So far, in the first three chapters, Jonah looks bad. He receives clear instruction from God to go to Nineveh, but runs. God tries to get his attention with a storm, but he sleeps. God sends a non-Christian captain to convict him, but he doesn’t listen. God uses a pagan dice game to call him out, so he asks to get thrown overboard. Jonah nearly drowns, but God graciously rescues him. Finally, after getting spit up on the beach, covered in fish puke, Jonah gets the idea that there’s no avoiding God so he goes to Nineveh, preaches an unspectacular five word sermon, the entire city falls on its face before God, repents of their sin and God relents from the promised disaster.

But, instead of getting better, it gets worse for Jonah in chapter four. Here we learn of Jonah’s initial motivation for running from God. Jonah knew that God is a “gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (4:2, cf. Ex 34:6-7), and he couldn’t stand the thought of Nineveh being forgiven its sins and accepted by God. Therefore, after leading one of the greatest revivals of in history, Jonah becomes angry with God for offering grace and mercy to these wicked, violent unbelievers, even after his great declaration, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” (2:9). God then patiently and graciously uses a series of questions and an object lesson to point out Jonah’s great self-centeredness and self-righteousness, being more concerned for a mere plant, and his own comfort, than the souls of an entire city (not to mention the cows!).

Jonah’s heart is revealed. Jonah likes God’s blessings when they’re in his favor, he prefers personal comfort over others coming into relationship with Jesus Christ, and he forgets that he is no different than the Ninevites. Jonah elevates the blessings that God has given him to enjoy (i.e. salvation, shady plant, etc), above God, and then advises God on how best to distribute such blessings to others. We do the same thing, acting just as self-centered and self-righteous. This chapter challenges us to assess our lives in Seattle and ask whether we’re more concerned for our personal well being than the spiritual well being of this great city.

Questions for application:

• What are the “shady plants” in your life?
• Are you more concerned with them than with getting to know and love Jesus?
• What are you willing to give up for the sake of others knowing Jesus?
• Do you know and feel that you are no different than anyone else in this city?
• Who are 3-5 people in your life that God wants you to love on, pray for, and point to Jesus?

Check out the notes here: JONAH 4:1-11 | THE GOD OF THIS CITY

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