Chapter 4
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• God calls the prophet to go and preach to the
wicked city of Nineveh.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• God calls the prophet to go and preach to the
wicked city of Nineveh.
• Jonah refuses and gets on a boat headed in
the opposite direction.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• God calls the prophet to go and preach to the
wicked city of Nineveh.
• Jonah refuses and gets on a boat headed in
the opposite direction.
• To change Jonah’s mind, God sends a storm
that threatens the boat and its crew – the
sailors reluctantly throw Jonah into the sea.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• God calls the prophet to go and preach to the
wicked city of Nineveh.
• Jonah refuses and gets on a boat headed in
the opposite direction.
• To change Jonah’s mind, God sends a storm
that threatens the boat and its crew – the
sailors reluctantly throw Jonah into the sea.
• God mercifully sends a great fish to swallow
Jonah, sparing his life.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• Jonah repents and is delivered from the belly
of the fish.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• Jonah repents and is delivered from the belly
of the fish.
• God again calls Jonah to go and preach to
Nineveh – this time the prophet obeys.
The Story Of Jonah (Chapters 1-3)
• Jonah repents and is delivered from the belly
of the fish.
• God again calls Jonah to go and preach to
Nineveh – this time the prophet obeys.
• Upon hearing the prophet’s message, the city
of Nineveh repents of its wickedness and God
spares it from destruction.
Jonah 4:1-4
Jonah 4:1-4
• The prophet’s original motive for rebelling
against God is finally revealed (v. 2).
Jonah 4:1-4
• The prophet’s original motive for rebelling
against God is finally revealed (v. 2).
• Jonah actually seems to use scripture in an
attempt to justify his disobedience (Ex. 34;
Num. 14; Neh. 9; Ps. 86, 103, 145; Joel 2).
Jonah 4:1-4
• The prophet’s original motive for rebelling
against God is finally revealed (v. 2).
• Jonah actually seems to use scripture in an
attempt to justify his disobedience (Ex. 34;
Num. 14; Neh. 9; Ps. 86, 103, 145; Joel 2).
• The problem is not due to a lack of
knowledge about God – Jonah knows God’s
character, but he does not like it.
Jonah 4:1-4
• Jonah’s attitude demonstrates the essence of
idolatry – trying to make God conform to the
way we want Him to be.
Jonah 4:1-4
• Jonah’s attitude demonstrates the essence of
idolatry – trying to make God conform to the
way we want Him to be.
• We cannot expect God to be merciful to us,
but then to withhold mercy from others (Mt.
5:7; Mt. 18:21-35).
Jonah 4:5-8
Jonah 4:5-8
• God appoints a plant, a worm, and a wind in
order to teach Jonah a lesson.
Jonah 4:5-8
• God appoints a plant, a worm, and a wind in
order to teach Jonah a lesson.
• As long as he is comfortable, Jonah is
“extremely happy.” As soon as he becomes
uncomfortable, he gets angry and complains.
Jonah 4:5-8
• God appoints a plant, a worm, and a wind in
order to teach Jonah a lesson.
• As long as he is comfortable, Jonah is
“extremely happy.” As soon as he becomes
uncomfortable, he gets angry and complains.
• Jonah shows greater concern for selfish
comforts than for the souls in Nineveh.
Jonah 4:5-8
• God appoints a plant, a worm, and a wind in
order to teach Jonah a lesson.
• As long as he is comfortable, Jonah is
“extremely happy.” As soon as he becomes
uncomfortable, he gets angry and complains.
• Jonah shows greater concern for selfish
comforts than for the souls in Nineveh.
• Nineveh forsakes its comforts to pursue God,
so God gives it comfort. Jonah forsakes God
to pursue his comfort, so God takes it away.
Jonah 4:9-11
Jonah 4:9-11
• Jonah’s compassion is lacking because his
perspective is lacking.
Jonah 4:9-11
• Jonah’s compassion is lacking because his
perspective is lacking.
• Technically speaking, Jonah obeys God, but
his heart does not match God’s heart.
Psalm 51:16-17 (NRSV)
“For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to
give a burnt offering, you would not be
pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a
broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O
God, you will not despise.”
Hosea 6:6 (ESV)
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt
offerings.”
Amos 5:21-24 (NASB)
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in
your solemn assemblies. Even though you
offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain
offerings, I will not accept them; and I will
not even look at the peace offerings of your
fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your
songs; I will not even listen to the sound of
your harps. But let justice roll down like
waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing
stream.”
Micah 6:6-8 (NASB)
“With what shall I come to the Lord and bow
myself before the God on high? Shall I come
to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling
calves? Does the LORD take delight in
thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of
oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my
rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the
sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what
is good; and what does the LORD require of
you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to
walk humbly with your God?”
Jonah 4:9-11
• Jonah’s compassion is lacking because his
perspective is lacking.
• Technically speaking, Jonah obeys God, but
his heart does not match God’s heart.
• We cannot “repent” simply to avoid trouble,
then go back to the way we were before.
Jonah 4:9-11
• “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh?”
Jonah 4:9-11
• “Should I not have compassion on Duluth?”
Jonah 4:9-11
• “Should I not have compassion on Duluth?”
Jonah 4:9-11
• “Should I not have compassion on Duluth?”
Jonah 4:9-11
• “Should I not have compassion on Duluth?”