Jonah 4:5-11 NLT
Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. [6] And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. [7] But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. [8] And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed. [9] Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?" "Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!" [10] Then the LORD said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. [11] But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"
This is a very strange end to the book of Jonah.
After the Lord postponed His judgement on Nineveh, Jonah waited to see if God would change His mind again.
He'd been very keen to see the city destroyed and became angry when God chose mercy after the people repented.
God's response to Jonah was intriguing and surprising.
He arranged for a shade to grow to shield him from the heat of the sun.
Anyone who has endured scorching heat will understand Jonah's plight and gratefulness for the leafy plant.
After that the Lord arranged for a worm to destroy the plant and He also called for a strong hot wind to exacerbate the sunstroke!
In the midst of his discomfort God asks him again if he's right to be angry.
Of course Jonah replies honestly.
"Angry enough to die!"
Now Jonah is angry because he is suffering!
Anger, anger at everything - Jonah is living by his feelings.
The book ends with the Lord asking Jonah to understand God's feelings - feelings of compassion towards the big city and the animals too.
In the midst of my anger have I stopped to ask how God feels towards someone who has hurt me or those I love?
Do I bathe in Jesus' forgiveness but deny others that same mercy and grace?
God's love is for all who repent.
Romans 9:15-16 NLT
For God said to Moses, "I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose." [16] So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
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