SCRIPTURE: JONAH 4
JONAH’S ANGER AT THE LORD’S COMPASSION (vs. 1-11)
Jonah was angry why God did not judge Nineveh. He told the Lord to take away his life. Then he went out and sat down under a vine with shade. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, the vine died and the east wind and sun blazed on Jonah’s face. he was very angry why the vine died. The Lord said: “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine? You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (vs. 9-11)
THOUGHTS:
Jonah had run away from God and refused to go to Nineveh because he wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. When the people repented and no judgment was done to them, Jonah wanted to die. But Jonah had forgotten God’s mercy to him when he was inside the fish. Jonah was happy when God saved him but angry when Nineveh was saved. God’s mercy is not limited to Israel alone. It extends to all who repent and believe in Him.