Jonah 4
People tend to prefer happy endings. We want to see the underdog come out on top. We want the hero to be victorious and live to tell his tale. We want to see the couple live happily ever after. Jonah chapter 3 would have been a good, happy ending. Jonah delivered God's message and the people believed and repented and a revival started! That's a great ending! But wait, there's more! Jonah was furious.
- Anger can destroy you from the inside out (vv. 1-3). … Jonah was furious about the revival and said it would have been better if he had died than to see the Ninevites be saved. He was angry because of his hatred for the people of Nineveh.
- Outrage must move to outreach (v. 4). … God didn't ask why Jonah was angry. He knew why. Instead, God asked Jonah if he was right to be angry. What right did Jonah have to be angry about God saving these people? These people had treated others terribly, including the Israelites. Jonah couldn't bring himself to turn his outrage to outreach, but that is something we should do. When we do, we can help bring positive change to our communities instead of fueling everyone's anger and hatred.
- People matter to God because he created them (vv. 5-11). … Jonah was watching to see what would happen to Nineveh. It was hot. God had a plant quickly grow to provide some shade and comfort. Then God had a worm eat and kill the plant to take away that shade. Jonah grew hot again, inside and out. God asked him again what right he had to be angry. Could Jonah care more about that plant than he did about the people of Nineveh? Jonah cared about this plant that he had no input in creating. Why shouldn't God care about people He created? He does. It doesn't matter where they are from or what they've done, God cares for them.
Four ways to reflect on God's heart for lost people:
- Pray for Lost People by Name. … Make a list and pray for specific people who aren't saved.
- Be a Good Neighbor. … The neighborhood is a mission field. Get to know your neighbors and invite them over for food then invite them to church.
- Serve in a Frontline Ministry. … Some of us aren't around non-believers much on our regular days. So, one way to compensate for that is to find a ministry that you can serve in that will put you around those who need to be reached. Whether it's a kitchen that feeds the homeless, a crisis pregnancy, or something else, there are opportunities to serve.
- Engage in Intentional Conversations. … Wherever you are, whether shopping, eating, at the ball field, or anywhere else, know that there's a good chance that some of the people around you are lost. Try to have a conversation with one of them and point them to Jesus.
Jonah doesn't have a happy ending. We don't know if Jonah's attitude changed after this or not. A few hundred years later another man was sent on a mission to save lost people. Jesus walked the Earth among the lost and had compassion on us. Where Jonah wanted to die because he saw evil people be saved. Jesus willingly died so that any person could be saved.
For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message
- The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy by Tim Keller
- Exalting Jesus in Jonah (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) by Eric Redmond
- Man Overboard!: The Story of Jonah by Sinclair Ferguson
- A Gracious and Compassionate God: Mission, Salvation and Spirituality in the Book of Jonah by Daniel Timmer
- ESV Study Bible