead. When we are angry at someone, it does us harm. We give place to the devil, the destroyer.
Jonah 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
Jonah thought the LORD would be too soft on his enemies. If we are witnesses, it really helps if we truly love those we are witnessing to. I have seen people use the word as a hammer with no love or regard to the hearer, others are full of love and grace. What really stands out to me, is that if we proclaim God's message, it is the LORD that saves the soul. Salvation is the work of God and it most generally comes from witnessing his word. Words of love are not enough, but love draws a person to trust you and then to receive God.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jonah 4:3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Foolish talk, but from his troubled heart. It is always important to share our thoughts with God, but it doesn't make them right or acceptable. Many people are angry at God and blame him for things. Many people speak of dying or suicide in an off hand way, over really silly reasons: My boyfriend doesn't like me anymore, I am going to kill myself. Where was God when I needed him? These words are the thoughts of the spiritual enemy of God. The devil would separate us from God, bring bitterness and depression and seek to kill us. We must guard our thoughts by remembering Gods thoughts.
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Jonah 4:4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
Jonah? You better think about what you are saying. Your words are not wise or pleasing to God. Jonah ran from God because he wanted Nineveh destroyed. God has more compassion. Jonah was showing his heart.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
We dare not think that we are more special to God then others. We must be careful.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
A bad attitude and disobedience opens the door for the devil to come in and he brings destruction. Search your heart and give that which is foolish and negative to the Lord. He will give you his heart, study his word and you will have his mind.
Phil 4:6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Selfish man, merciful God
Jonah 4:5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
Jonah left the city, for perhaps they had not repented enough and maybe God would destroy this place of the enemy of Israel. Jonah was the only prophet sent outside of Israel and he was not happy doing this. He moves a few rocks and finds some shade to be comfortable. The sun is hot and his shade comforts him,
Jonah 4:6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
I do not believe the gourd just sprung up, it was the shade plant that Jonah was comfortably sitting under, waiting for the destruction of the city. Wild gourds have broad leaves, this one had climbed a stick or was especially large, starting from a small vine.
Jonah 4:7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
He rested the night and in the morning, a small worm had chewed through the vine and the plant withered. This is as us when we are separated from our Lord. We wither and have no life.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Spiritually speaking, the worm that chews our connection to the vine could be unbelief, bitterness, self will, whatever causes us to separate from the Lord. Our usefulness is withered.
Jonah 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
Weather is subject to change, each day brings its own problems or blessings, depending on our viewpoint. The hot east wind blew, there was no shade for Jonah, so hot that he fainted. He was disappointed and bitter. This small discomfort combined with Jonah's negative heart allowed the enemy to place death in his thoughts. He spoke death to himself, he "wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live."
Jonah 4:9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
God spoke to him, we hear God's voice speaking, even as the devil speaks to kill, God speaks to warn and give truth. We must listen to God's voice, he is gentle and of truth. Is it good to be so angry over that gourd? (It is a bitter fruit, worthless to eat. Are you as this gourd Jonah? Full of bitterness?) Jonah speaks his heart, yes I do well to be angry!
Jonah 4:10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
The LORD contrasts the thoughts of Jonah to his own thoughts of mercy.
Jonah 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Nineveh, in unity repented casting themselves on the mercy of the LORD, more than 120,000 persons, without discernment, convicted of their sins. They were without the Law and the prophets. They had no spiritual understanding in the things of God they were needing teachers. They called unto God for mercy and he gave it to them, even to their cattle. God uses us to reach the lost and to disciple them. We are used by God to redeem lost people and nations. This story shows that it is God that changes a heart. His word will not go forth without it accomplishing it's purpose. Will we be faithful servants or a burden to our Lord? Do we concern over our comfort and our small space without thought to the multitudes who need God's word? Let each of us pray to God that we would be a blessing to others and obedient in all that he shows us to do, Thank you Lord for the story of Jonah.
Superragman@aol.com
Jonah Chapters
Jonah 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Topical Studies
Eaglewings Testimonies