I know I promised I will tie some more Christ stuff together in chapter 3, but I feared the post was getting too long and upon reflection I thought it may be best to put it into a Jonah wrap up post after this chapter.

Jonah 4:1  But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

Remember in the last chapter the people of Nineveh repented of their wickedness, but Jonah isn’t happy despite the fact that he did a great work (through God of course).

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.

Why is he angry?  It’s not because God did something unexpected.  It’s because God did EXACTLY as Jonah knew he would.  Ponder that a moment.  Don’t over look the fact that God doesn’t change and you can rely on him.  He isn’t out to trick anyone. 1 Corinthians_14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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.

Remember why Jonah didn’t want these people saved.  They are the people that take Israel away and even to this day are scattered.  This is the 10 northern tribes and not Judah and Benjamin, they were taken by Babylon.

Jonah 4:4  Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

Is anger helping you Jonah?

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.

This booth is just a shelter maybe a tent.

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.

Now it’s time for Jonah to learn.  And I say to you when God is passing out lessons it’s good to pay attention.  I also want to say on another note that here is an example of how the Holy Spirit teaches us.  Lest you forget Jonah means Dove.

Jonah 4:7  But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it 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.

To me it looks like Jonah is acting like a child, but how often do we appear the same way to God?  Let’s look at this through Jonah’s eyes for a second.  Imagine your French and it’s 1930.  You know that Germany was going to take over your country.  Then God comes to you and says, “If Germany doesn’t repent I am going to destory it.  Go go Germany and tell them this.”  That would be hard.  Then you go and the whole country repents and God allows them to continue on course.  How could you go home again and face your kinsmen?  How could you even look your kids in the eye knowing that you helped saved the people that are going to sack your country?  Be kind of hard wouldn’t it?

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.

Let’s be thankful that God is so patient.

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:

Your upset about a gourd Jonah?  You didn’t work for it, yet you disregard the work you have done?  See what Jonah is forgetting is God is in control.  People don’t slip through the cracks.  He has a plan and he is going to work that plan because of why?  Because they didn’t listen and now they are going to get struck by lighting and fried?  No because a child needs correction.  Never ever forget: 2 Peter_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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?

The men of Nineveh didn’t know what they were doing.  They were not given the law.  God is not like man.  If you are ignorant of the law there is no sin.