THE LORD’S CONCERN
Key verse: 11
NIV
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.(A) 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew(B) that you are a gracious(C) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,(D) a God who relents(E) from sending calamity.(F) 3 Now, Lord, take away my life,(G) for it is better for me to die(H) than to live.”(I)
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”(J)
5 Jonah had gone 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. 6 Then the Lord God provided(K) a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.(L) 8 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,(M) and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”(N)
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern(O) for the great city of Nineveh,(P) in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Footnotes
- Jonah 4:6 The precise identification of this plant is uncertain; also in verses 7, 9 and 10.
Cross references
- Jonah 4:1 : ver 4; Mt 20:11; Lk 15:28
- Jonah 4:2 : Jer 20:7-8
- Jonah 4:2 : S Dt 4:31; Ps 103:8
- Jonah 4:2 : S Ex 22:27; Ps 86:5, 15
- Jonah 4:2 : S Nu 14:18
- Jonah 4:2 : S Joel 2:13
- Jonah 4:3 : S Nu 11:15
- Jonah 4:3 : S Job 7:15
- Jonah 4:3 : Jer 8:3
- Jonah 4:4 : Ge 4:6; Mt 20:11-15
- Jonah 4:6 : S Jnh 1:17
- Jonah 4:7 : Joel 1:12
- Jonah 4:8 : S 1Ki 19:4
- Jonah 4:9 : ver 4
- Jonah 4:11 : Jnh 3:10
- Jonah 4:11 : Jnh 1:2; 3:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Jonah's Anger and the Lord's Compassion
4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,[a] and (A)he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? (B)That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a (C)gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and (D)relenting from disaster. 3 (E)Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, (F)for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, (G)“Do you do well to be angry?”
5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and (H)made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant[b] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.[c] So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 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 (I)east wind, (J)and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he (K)was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, (L)“It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, (M)“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 said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity (N)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 (O)cattle?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
Cross references
- Jonah 4:1 : [ver. 4, 9]
- Jonah 4:2 : ch. 1:3
- Jonah 4:2 : See Joel 2:13
- Jonah 4:2 : See Joel 2:13
- Jonah 4:3 : [1 Kgs. 19:4]
- Jonah 4:3 : [Eccles. 7:1]
- Jonah 4:4 : [ver. 1, 9]
- Jonah 4:5 : [Neh. 8:15]
- Jonah 4:8 : Jer. 18:17
- Jonah 4:8 : [Ps. 121:6]
- Jonah 4:8 : [Amos 8:13]
- Jonah 4:8 : [See ver. 3 above]; [Eccles. 7:1]
- Jonah 4:9 : [ver. 1, 4]
- Jonah 4:11 : See ch. 1:2
- Jonah 4:11 : [ch. 3:7]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Once again, Jonah’s heart turned dark. When he saw that the Lord had relented and would not bring about the destruction of Nineveh that Jonah expected, he thought the Lord was in the wrong. His heart must have secretly been happy to have seen the destruction of Israel’s enemies in Nineveh. But when he experienced the Lord’s mercy on that city, he became so angry, he cried out to the Lord. See? I knew this is what you would do! That is why I fled to Tarshish! You are too nice and compassionate. I’m so upset, I would rather die than live! The Lord didn’t sympathize with Jonah at all. He asked him, “Is it right for you to be angry?” The Lord pointed out Jonah’s sin to him.
Jonah had gone out of the city and sulked. Despite Jonah’s sin, God was concerned about him and provided a shady vine for him. The vine did two things. It kept Jonah comfortable, but it was also to be used as a lesson for Jonah. In the heat of the day, the Lord sent a worm to eat the stalk. Jonah lost his shade and became angry again. Then the Lord taught Jonah about his mercy, compassion, and concern for all creation (11). Our concerns are so self-centered compared to our Lord’s!
Prayer: Father, I am concerned so often about only myself and those I love. Circumcise my heart that I may be concerned with everyone, just as you are.
One Word: God is concerned with us all
