THE BOOK OF JONAH

(“An Angry Prophet”)


Jonah 3:1 – 4:5 (NASU)


3:10“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. 4:1But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. 4:2He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity’”

(Jonah 3:10 – 4:2)



  1. CHAPTER THREE VERSE TEN – NINEVEH REPENTS AND GOD RELENTS

(1) In recent weeks we’ve been doing a verse-by-verse study of the Book of Jonah, starting particularly in chapter three – and tonight we’re going to continue that format into chapter four. But first, I want to revisit chapter three, verse ten, which says: “When God saw their deeds, that they (i.e. the people of Nineveh) turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it” (c.f. Jonah 3:10).

(2) Because of their great “wickedness” (c.f. Jonah 1:2; 3:8), the Lord sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of destruction (c.f. Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2), which can be summarized by the words: “… Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (c.f. Jonah 3:4). While most people ignore such warnings (c.f. Genesis 19:14; Exodus 9:20-21), and even laugh at them, the Ninevites responded with faith, repentance and prayer – for verse five (of chapter three) says: “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God … called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them” (c.f. Jonah 3:5) – while verse eight tells us the king of Nineveh issued a proclamation exhorting his people to “… call on God earnestly … (and) turn from (their) wicked way(s) and from the violence which (was) in (their) hands” (c.f. Jonah 3:8).

(3) It’s important to note that this was not some kind of blind, knee-jerk response on the part of the king and his subjects. Rather, it was based on a rudimentary (but important) understanding of God’s character – in this instance, that the God of judgment and justice is also a God of mercy and compassion – or as Jonah says in chapter four verse two, that God is “… gracious and compassionate … slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity” (c.f. Jonah 4:2). Hence, the king said (in chapter three verse nine): “Who knows, God may (respond to our repentance and faith, by) turn(ing) and relent(ing) and withdraw(ing) His burning anger (from us) so that we will not perish” (c.f. Jonah 3:9). And, of course, in chapter three verse ten we find that’s exactly what God did (c.f. Jonah 3:10).

(4) It’s important to reiterate what we said last time about “God relenting”, and NOT destroying the city and citizens of Nineveh, like He originally said He would (c.f. Jonah 3:10). Scripture repeatedly tells us that God does not change – that He does not change His mind the way we often do – that He doesn’t say one thing, and then do another – that the immutable God does not “mute” (c.f. Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6). And yet, here in Jonah chapter three verse ten, that’s exactly what He appears to have done. Through the prophet Jonah God said He was going to destroy Nineveh within the next forty days (c.f. Jonah 3:4) – and then, He didn’t do it (c.f. Jonah 3:10)! How do we explain this – especially in light of all those Scripture passages that tell us God does not change?

(5) The theological tension you and I have to accept and learn to live with is this: whenever God relents (as He obviously did in the case of the people of Nineveh – c.f. Jonah 3:10), He always does so in keeping with His immutable character and unchanging promises. (Let me say that again – Whenever God relents, He always does so in a manner that’s consistent with His immutable character and unchanging promises.)

Now that may sound like double-talk – but it’s not. What we’re saying is that God never acts in manner that’s contrary to His nature – nor does He ever break His promises. Hence, to show mercy and compassion (c.f. Jonah 4:2) to sinful people who don’t deserve it, is totally in keeping with everything we know about God’s character (otherwise, you and I would never have been saved!). Likewise, in the case of the people of Nineveh, the fact God relented concerning the calamity He said He was going to bring upon them, is in keeping with a promise He made in the Book of Jeremiah, which says: 7“At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; (but) 8if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it” (c.f. Jeremiah 18:7-8).

That’s exactly what God did in the case of the people of Nineveh – which means he did NOT act randomly or capriciously – NOR did He change His mind or His plans, the way you and I often change ours. Instead, when the Ninevites repented, God relented – just like He said He would. When they “turned from their wicked way(s)” (c.f. Jonah 3:10), God turned away from His threat to destroy them within forty days – in keeping with His unbreakable promise. We see, then, that the people of Nineveh changed, but God did not – He remained immutable in His character and promises – and unchanging in the way He deals with sinful human beings.

This great truth regarding God’s unchangeable nature should be an encouragement for lost sinners to turn to Christ in repentance and faith – especially since Scripture says He will never turn away anyone who comes to Him in that manner (c.f. John 6:37). It should also be an encouragement for us Christians who have sinned (and who among us has not?) (it should be an encouragement for us) to confess our sins, and seek God’s cleansing and forgiveness of those sins – because we have His immutable promise that if we will confess our sins, He will cleanse us and forgive us of them all (c.f. I John 1:9).

