A HEART LIKE HIS
Jonah 4
Gordon Dabbs, PhD

When we last saw Jonah, he had just delivered the MOST successful sermon in history. Revival breaks out across the entire city.

The twist: instead of throwing a celebration, the preacher is throwing a fit.

Jonah 4.1 (ESV) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

Why was Jonah furious? NOT because his message flopped… but because it worked.

Jonah 4.2-3 (NLT) So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The one time in Scripture someone gets mad at God for being too nice.

Jonah 4.6 (NLT) And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

Next morning: plant is dead, shade is gone, sun is back. Jonah is back to being furious: “I’m so angry I wish I were dead" (v8).

Jonah 4.10-11 (NLT) Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

We never find out how Jonah responds. God ends the conversation. We’re left realizing the question isn’t just for Jonah. It’s for us.

3 Take-Homes. . .

1. Sometimes God lets our “plants” die to teach us what really matters. Comfort fades. Compassion endures.

2. Grace always feels unfair—at least until you remember you’re one of its recipients.

3. We can’t love God deeply without learning to love who He loves.

“We show compassion to our neighbors not because they deserve it, and not because it’s technically possible they might deserve it. We show compassion because Christ had compassion on us when we did not deserve it.” ~ Alan Noble

Jonah’s book is not flattering. But it helps us see ourselves… and that’s the beginning of transformation.

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