Jonah Pouts. Jonah 4:1-11

Transcription

1 1 Jonah Pouts Jonah 4:1-11

2 2 Text: Jonah 4:1-11, Jonah Pouts 1. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? 5. So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 6. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 8. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. 9. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 10. Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11. And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

3 3 Introduction: I. This chapter deals almost exclusively with Jonah s disappointment, anger, and resentment because of the conversion of the Ninevites, and with the gentle persuasion of the Lord, who provided motivation for Jonah, pointing him towards a more acceptable attitude, Coffman wrote. II. Smith observed that two battles are emphasized in the book of Jonah, one for the souls of the Ninevites and one for the heart and mind of Jonah. A. Smith further wrote that God cares for all his creation including evil Gentiles and dumb animals. III. Does Jonah remind you of the forgiven but unforgiving debtor? (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown) A. Matthew 18:23-30, Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped h, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed hi an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast hi into prison, till he should pay the debt.

4 4 Commentary: Jonah 4:1, But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. I. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, greatly, and he was angry. A. Coffman further wrote, Of all people, one would think the preacher would be happy about converts! B. Coffman cited several possible reasons for Jonah s anger at God s sparing Nineveh including: 1. Deep-seated prejudice and hatred of the Gentiles on the part of Jonah. 2. Jonah recognized that the sparing of Nineveh would ultimately result in the loss of Israel s territory The conversion of Nineveh through Jonah s preaching may have ended his career as a prophet in Israel. C. This scribe wonders if Jonah were simply a spoiled, selfish, immature, sinful brat. II. Could a reason for Jonah s anger be that, if what he foretold did not come about, he would be branded a false prophet? A. Deuteronomy 18:22, When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him. B. God was merciful toward Nineveh. This made Jonah mad.

5 5 C. Shank noted that Jonah was as bitter as the elder brother who was angry over the father s mercy to a repentant sinner. 1. Luke 15:28-30, And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured the living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. III. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown surmised that Jonah wanted Nineveh to be destroyed as an example for sinful Israel leading them to repent. A. All hope of this happening was gone and Jonah was in despair. B. So much for the best laid plans of mice or men. IV. Clarke wrote that Jonah was very displeased because his prediction was not fulfilled. Jonah 4:2, And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. I. And he (Jonah) prayed unto Jehovah, and said,... A. Many who are not living in harmony with God s will may nevertheless be present everytime the church meets and will pray right along with the most saintly disciples.

6 6 B. Compare this prayer with Jonah s prayer in chapter 2. II. I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? A. Joel 2:13, And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. B. Exodus 34:6, 7, And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. III. Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish,... A. Jonah knew the word of God, but he certainly did not live as the word of God taught. B. Some who now claim to know the truth are as judgmental and mean spirited as any sinner anywhere. C. Jonah, Smith noted, fled toward Tarshish in an effort to frustrate divine grace. IV. for I knew that thou art a: A. gracious God, and The root word for gracious means to yearn for and indicates extended mercy. (Shank)

7 7 B. merciful, compassionate Shank wrote, God feels toward Israel like most mothers feel for their unborn children. C. slow to anger, and... D. abundant in loving kindness, shank wrote that this means God is intentionally seeking the best for others. 2. Psalm 145:9, The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. E. and repentest thee of the evil, relents from sending calamity (NIV) Jonah 3:8, 10, But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. 2. Jonah 4:1, But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. F. Scriptures (per Shank): 1. Exodus 34:5-7, And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for

8 8 thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 2. Joel 2:13, And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 3. Numbers 14:18, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. 4. Psalms 86:15, But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 5. Psalm 103:8, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 6. Psalm 111:4, He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 7. Psalm 112:4, Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 8. Psalm 145:8, The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy Chronicles 30:9, For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this

9 9 land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 10. Nehemiah 9:17, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and mercifrul, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 11. Nahum 1:3, The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 14. Joel 2:13, And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. G. Christians regard these divine characteristics as most admirable, but Jonah was critical of God for these very characteristics when extended to Nineveh. (Smith) Jonah 4:3, Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. I. Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me;... A. If Jonah had been really serious about ending his life, he could have committed suicide. Right? B. Was he serious or just murmuring, gripping, complaining, mouthing off, reflecting a faulty (rotten) attitude?

10 10 C. 1 Kings 19:4, But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. D. Shank observed that Elijah was worried about failing while Jonah was upset about succeeding. E. Shank also noted that God can do as he pleases. We have no right to question Him. We must decide whether or not we are going to follow Him. 1. Psalm 115:3, But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 2. Psalm 135:6, Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 3. Romans 9:20, 21, Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? F. Clarke commented, Take, I beseech thee, even my soul. Do not let me survive this disgrace. II. for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah 4:4, Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? I. And Jehovah said, Doest thou well to be angry?