(6) Before we leave this verse (i.e. Jonah 3:10) and move into chapter four, we should note that Jesus drew upon the repentance of the Ninevites to drive home an important point regarding those who choose to reject Him as their Savior. We observed in an earlier message that our Lord drew a parallel between Jonah’s experience in the stomach of a great fish (c.f. Jonah 1:17) and His own “three days and three nights” in the grave (c.f. Matthew 12:40) – thereby declaring that what happened to Jonah was not only a historical fact, it also served as a prophetic picture of His own death, burial, and resurrection.

What we haven’t mentioned yet is that Jesus also said (in that same context, found in Matthew chapter twelve) that: “The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here” (c.f. Matthew 12:41) – i.e. Jesus said that the Ninevites, who repented at the preaching of Jonah, will add their voices to the condemnation of the people living in His “generation” who did not repent at His preaching – that “at the judgment”, those who repented as a result of the preaching of a lesser prophet (namely, Jonah), will bear witness against those who did not repent as a result of the preaching of a far “greater” prophet (namely, Jesus) (c.f. Matthew 12:41)!1

(7) Nor can lost people living after the time of our Savior (including today) escape a similar condemnation – for the Book of Hebrews reminds us that even though 1“God … spoke long ago … (through) the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2IN THESE LAST DAYS (i.e. which includes the days we are living in) (c.f. II Timothy 3:1-5; James 5:1-3) (in these last days He) has spoken to us (through) His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, (and) through whom also He made the world” (c.f. Hebrews 1:1-2).

People in earlier generations, prior to the coming of Christ, only had the prophets to listen to – but we have the Son of God – hence, those who reject the greater Messenger will suffer greater condemnation. People in earlier generations only had a portion of the Scriptures, or in some instances no Scriptures at all, to read and study – but we have the completed Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments – hence, those who have access to a greater portion of God’s word, but still reject His message of salvation through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, will suffer greater condemnation.

All this is in keeping with a principle found in Scripture that says: “… Everyone who has been given much will be responsible for much. (And) Much more will be expected from the one who has been given more” (c.f. Luke 12:47, ICB). Ignorance is only an excuse when there is no opportunity to know what God requires.2 On the other hand, to ignore the opportunities God does give (i.e. to know what He requires) only compounds a person’s guilt. Hence, no one in Alamogordo (for example) will be able to stand before God in the day of judgment and plead ignorance as their excuse – because they all had ample and numerous opportunities to attend churches where God’s word was being faithfully preached.

The people living in and around Jerusalem during Jesus’ day had a greater opportunity than the people living in and around Nineveh during Jonah’s day – hence, our Savior said the latter will stand up and testify against the former in the day of judgment (c.f. Matthew 12:41).


  1. CHAPTER FOUR VERSE ONE – JONAH’S

DISPLEASURE AND ANGER

(1) We come, now, to the first verse of Jonah chapter four, where we’re told: “But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry” (c.f. Jonah 4:1). The wording used here literally means Jonah consider it “a great evil”7 – hence, the idea is that Jonah wasn’t “displeased” a little he was displeased a lot! He wasn’t just a little bit “angry”, he was VERY angry!7

The word “it” obviously refers to what happened in the previous verse – namely, that “… God relented concerning the calamity … He had declared he would bring upon (the city and citizens of Nineveh). And … did not do it” (c.f. Jonah 3:10) – choosing to show them “compassion and lovingkindness” instead (c.f. Jonah 4:2), because they repented of their wicked ways (c.f. Jonah 3:8, 10). It was this turn of events that “greatly displeased Jonah” (c.f. Jonah 4:1) – it was this turn of events that made him “angry” (c.f. Jonah 4:1) – it was this turn of events that Jonah looked upon as “a great evil”.7

(2) Some think Jonah became “angry” (c.f. Jonah 4:1) because of how all this made him look – i.e. because God’s decision not to “overthrow” Nineveh (c.f. Jonah 3:4) made him look like a false or lying prophet.3 But I don’t think that was the case at all – I don’t think Jonah was concerned one iota about his reputation as a prophet (especially in the eyes of the Ninevites). He was “angry” (c.f. Jonah 4:1) because God showed the wicked Assyrians mercy and compassion (c.f. Jonah 4:11) – he was “displeased” (c.f. Jonah 4:1) because God chose to spare the Assyrians instead of destroying them (c.f. Jonah 3:10) – in fact, he considered it “a great evil.”7

And if we inquire as to why this particular display of God’s kindness and forgiveness angered Jonah so much, a potential answer is found elsewhere in Scripture – one we’ve mentioned in earlier messages – namely, that (at this particular point in world history) the Assyrians were a major threat to Israel’s national security. Moreover, other prophets were predicting that the Assyrians (who had a well-deserved reputation for excessive cruelty) were going to rise up and destroy the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and carry her survivors off into captivity (c.f. Hosea 9:1-3; Isaiah 8:3-4) – which they eventually did (c.f. II Kings 17:5-6). As the New Geneva Study Bible says, “Jonah’s greatest fear was that the Lord would bestow forgiveness on Israel’s most hated enemy”4 – and now that fear had been realized, and Jonah was extremely “displeased” and “angry” about it (c.f. Jonah 4:1)!

