IS IT RIGHT?
Key verse: 4
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
God’s compassion towards the Ninevites seemed very wrong to Jonah. He was so angry at God’s decision to save the Ninevites from destruction that he wanted to die. Jonah was looking forward to the day when his enemies would be put to shame and be laid low. Jonah was still waiting to see if God would change his mind, so he watched to see if anything would happen to the city.
God gave Jonah a lesson from a plant that gave shade to Jonah and then died just as quickly as it came up. In the same way that Jonah cared for this short-lived plant, God cared so much more for the many people and animals in Nineveh.
The book of Jonah challenges us, even as believers, to recognize God’s love for even those we deem unredeemable. Moreover, it challenges us to recognize that we often create our own versions of God that may or may not reflect who God is. May our hearts and minds be open to learn more about God’s expansive love for all.
Prayer: Lord, I can be stubborn in my own thoughts. Help me to be open to know you more and accept your love and grace for all.
One Word: Turn anger into compassion
