Today we will conclude our look at the book of Jonah by looking at chapter 4. Our theme for today… Don't be heartless! But before we dive into my thoughts on the passage, take a moment and read it for yourself!

What would happen in the local church if God moved powerfully? Some would rejoice, and some would leave! Of course, you and I would be mistaken if we believed that all of God's people would celebrate the moving of God. For that matter, we might hear some of the following…

1) Complaints about the influx or type of people coming into the church.

2) Loss of power or leadership opportunities for them.

3) Accusations of a lack of authenticity.

4) Concerns about changes that might affect personal comfort levels

5) Or divisions between the old and new members.

Most of those statements are revelations – they reveal the true heart of the person speaking. Jonah 4 pictures that reality. At the end of the chapter, we don't get an update on how Jonah responds. Instead, we get to ask ourselves how we would react.

With that being said, let's start breaking down this chapter…

Jonah's Objection:

Jonah's complaint about God's mercy revealed his rebellious heart.Chapter 4 calls this conversation a "prayer." And it was in the sense that he was speaking to God. But this was more of a complaint than a communion of spirits. He had an attitude – he was angry.

Now we can admire one aspect of this "prayer." At least Jonah was honest. God can handle your frustrations and complaints and your inability to understand. But by speaking honestly, Jonah opens a window into his heart. And the place Jonah was coming from was not good. Notice several aspects of this angry tirade against his Master that might explain why he was mad.

"I said"

He tried to correct God, but the Lord didn't listen. Jonah had lectured God when the Lord initially called him to go to preach in Nineveh. Jonah informed God of these two facts:
1. Nineveh deserved judgment, and…
2. He was the wrong man for the job.
Jonah wanted God to conform to his wishes, not vice-versa. So why do we believe we can convince God that He doesn't know what He is doing in His treatment of others or His calling to us?

"I fled"

When God refused Jonah's request, the prophet took matters into his own hands. Jonah decided to thwart God's plan by refusing to participate. His confession revealed his heart. He ran from God because he did not want the Assyrians even to have a chance to repent.
And we see this today in our churches. We know that God has commanded us to reach out to all people, yet we only want to reach those we want. So we simply don't even try to reach others. So we ignore our calling and disobey our God.

"I knew"

Jonah was mad because he knew God was always good. Have you ever become angry in your spirit because God blessed someone else? In fairness, Jonah did grasp the greatness of God's love for a sinning world.
1. He knew that God was "merciful" to the guilty.
2. He knew that God is "compassionate" too weak humanity.
3. He knew that God is "slow to become angry" even in the face of grievous sins.
4. He knew that God is "rich in faithful love" for those that are unlovely.
5. He knew that God is willing to "relent from sending" judgment on those that repent.
The fact of the matter is this; he was mad because he could not change God's attitude toward sinners. Jonah hated the Assyrian sinners, while God loved the Assyrian sinners. The prophet refused to see them as God saw them – candidates for grace.

"Take my life."

Jonah valued his reputation more than God's. The prophet petitioned God to take his life because he felt he lost his credibility with the Jews by preaching to their enemy. To Jonah, his reputation was more important than compassion for those perishing in their sin.
Someone might argue, "But eventually Jonah did as God asked him." Yes, he repented and submitted to God in the fish. But pride and prejudice are like all sins of the flesh; when we return to them, they become inflamed again.

God's object lesson

We are shocked when we hear about individuals who commit shocking crimes because it could never have been them. Or we hear of someone whose crimes make them, in our minds, a cold-hearted monsters. But then the person's mother or neighbor testifies that this criminal was such a good father or gentle person.

How can a person demonstrate such radical personalities? It is a divided heart.

Jonah also had a divided heart. On the one hand, he was God's spokesman for morality. But on the other hand, he was full of hatred and contempt. And God knew it. So God used a plant to show Jonah his heart.

As we read about this plant, we are reminded again of God's sovereign rule over nature. Notice the word "appointed." In chapter one, God appointed Jonah to go to Nineveh. God appointed the wind and waves to shake Jonah when he refused to go.

When Jonah let himself be thrown overboard, God appointed a great fish to carry Jonah.

Now God has an object lesson going on. He appoints a plant to provide him shade temporarily and will ultimately appoint a worm to attack that plant and a scorching wind to torment Jonah.

Do you have a right to be mad about the death of a plant? Jonah declares, "Yes, I have a right." But did he have a right? He did nothing to produce the plant. He did nothing to grow the plant. He did nothing to save the plant. It wasn't Jonah's plant; it was God's plant.

So why did God ask this? God asked this to show Jonah just how misplaced his values were.

God's Forgiveness Reveals His Loving Heart

What matters to God? People! Interestingly, Jonah had just experienced what he loathed to show the Assyrians – forgiveness and the mercy of God.

God corrects Jonah's lack of compassion. - Jonah had no right to get angry over the plant.
God clarifies His love and compassion. - God is not a respecter of persons.

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