(3) Have you ever been angry at what God has done – or not done, as the case may be? Have you ever been angry because God sent adversity into your life (c.f. Job 2:10) – or because He showed compassion to someone you thought of as an enemy – or because He withheld judgment from someone who clearly deserved it?

Have you ever been angry because you prayed for a healthy baby, but got a downs syndrome child instead? Have you ever gotten angry because, even though you’ve served the Lord faithfully for many years, disease and death seem to be stalking your children and even your grandchildren? Have you ever become angry because you’ve worked hard all your life, but are still living on the edge of poverty? Have you ever grown angry because when some form of disaster struck (be it a plane crash, or a tornado, or a terrorist attack) God mercifully spared some people – but the person you loved wasn’t one of them? Have you ever become angry because God allowed your attempts to help another person be misrepresented – leaving you looking like the bad guy? Have you ever been angry because God showed compassion to a mass murderer, or a serial rapist, or a child molester by saving them and forgiving all their sins? Have you ever become angry because God did not choose to spare some of His covenant people from false imprisonment, torture, or death at the hands of the wicked?

Have you ever in your life been angry at something God has done that you didn’t agree with – or something He did not do that you thought He should have done? If so, then perhaps you can identify with how Jonah felt when God relented concerning the calamity He had declared He would bring upon the people of Nineveh (c.f. Jonah 3:10-4:1) – choosing to be “gracious and compassionate” to them instead (c.f. Jonah 4:2).

(4) How should we Christians handle this kind of anger? Do we ever – as God asked Jonah in verse four – (do we ever) “have good reason to be angry?” (c.f. Jonah 4:4) at what God does or doesn’t do? And of course, the answer is – No, we don’t! To be sure, there is a righteous anger, which is not sinful (c.f. Ephesians 4:26) – but the anger attributed to Jonah on this particular occasion doesn’t appear to fall into that category. And if we inquire as to why not, one reason is because Jonah’s anger was a reaction to something the sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth (c.f. Daniel 4:35) – who is holy and good (c.f. Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 119:68) – had done. And that, of course, ultimately means Jonah’s anger was directed toward God Himself.6

Scripture says elsewhere that, “… the Lord is One” (c.f. Deuteronomy 6:4). This well-known verse not only means there’s only one God, rather than many – it also means God is one in terms of His nature and substance5 – that He cannot be divided or separated into different parts. By extension that implies that WHO GOD IS cannot be separated from WHAT GOD DOES – which (in turn) means we cannot be angry at anything God does or doesn’t do, without also being angry with God Himself for what He has or hasn’t done!

When we find ourselves becoming displeased or angry over what God did or didn’t do, we need to address the matter as quickly as possible – first, by confessing that attitude for what it is – namely, sin. Then we need to ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us – which He has promised to do (as we noted earlier) (c.f. I John 1:9). Next, we need to ask Him for a submissive and humble spirit – one that does not presume to set ourselves above God by questioning His methods or His ways (c.f. Isaiah 55:8-9) – one that’s willing to wait patiently for His plans and purposes to unfold in their fullness – one that’s willing to continue trusting our Heavenly Father, even when we can’t figure out what He’s doing, or why – one that says with our Savior, “… not My will, but Yours be done” (c.f. Luke 22:42) – and with Job: “(Even if) He slay(s) me, I will (continue to) hope in Him …” (c.f. Job 13:15) – even when I don’t agree with what He does or doesn’t do, I will still trust that what He IS doing is right and good!

Easier said than done, to be sure – but by Christ’s enabling grace, we can learn to do it.

(5) Jonah didn’t handle his feelings of displeasure and anger (c.f. Jonah 4:1) very well. Instead of doing the things we just outlined, he nursed anger, and hung on to his displeasure – first (in verse three), by asking God to take his life (c.f. Jonah 4:3) – and then (in verse five) by going out “east” of the city some distance away, where he could wait to see “what would happen” (c.f. Jonah 4:5). Perhaps Jonah thought, God had already relented once (c.f. Jonah 3:10) – maybe He would relent again, and destroy the city of Nineveh after all.