11 11 A. Coffman well observed that the God who had spared sinful Nineveh now shows mercy to rebellious Jonah. 1. Is anger good for you? (Clarke) B. Coffman wrote that the Lord here gave Jonah a gentle hint that it would be advisable for him to examine himself, his own emotions and attitudes. C. Matthew 7:1-5, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. D. There is no evidence that Jonah here repented of his rotten attitude. II. Smith rightly wrote that God answered Jonah better than he deserved. Jonah 4:5, So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. I. Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and... A. Jonah had a good idea of what God was going to do; that is, have mercy on penitent Nineveh.

12 12 B. However, Jonah went out of the city and found himself a choice seat on the fifty yardline to see what would happen, to see the show. C. The east side of the city was higher in elevation and also Jonah probably entered the city on the west, preached through the city, and ended his mission on the east side of the city. D. Having finished preaching to Nineveh, Jonah went out of the city and made preparations to stay there until the forty days were over to witness God s dealings with Nineveh. II. there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade,... A. Jonah was interested in himself, very selfish, self-centered. 1. He certainly is not the only selfish person around! B. This construction of a booth reminds us of the Feast of Tabernacles and the booths which were made of poles and leaves. 1. Jonah, Coffman observed, knew of the repentance of Nineveh, but was not certain the city would be spared Samuel 12:10-14, Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the Lord, Behold,I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast

13 13 given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 3. Jonah personified the attitude of the people of Israel who hated Gentiles. 4. Jonah evidently was still looking for the destruction of Nineveh. C. Coffman stated that Jonah s leaving the penitent believers without support from the prophet, preacher was one of the worst things Jonah ever did. D. Scriptures: 1. Leviticus 23:40-43, And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. And he shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. He shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 2. Mark 9:5, And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. III. till he might see what would become of the city.

14 14 A. Imagine! God took time out of his very busy schedule to talk with rebellious, sullen, adamant Jonah. B. Genesis 19:27, 28, And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Jonah 4:6, And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. I. And Jehovah God (Elohim) prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his evil care. A. The gourd was able to provide Jonah a degree of comfort the booth could not provide. B. Coffman was of the opinion that this was a miraculous gourd, plant although some (Smith, et. al.) think it was the fast growing castor oil bean plant which grows from eight to ten feet high. Leaves were large, a foot in size. C. Jonah wanted God s grace, but he did not want that grace extended to Nineveh. II. Smith well said, The Lord was determined to rescue Jonah a second time, this time from the sea of discouragement, self-pity and depression. III. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the gourd.

15 15 A. The gourd God grew was certainly better than the booth Jonah built! B. Coffman observed that the world is filled with Jonah s who are exceedingly glad because of gourds, sports contests, a refrigerator full of beer while showing no concern for a world lost in sin. C. As Jamieson, Fausset and Brown observed, we may lose creature comforts, but God can still be there to comfort us. Jonah 4:7, But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. I. But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, when the morning sun rose the next day, and... A. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. B. The vine provided shelter for only one day. II. The worm smote the gourd that it withered. Jonah 4:8, And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. I. And it came to pass, when the blazing sun arose, that God (Elohim) prepared a sultry, scorching, hot east wind (often called a sirocco);... A. Shank observed that God sent two winds; viz., 1. one to produce a storm at sea and

16 one here to buffet Jonah. II. the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted,... A. Jonah was really upset! His air conditioner was broke! III. and requested for himself that he might die, and said,... A. Jonah had come to the point where he believed that death was better for him than life. (Smith) B. Have you ever felt that death would be better than life? 1. What were the circumstances that led to this conclusion? 2. Are there really situations faced in life in which death would be better than life? If so, name them. IV. It is better for me to die than to live. A. Jonah moaned and groaned in his immaturity when his comfort was reduced. B. Remember that this same Jonah was anxious to see all of Nineveh utterly destroyed! V. Remember Jesus despair in the Garden of Gethsemene. A. Matthew 26:36-39, Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible,

17 17 let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Jonah 4:9, And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. I. And God (Elohim) said to Jonah,... II. Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? A. God s continuous kindness to a person like Jonah is truly remarkable! B. Coffman listed other poignant Biblical questions. 1. Genesis 3:9, And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 2. Genesis 4:9, And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 3. 1 Kings 19:13, And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 4. Luke 22:48, But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 5. John 21:24, This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

18 John 5:6, When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7. Acts 22:7, And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? C. Are you more concerned about your stopped up kitchen sink or the untold thousands in Africa dying of AIDS? III. And he (Jonah) said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. A. Mixed up Jonah tried to justify himself, as so many through the ages have done. B. Jonah didn t have the right answer here! 1. God had saved Jonah from the storm at sea, Nineveh from destruction and Jonah from discomfort by the vine. 2. Jonah reminds this scribe of a statement made by a high school student from Ecuador studying in Nashville, In America you have everything, appreciate nothing. In my country you get a good education, or you beg. I m going home! 3. Smith well observed, Jonah had lost all patience with God! a. Before God have you ever acted like Jonah whom Smith refers to as a royal jerk. b. Could there possibly be any excuse for Jonah s conduct?

