Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
Jonah Series #7
“God Rebuked Jonah”
“Running Against God”
Review
Jonah teaches us both about God and ourselves. We learn about the love of God, the sovereignty of God, the forgiveness of God, the persistence of God. We learn about people; their disobedience, their repentance, their fears and prejudices, their self-centeredness and yet God’s willingness to utilize them in His eternal purposes.
I. God called Jonah – Jonah ran FROM God
II. God disciplined Jonah
III. God delivered Jonah - Jonah ran TO God in prayer
IV. God recommissioned Jonah and Spared Nineveh – Jonah ran WITH God
V. God rebuked Jonah – Jonah ran AGAINST God
This wouldn’t be the first time that God used someone greatly only to find them uncooperative and unappreciative. God used King Asa, who we mentioned last week, to lead a huge revival in Judah only to allowed bitterness to bring destruction a short time later. Chapter four documents Jonah’s response to God’s mercy on the Ninevites. God’s merciful response came in response to their sincere repentance. You would have thought that Jonah would have rejoiced at the privilege of being God’s instrument to bring about the salvation of up to a million people. Not so.
A. Jonah complained to God about saving Nineveh
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4
He wasn’t just displeased, he was exceedingly displeased and angry. He was “highly indignant”, absolutely furious at God. Jonah clarified the reason he originally did not want to obey God’s call to Nineveh. He correctly understood the nature of God.
for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
Contrary to how many view the Old Testament’s characterization of God, the declaration of God’s goodness flows all through its pages.
When Moses wanted to see God’s glory, God warned him that a full dose of God’s glory would incinerate him.
God offered him special protection which enabled him to experience His glory.
Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:18-23
Chapter 34 recounts how the encounter with God’s glory went down.
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. Exodus 34:6-8
This would be the foundational rationale for subsequent intercession for the rebellious Israelites by Moses.
And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” Numbers 14:17-19
Jonah knew the truth of God’s amazing mercy and compassion on people. This familiar declaration of God’s goodness also appears in Num 14:18; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Nah 1:3; Neh 9:17, Joel 2:13. Jonah rooted for the application of the later part of these passages about “by no means clearing the guilty.” He took for granted the mercy God granted him. His hatred for the Assyrians consumed him to the point where death seemed “better” than witnessing the sparing of the Ninevites. He dared view God’s actions as wrong and evil. Anger and bitterness distorts our ability to accept the truth about God. One group denies the reality of eternal punishment, contrary to clear Biblical teaching, because they judge God by their own flawed sensibilities.
Psalm 50:21 rebuked Israel for judging God according to their own perceptions rather than clear revelation.
"These things (sins) you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. Psalm 50:21-22
Jonah forgot how God responded with undeserved mercy to the wickedness of Israel on multiple occasions. He readily accepted God mercy on him despite his flagrant disobedience but certainly not mercy for the disobedient Ninevites. How dare God spare these evil pagans? God’s anger over the wickedness of the Ninevites changed to mercy upon their divinely inspired repentance and their actions in keeping with their repentance. Jonah would rather die than witness God showing mercy to the Ninevites. Since he wasn’t willing to kill himself, he begged God to do it. Earlier it was his rebellion that drove him to despair. Here, his bitterness and prejudice triggered a death wish.
God responded by again encouraging a divine perspective with a simple question. What right do you have to be angry? You think it is wrong to spare the Ninevites. You are wrong for denying mercy to people made in God’s image. You are wrong for questioning God’s sovereign actions. This is reminiscent of God’s response to Job.
Where were you when I created the world? Followed by a barrage of other searing questions.
Jonah, “What right do you have to question the actions of a sovereign, righteous and holy God?”
We are free to ask questions of God but not to question Him.
God encourages questions for deeper understanding. Standing in judgment of God’s actions rises to a whole other level. Many people harbor a certain level of bitterness toward God. “You could have stopped it.” “How could you allow…?” “Where were you when…?” “If only you would…” Adam dared blame God for his own disobedience, “The woman YOU gave me!”
God does not mind us asking why? We error when we impugn the actions of God. We error when we question God’s character. We error when we insist that God answer to us. That was Job’s eventual failure.
"Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! Job 31:35
Well, Job got his wish.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? "Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Job 38:1-3
Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." Then Job answered the LORD and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice, and I will add nothing more." Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said, "Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me. Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? Job 40:1-8
God answered Job with a lesson in His sovereign act of creation and continual involvement in His creation.
You want to know my sovereignty? Consider creation.
After Job’s demanded “audience” with God ended, Job finally understood.
I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." 'Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.' I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:2-6
Jonah did not even answer God’s question about whether his anger was justified.
B. Jonah waited for God to destroy Nineveh
Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Jonah 4:5
Even in the face of resounding repentance of the entire city of Nineveh, Jonah still rooted for retribution. He refused to accept God’s actions. He sought a “ringside seat” for the “fireworks”.
C. God appointed a shade plant to ease Jonah’s discomfort
God continued confronting Job with an object lesson.
Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. Jonah 4:6
Again, we observe the sovereign hand of God at work. The whole book is a lesson in God’s specific interaction with His creation. God does not specifically cause EVERY plant to grow. This one He “appointed” to grow in a specific place for a specific purpose. Earlier He commanded a fish to taxi Jonah. Once again God demonstrated mercy on his disgruntled pouting prophet despite Jonah’s anger God and prejudice against the Ninevites.
Jonah’s mood instantly changed when HE became the center of God’s care. Are we only happy when we are the center of attention or things are going will for us? Our culture seems to be obsessed with my rights, my comfort, my welfare, my cause. It’s all about ME! God commands us to focus on the welfare of others.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor… Romans 12:10
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
D. God appointed a worm and a wind to illustrate a point
I call this a definite “teaching moment”.
But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. Jonah 4:7-8
Jonah should have taken his cue from Job.
Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21
God may turn up the outer heat to expose the inner heart.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ… 1 Peter 1:6-7
E. Jonah prayed to die because of his discomfort
Instead of blessing the name of the Lord, Jonah remained self-focused.
And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
This is the third time Jonah wanted to die.
He was miserable because of his disobedience.
He was miserable because of his disappointment.
He was miserable because of his circumstantial discomfort.
Jonah had still not aligned himself with the purposes of God. Jonah considered his misery more important than God’s mercy.
F. God rebuked Jonah for his hard heart.
Jonah bared his ugly underbelly. He expressed more compassion for an inanimate plant than living people. Jonah demonstrated more concern for retribution than restoration or repentance. Jonah was unable to accept God’s mercy on the Ninevites because he failed to appreciate the magnitude of his own need for mercy. An ironic thing! God spared the very people who eventually became His instrument of punishment on Israel.
God confronted Jonah’s blatant prejudice.
But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:9-11
You pity something for which you had no personal investment. Shouldn’t I pity those created in My own image? The book concludes abruptly contrasting the mercy of God and misery of Jonah. The book leaves the spotlight on the sovereign mercy and compassion of God not only for people but animals.
“Should I not pity?”
We serve a merciful God who is sovereign in His mercy.
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. Romans 9:14-16
Jonah repented for his disobedience against God but not for his hostile prejudice against people. He got the first half of the great commandment right but not the second. Love God - Love people.
Two themes ring out in this book.
The sovereign mercy of God.
The selfish misery of man.
James summed up the bottom line of every human conflict.
If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? James 3:14-16; 4:1
Disobedience to God always breeds relational disfunction. Most of us harbor prejudice at some level.
The word is often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable, feelings towards people or a person because of their sex, gender, beliefs, theology, values, social class, age, disability, religion, political views, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality, beauty, occupation, education, criminality, sport team affiliation or other personal characteristics.
Our prime directive is to love God and love people. That does not mean to only love the lovely or agreeable.
You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43-45
I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-28; 35-36
There is NO wiggle room here.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13
This is all about HEART. How do I feel toward those in a specific category I have deemed distasteful?
It goes beyond the actions. I may not agree with the actions or opinions of the person, but do I let my disagreement cause me to reject, avoid or even mistreat an image-bearer of God? Our county faces strong and even hateful divisions along so many different lines. Some because of political affiliation. Some because of actions. Some because of ethnicity.
Jonah highlights a God who showed mercy to Assyrian terrorists. We harbor negative feelings toward people both inside and outside the church. We harbor negative feelings toward other churches and denominations. We harbor negative feelings toward those with differing theological persuasions. James addressed prejudice in the church.
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? James 2:1-4
If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:8-9
Our first response should not be to rail against a person’s behavior or beliefs but ask how I can love them despite our differences. Am I more concerned about retribution or restoration? How can I demonstrate the love of Jesus, to the Republicans, Democrats, Muslims, homeless, etc.? To love your enemies is a supernatural thing. God does not ask us to have a warm fondness for our enemies but to love them out of obedience to Christ and a desire to see them come to know and love Christ. They are captives held by the real enemy of humanity.
Blinded, confused, driven, darkened, battered by Satan. This kind of love starts in the church family. Jesus declared love for one another despite differences as the badge of genuine discipleship.
Too often we allow judgment, anger, unreasonable expectations, to poison our relationships.
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled… Heb 12:15
John wrote that failure to demonstrate love for each other strongly hinders our relationship with God.
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21
This love must also extend to those outside the church walls. We cannot develop a passion to see pagans saved if we harbor bitterness. You will never win those you hate.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14
Because Jonah failed to love, he perhaps lived out the rest of his life in misery despite God’s mercy. The solution to the problems in America cannot be solved by legislation or protests. True solutions must address the heart. Let the Holy Spirit shine His light in your heart to expose any negative attitudes. I have been challenged to examine my heart and found it easy to rail against people rather than reach out to people; mock them rather than love them. My focus often fills my heart with anger at their actions rather than passion for their souls.
Today is a good change for a heart checkup.
