Jonah Rebels Again

A. JONAH REBELS AGAIN: JONAH 4:1-5

1. How mad was Jonah? “Exceedingly . . . very angry” (4:1). The wicked heart gets mad at the wrong thing (repenting heathen) and the wrong person (God).

a. Lost control of himself.

b. Violent expression.

2. Wrong prayer. “So he complained to the Lord, ‘Didn’t I say before I left home for Tarshish that you would do this’” (4:2, NLT).

a. He doesn’t want revival.

b. He wants Ninevah punished.

c. Protect his reputation to announce judgment.

3. Jonah quotes scripture (some backsliders know the Bible, so Jonah knew God was merciful. “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). Jonah said, “Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (4:2).

4. Third time Jonah wants to die. “Take I beseech thee my life from me” (4:3; 1:12). What kind of person has a death wish?

5. “Jonah went out of the city” (4:5). This was probably the 40th day since Jonah announced judgment. Backsliders don’t have spiritual insight and compassion.

6. “Made a booth” (4:5). More concerned with the heat on his head, than fire judgment on people. Backsliders have misplaced priorities.

7. “Till he might see” (4:5). Perhaps Jonah thought God would repent again and judge the city, since God had previously “repented” (3:10).

8. “God prepared a plant” (4:6).

a. God still cares for Jonah.

b. God uses little things to accomplish His will.

c. Nature serves the Creator’s purpose.

d. Probably a castor oil bush symbolic of Jonah’s medicine.

e. We probably don’t know all the good things God does for us.

9. “God prepared a worm” (3:7).

a. The plant was designed to serve God’s purpose.

b. Sometimes God takes away our comfort to get our attention.

c. We like Jonah are more concerned with physical things than with lost people.

10. “God prepared a vehement east wind” (4:8). This punishment was God’s plan.

a. God can let the laws of nature accomplish His will.

b. God can override the laws of nature with deliverance or punishment.

Look at What God Prepared

* Great wind (1:4) beginning.

* Great fish (1:11).

* Plant (4:6).

* Worm (4:7).

* Vehement east wind (4:8) ending.

11. “Better for me to die” (4:8). Jonah should pray for the revival, or for the Ninevahites, but he is dejected in self-pity.

12. God’s pattern is to ask questions, not condemn. “Is it right for you to be angry?” (4:9).

What Made Jonah Angry?

1. No fire and brimstone.

2. His prophecy didn’t happen, i.e., embarrassment.

3. His comfort taken away.

4. He is convicted of his sin.

13. We need to see as God sees.

a. A plant has no soul.

b. God sees eternal souls – “More than 120,000 souls” (4:11, ELT).

14. What does the 120,000 represent?

a. Babies before the age of accountability.

b. Youth after age of accountability.

c. Total population of city.

15. Does God give a second chance to those who reject Him after they have already had a previous “second chance”?

a. Yes, God gives many chances to repent. “Jesus said, ‘Forgive seventy times seven’” (Matt. 18:22, ELT). It doesn’t mean 490 times then smash them. Seven is a perfect number meaning forgive continually.

b. Second chance based on God’s love, patience, and mercy.

16. How many chances did God give Jonah? Four.

a. God called the first time (1:2).

b. He ran to Tarshish (1:3).

c. God called a second time (3:1). He preached but pouted (4:1).

d. God called a third time through a plant, a worm, and hot wind (4:6-8), yet Jonah prayed to die (4:9).

e. God called Jonah to write a book – Jonah obeyed and wrote as an example.

17. What can we learn from Jonah’s experience?

a. God’s love for all people.

b. Many struggle with God’s call.

c. The messenger must die to self before he/she can be used of God.

d. God does not give up when we first resist him.

e. God warns of approaching doom.

f. There are some servants of God who would rather hate than love.