(REFLECTIONS ON Jonah 4:1-11)

What was Jonah’s initial problem? Was it that he did not hear the Lord clearly? Was it that he was confused what the Lord wanted him to do? No, it was that he processed what the Lord commanded him to do through himself. Jonah made it about him, rather than about God.

Only after Jonah experienced that salvation comes from the Lord was he willing to surrender himself to God’s command. But once God’s mercy extended beyond Jonah and toward Nineveh, Jonah came back to himself.

1 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”

Interestingly, this is the thing that saved Jonah, that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, one who relents concerning calamity, but it also became Jonah’s complaint.

Yes, salvation comes from the Lord for Jonah, it is a Hallelujah moment, but when it is comes to Nineveh, it leads to a displeased and angry heart.

The Lord then led Jonah through a faith lesson using a plant that provided shade for him, that Jonah had compassion on even though it was God’s mercy and grace, not something that Jonah planted or worked for. The story then ends without resolution asking us to ponder this question for ourselves.

Do we love God being gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity, when it is related to us and our loved ones, but not when it is poured upon our enemies or those who have hurt us?

Are we angry at God for how he deals with His creation, because like Jonah, we filter God through our own hearts and minds, and forget who we are and who He is?

Back to me is what led Jonah to be angry at the character of God despite being his salvation. Back to me also reminds us to consider if we filter our faith, our beliefs, and God through our own hearts and minds, rather than giving Him complete authority as the Creator?

The question for us as it was for Jonah is, can I rejoice in God’s mercy when God gives it to someone I believe deserves judgment?

Father God, help us to live a life of faith that turns towards You, the cross of Jesus Christ, rather than taking you, the cross, Jesus Christ and pulling it back to me.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Jonah 4