This is a synopsis of a series on Jonah that was presented at summer camp.
Part 7 of 7:
THE GREAT QUESTION (Jonah 4:5-11)
In this final section we find Jonah outside and alone, waiting. He is angry and sulking. God in his mercy continues to reach out to Jonah! God provides a plant that grows up and provides Jonah with comfort and shade. Jonah goes from being EXCEEDINGLY MAD to EXCEEDINGLY GLAD--over a plant that makes him comfortable.
There is a lot of lessons in this episode, but a main one is this; How human happiness is so driven by self-focus. Jonah is mad at God when he doesn't get what he wants. Jonah is happy with God when God provides. It's all about Jonah. Sin does this. Sin makes us blind and small minded. Sin also makes us self-centered.
We see that God, in his sovereignty, doesn't let Jonah rest in his comfort. The next day God sends a worm to eat the plant along with a scorching wind and hot sun to make Jonah uncomfortable. Again we see that God is in control of events. God gives both comfort and brings discomfort. In all of this it is for Jonah's good. It is to grow him and move him beyond himself.
Jonah doesn't see it that way.
Again God asks Jonah if he has a right to be angry? Is he being wise and sensible in his approach to these events? Jonah responds is essence, that he would rather give up his life than give into God,"It is better for me to die than to live."
Really? Here is a man who has a history of being a successful prophet of God. He had the privilege of giving a popular word in 2 Kings 14, he experienced God's undeserved mercy and deliverance from the whale, he was given a fresh start and a second chance to complete the work the LORD gave him. Jonah was used by God despite his failings to bring hope to his enemies. He was comforted in his anger. He was blessed, forgiven and shown mercy upon mercy. And he is ready to give it up-- over a plant that made him comfortable?
The story tightens around these two competing points. For Jonah everything comes down to the reoccurring anger and death wish arising from his own personal discomfort and displeasure. For God, He ignores Jonah's request and instead brings everything back to the issue of extending pity, compassion and mercy to others.
The story reaches these conclusions on this question: "You pity a plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night...and should I not pity Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also much cattle?"
The End.
Jonah's tale is done and it leaves us hanging? What happens to Jonah? What happens to Ninevah? Does Jonah make it back home? What happens to the cattle? We don't know.
But the point is this. Is Jonah right to be angry and not compassionate about Ninevah? Does he finally move beyond himself? Does he embrace God's grace and allow it to finally transform his angry, wandering and bitter heart? Does Jonah repent?
These questions all arise and we are left hanging.
Except we aren't.
These questions are designed to lead the reader to ask: Is my heart more in line with God's purpose or with Jonah's pain? In what ways is my life small minded, selfish, and blinded by sin? How is the gospel-the good news of God's continuous and surprising grace- exploding life and transforming my heart?
As we wrap this up, Jonah has given a sense of the greatness of God's ways as compared to the smallness of selfishness. One is left with a sense of the greatness of these three things:
1. Our Sin
2. God's Grace
3. God's Mission
To God alone be the glory-- or to echo the words of Jonah in the belly of the whale, "Salvation belongs to the LORD."
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