Jonah: the pursuit of Jonah
Jonah • Sermon • Submitted
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Repentance of Nineveh
importance of discomfort
end goal is the turn from evil
as they relented God relented
QUESTION: Wh
The pursuit of Jonah
The pursuit of Jonah
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Why is Jonah so angry at God’s show of mercy?
Because all the trouble he went through
endangering his prophetic career because destruction doesn’t come
thought that the destruction of Nineveh would be a warning to Israel to repent and turn
Israel was in a time of prosperity so there was little reliance on God
Jonah lacked maturity
evidence by swinging commitment
Didn’t understand God’s divine judgement
V.2 Jonah highlights the qualities of god that are so compelling to follow Him, but he does so as if it is a mark against Him.
Jonah is frustrated at the very attributes he is receiving from God.
3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
Irony of Jonah
fled from god ch 1
praised god for saving his life ch 2
prays to God to take his life ch 4
QUESTION: Without know the story…How would you envision God responding to this statement of Jonah?
take him OUT
4 Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
What does God’s response say about God?
God is extremely long suffering and patient with us.
He wants us to grow and mature in our relationship with Him
He wants us to experience the very qualities of Him, that we are to share with others.
What is God trying to accomplish through His questioning.
God desires for Jonah to pause and reflect…He is turning Jonah inward to the condition of his heart.
This is the most challenging place to go when we are frustrated and at odds with God, a situation or with someone else. We become tunnel visioned…unable to see the bigger issues.
Jonah couldn’t see the bigger issue of God’s divine mercy and judgement.
Jonah couldn’t see the maturing he needed to do
God is working on both Jonah and the Nineveh
5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
While Jonah was prompted by God to turn inward towards his emotions, Jonah insisted to look outward.
So He focused on Nineveh hoping judgement would come and vindication along with it.
6 So the Lord God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant.
7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”
How would you characterize Jonah in these verse?
St. Cyril of Alexandria describes Jonah as an immature child who’s emotions are erratic
‘extremely happy’
‘then he wished death for himself’
St. Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on the Twelve Prophets, Volume 2 Commentary on Jonah, Chapter Four
The unsophisticated mind is very easily disposed to both distress and satisfaction; you will see the accuracy of my comment if you observe the ways of infants, who often get upset at something of no consequence and weep loudly at nothing
When we do not grow in our understanding of God, however limited it will always be, we struggle to see the hand of God. We don’t catch on to what He is doing in our lives or around us. When we don’t see a big picture, we become hyper-reactive to the immediate events.
St. Cyril of Alexandria: Commentary on the Twelve Prophets, Volume 2 Commentary on Jonah, Chapter Four
The mind that is not resilient is likewise easily disposed to an influence from whatever delights it or naturally distresses it.2
Spiritual resiliency: The ability to take the ups and down of a spiritual journey without loosing sight of what is important. Resiliency is a function of spiritual maturity....not easily shaken
10 But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?
In v.9 the lord conveys tenderness and longsuffering with Jonah…In v.10 He takes a posture of forcefulness in driving His point home, which Jonah might finally be in a position to hear.
God was using all the events of the book to prime Jonah for one of the key messages of the book.
Jonah is clearly at a broken state, feeling like he just can’t win.
When we are broken then we are more likely to listen.
God’s main points
God judgement is reserved for God alone
He has a heart for everyone