Attitude Check!
Jonah 4:1-11
I became a Christian when I was 15 years old, and I got involved with the Baptist church youth group right away. During this time, our youth group went to an event where the speaker challenged us to have positive attitudes. After this event, whenever someone made a negative comment, someone from the group would shout out a hearty “attitude check.” This was a great reminder to stay positive and keep our attitude in line.
Today, we get to witness God giving Jonah an attitude check. Join me as we open to Jonah chapter 4 and watch the interaction between God and Jonah.
The Prophet’s Problem
Jonah 4:1-11
1. Jonah’s Prayer (4:1-3)
Jonah 4:1-3: “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’”
Before we dive into Jonah’s prayer, let’s first consider the immense power of the repentance that took place in Nineveh. The whole city was caught up in repentance, which reflects the transformative power of God’s Word. This change was a direct result of God’s message, which was true, personal, and divinely inspired.
However, Jonah was bothered by Nineveh’s repentance. He was not concerned about the city’s salvation but rather the threat to Israel’s supremacy. Jonah had left the city, still hoping for its destruction, even though he had delivered God’s message. His prayer was an attempt to manipulate God into carrying out the judgment Jonah had hoped for.
When Jonah describes God as “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love,” he is quoting Exodus 34:6-7. However, he omits the latter part of verse 7, which says, “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Jonah misused Scripture for his own purposes, twisting it to justify his anger rather than seeking to be changed by it.
How often do we do the same? We cherry-pick Scriptures that align with our worldview while ignoring the parts that challenge us to change. If we use Scripture to justify ourselves instead of transforming our hearts, we’ve missed the point entirely. Jonah’s problem was not just his view of Nineveh, but his misplaced priorities. He valued Israel over God, and as a result, he was angry.
2. God’s Response (4:4-11)
Jonah 4:4-11: “But the Lord replied, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade, and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, ‘It would be better for me to die than to live.’ But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’ ‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.’ But the Lord said, ‘You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?’”
Jonah, after witnessing Nineveh’s repentance, goes outside the city, sits in a shelter, and waits to see if God would still destroy it. Jonah’s position reveals that he wasn’t truly interested in the salvation of Nineveh, but in their judgment. He hoped for disaster.
In the following verses, God provides a plant to shade Jonah, but it quickly withers after Jonah’s satisfaction. Jonah is upset, demonstrating his selfish attachment to the temporary comfort provided by the plant. God uses this moment to confront Jonah’s misplaced priorities. God had concern for Nineveh—just as Jonah was concerned for his own comfort. Through this, God makes Jonah reflect on his attitudes, revealing the inconsistency between his feelings of mercy toward the plant and his desire for Nineveh’s destruction.
The last words in Jonah 4:11 are significant. When God says, “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” He is showing Jonah that his lack of mercy extends even to animals, pointing out Jonah’s failure to extend compassion even to creatures whom most people would sympathize with.
Ultimately, the story of Jonah isn’t about a great fish or a great city; it’s about God’s pursuit of Jonah’s heart. God was trying to teach Jonah to place Him first, to see the world through God’s eyes, and to extend mercy to those who are undeserving, just as God has done for us.
Discussion Questions:
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Jonah’s anger towards Nineveh’s repentance reflects a deeper issue of misplaced priorities. What might be some modern-day idols that can interfere with our relationship with God and others?
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How do we sometimes twist Scripture to fit our own preferences or agendas, instead of allowing it to challenge and transform us?
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Jonah’s struggle with mercy toward Nineveh is akin to the parable of the unmerciful servant. How can we practice extending mercy and forgiveness in our own lives?
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When Jonah’s identity was threatened by external circumstances (like his running or his workout routine), he became angry. Have you experienced times when your identity was threatened? How did you respond?
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In Jonah’s story, God teaches him that He has concern for all people, not just those we deem deserving. How can we cultivate a heart that sees others as God sees them, especially those who are different from us?