  1. CHAPTER FOUR VERSE TWO – THE REASON

JONAH RAN

(1) And that brings us to verse two, where “Jonah prays to the Lord and says” – “… Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity” (c.f. Jonah 4:2).

(2) If we knew nothing at all about the Book of Jonah, and were reading through it for the very first time, this is the point at which Jonah’s previous actions back in chapter one would now become clear – namely, why he “fle(d) to Tarshish” after “the word of the Lord came to (him)” the first time (c.f. Jonah 1:1-3)? Was it because he’d always wanted to see Tarshish – and this seemed like a good time to go? (Not exactly.) Was it because he just didn’t want to make an arduous five hundred mile trip (one way), on foot, or by donkey or cart? (No.) Was it because he was afraid of what the Assyrians might do to him when they heard his message (as some have suggested)? (No.) Was it because Jonah didn’t want to take a chance on being around when the people of Nineveh were destroyed? (Hardly!) Was it because Jonah was jealous for God’s honor and glory (as some have suggested) – i.e. that he was afraid the Lord’s enemies might be given an excuse to blaspheme His holy name (c.f. II Samuel 12:14) if it appeared as though He had changed His mind?8 (No.)

(3) The reason Jonah gives here in chapter four is that he was afraid the very thing that did happen would happen! He was afraid God was sending him to Nineveh – not as an instrument of judgment, but as an instrument of grace. He was afraid he was being sent him to Nineveh because the Lord intended to be “gracious and compassionate” (c.f. Jonah 4:2) to the people of Nineveh – in part, by enabling them to repent, so He could then forgive their sins and relent concerning their destruction. Hence, Jonah says (in verse two): “… was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? (i.e. Didn’t I tell You while I was still in Israel that this was why I didn’t want to obey your command?) Therefore in order to forestall this (very thing) (i.e. to try and keep this very thing from happening) (that’s why) I fled to Tarshish …” (c.f. Jonah 4:2). In other words, Jonah thought (or at least hoped) that by not going to Nineveh and preaching God’s message to the citizens of that great city, the Assyrians would not have a chance to repent – and if they didn’t repent, they wouldn’t be spared – and if they weren’t spared, they would no longer be a threat to Israel!

(4) We’ve already dealt (in a previous message) with the foolishness and futility of trying to thwart the sovereign plans of Almighty God (c.f. Job 42:2) – so I won’t repeat any of that now. Instead, we’re going to close with this thought – Jonah “knew” God was “gracious and compassionate” (c.f. Jonah 4:2) – he just didn’t want Him to be “gracious and compassionate” to the Assyrians. Jonah “knew” God was “slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness” (c.f. Jonah 4:2) – he just didn’t want Him to withhold His “anger” from the people of Nineveh, or extend His “lovingkindness” to them. (By the way, the Hebrew word translated “lovingkindness” is “hesed”9 – which is the same word Scripture uses over and over to describe God’s love for His elect, covenant people! So we can say that Jonah “knew” [Jonah 4:2] God had a special love for His covenant people – he just didn’t want the Assyrians to be numbered among those people!) Jonah “knew” God was “one who relents concerning calamity” (c.f. Jonah 4:2) – he just didn’t want God to relent concerning the calamity He had declared to bring upon the city and citizens of Nineveh!

(5) Is there anyone you and I feel that way about? Is there any group of people we feel that way about? If God were to be “gracious and compassionate” to them (c.f. Jonah 4:2), would that make us “angry” (c.f. Jonah 4:1)? If God were to extend His “lovingkindness” to them and save them (c.f. Jonah 4:2), would we be “displeased” (c.f. Jonah 4:1)? I hope not – but, given the fact that a prophet of God could feel that way about the Assyrians, there very well may be someone you and I feel that way about as well.

God was “gracious and compassionate” to us (c.f. Jonah 4:2) when we didn’t deserve it – why, then, would we ever want Him to withhold that same “grace and compassion” from someone else? Jesus said, “… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (c.f. Luke 15:10) – and there ought to be a similar joy in our hearts whenever we see sinners repenting and turning to Christ – no matter who they are, or what they’ve done – to us, or anyone else.



BIBLIOGRAPHY


1MacArthur: The MacArthur Bible Commentary; pgs.

1011-1012.

2The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on Luke 12:47-48;

p. 1631.

3Calvin’s Commentaries: Vol. XIV; Twelve Minor Prophets;

Vol. III; Jonah, Micah, Nahum; p. 117.

4The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on Jonah 4:1; p. 1421.

5IBID: Footnote on Deuteronomy 6:4; p. 250.

6Calvin: Ibid; p. 119.

7Estelle: Salvation Through Judgment And Mercy; p. 125.

8Calvin: Ibid; p. 120.

9Wycliffe Bible Commentary; p. 849.