19 19 IV. Jonah had the gift of prophecy, but he didn t have the love of his fellow men in his heart. Jonah 4:10, Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: I. And Jehovah said, A. Thou hast had regard for the gourd, Coffman noted that Jonah s unreasonableness stands fully unmasked. 2. Jonah s selfishness lead him to be appreciative of a gourd, but produced no feeling for the vast city with its teeming population. (Coffman) B. Shank observed that God spoke five times in this book, all to Jonah. 1. Jonah 1:2, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 2. Jonah 3:2, Arise, go unto Niniveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3. Jonah 4:4, 9, Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. C. Notice Jonah s reactions to these words from God.

20 Shank noted that Jonah disobeyed, obeyed, ignored and contradicted God s word. D. for which thou has not labored, Jonah had nothing to do with bringing about the sheltering gourd. E. neither madest it grow;... F. which came up in a night, and perished in a night; this is, according to Clarke, a metaphor meaning the plant came up quickly and decayed quickly. II. Jonah certainly majored in minors! Jonah 4:11, And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? I. And should not I have regard (concern, pity) for Nineveh, that great city,... A. How wondrous is our God who asked, Should not I have pity? B. Romans 9:14, 15, What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. C. Why would God have even considered explaining himself to Jonah? II. wherein are more than 120,000 persons...

21 21 III. that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? A. The 120,000 did not encompass all the population of Nineveh, but only the young and infirm who could not make decisions on their own. (Coffman) 1. Deuteronomy 1:39, Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. B. Ninevah was much larger than 120,000. C. Smith explained that these 120,000 were spiritual children who were totally unlearned in the things of God. IV. Notice that Jonah had no answer to God s question! A. Jonah at the end of this book is still far away from God! Conclusion: 1. Did he die far away from God? I. And that is the last we hear, know of Jonah. A. Jonah was buried, according to tradition, either near Nineveh or in Gath-hepher. II. Let us pray as did the Psalmist in Psalm 80:4, O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? III. God had the last word, and he always will!

22 22 IV. God cares for all his creation, but most of all for his children. A. Matthew 6:28-30, And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

23 23 References Clarke s Commentary, Volume IV, Isaiah Malachi, Abington- Cokesbury Press, New York Nashville. Commentary on the Whole Bible, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Raussett and David Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, The Gideons International, 1979 Edition. Holy Bible, NIV, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, Holy Bible, NRSV, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 37214, James Burton Coffman Commentaries, The Minor Prophets, Joel, Amos and Jonah, ACU Press, Abilene, Texas, 1981, The College Press NIV Commentary, Minor Prophets, Volume 1, Hosea-Micah, Harold Shank, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri The Minor Prophets, James E. Smith, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin Missouri, 1994.

24 24 Questions Jonah 4: Why was Jonah greatly displeased? Why did he become angry? 2. Compare Jonah s prayer here with his prayer in chapter Compare Jonah s attitude here with his attitude in chapter Did God hear both prayers, both the one in chapter 1 and the one in chapter 4? 5. Why did Jonah attempt to flee to Tarshish?

25 Describe God s character. 7. Describe Jonah s character and attitude, disposition. 8. Why did Jonah feel it was better for him to die than to live? 9. What right did Jonah have to be angry? 10. Why did Jonah find his way to the east side of the city?

26 What did Jonah do on the east side of the city? Why did he do this? 12. Why did God provide a vine for Jonah? What kind of plant was this? 13. What made Jonah very happy? Did he have his priorities right? Do you have your priorities in the right order? 14. List all the miracles cited in the book of Jonah?

27 What made Jonah very unhappy? 16. What makes you very unhappy? Does this indicate your priorities are right or wrong? 17. Why would God take time out of his very busy day to talk with the likes of Jonah? 18. Why would God take timeout of his very busy day to show an interest in the likes of us? 19. How did God afflict Jonah?

28 Did Jonah have a right to be angry about the vine? Explain your answer. 21. What connection is there between anger and death? See verse Compare and contrast Jonah s concern with the vine and God s concern for Nineveh. 23. What should we be concerned about? 24. What are we most concerned about? Really concerned.

29 What was the population of Nineveh? How many of them couldn t tell their right hand from their left hand? What does this expression mean? Who were these people?