The Night Of Self-Imposed Misery

JONAH’S NIGHT OF SELF-IMPOSED MISERY

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. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, 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?” - Jonah 4:10-11

Introduction

One of the first stories we learn as children is the story of Jonah and the Big Fish. But the story about Jonah that we remember is seldom the whole story.

Jonah is one of the minor prophets, only 48 verses long.

-It is not a book about a fish (only mentioned 4 times).

-It is not a book about a city (mentioned 9 times).

-It is not a book about a prophet.

-It is a book about God (mentioned 23 times).

1. Jonah Can Be Summarized in Good and Bad Ideas!

Good Idea: Be A Person God Can Call Upon (1:1-2) Most of what we know about Jonah is not good. God saw something in him that caused him to ask Jonah to take on this missionary task.

Bad Idea: Try running away from God (1:3). We are three verses into this story and we already see the character of Jonah.

Good Idea: Take a Nap When you’re Tired (1:4). Jonah was exhausted from running away from God. He must have been tired because he slept through a violent storm.

Bad Idea: Volunteer to be thrown overboard (1:7-17). Some suggest he understood this to be a suicidal request. Instead of death, he was swallowed by a giant fish.

Good Idea: When in Belly of Fish, Repent! (2:1-9) People often make decisions to follow God in tough times.

Bad Idea: Get Vomited up on a beach (2:10) No need to explain. Everything came out ok.

Good Idea: Preach Condemnation like you believe it (3:1-4). Jonah preached condemnation and wrath of God with enough energy that they heard and repented. Even their cows were in sack cloth!

Bad Idea: Complain when people repent (3:5-4:3) - Jonah was unhappy that they escaped God’s wrath. God sent a vine to give him shade (4:4-8). This is the only moment in the book when Jonah seems happy. God sent a worm to eat up the vine. Jonah doubled down on his right to complain (4:9-11).

God rebuked Jonah and the story ends without resolution. There are many sad things about this unhappy story. Jonah missed out on several excellent opportunities because of his attitude.

- A NIGHT OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES -

1. The opportunity to take joy in God’s Love for All (1-5)

Verse 2 - Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving. Within the Fish he prayed. Jonah 2:8-9 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

But when God’s love is extended to the Ninevites, it filled him with anger. This was more than just an unhappiness to Jonah. The ESV footnote says, "it was exceedingly evil to Jonah". Strange, the pagans are in harmony with God but Jonah is not.

Does Jonah’s response in these verses change the way you have understood his actions in the first three chapters of the book? If so, how?

Jonah was bitter and angry because he knew the nature of God, but still wanted Him to be

different. What kind of God do you suppose Jonah wanted? Jonah hates how God has been

true to his own word. He sits in judgment of God himself. Do you think people today are ever disappointed by God’s grace? Can you think of a situation in which they might want the same God Jonah desired?

God refers to Ninevah as a ‘great city’ - a place where there were thousands of people he cared about. How we depend on the compassionate heart of God! John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

2. The opportunity to Appreciate turning an Entire City to God (3:6-10)

This is the third time Jonah has said he wanted to die! Do you think he is truly suicidal, or would

you use another word to describe Jonah? What word did God use? ??In the Dead Sea Scrolls "edition" of Jonah there is a pause here for the reader. We are meant to gasp and linger in silence over the implications of Jonah’s actions!

The wickedness of this city cannot be overstated! Ninevah was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were infamous for their cruelty in war. The only sin mentioned about them was violence (3:8). Inscriptions have been found in which Assyrian kings boast of their cruelty. Jonah hated them.