Jonah 4:1-11
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.
2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.
7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.
8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."
10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.
11 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?"

God gave a goal to Jonah to preach to the city of Nineveh. It was a very difficult job for Jonah; because they were Israel’s most dreaded enemy. Nineveh showed their power by numerous acts of cruelty. It is like going and preaching Jesus in Iraq or Saudi Arabia. So when Jonah heard God telling him to go to Nineveh and to call the people to repentance, he ran in the opposite direction. But God has his way to preach his word to Nineveh. Jonah had to submit to God’s plan. Jonah took God’s discipline and then went to Nineveh and preached.

After preaching, why did Jonah become angry when God spared Nineveh? The Jews did not want to share God’s message with gentile nations in Jonah’s day. They had forgotten the purpose; through them the rest of the nation should know God’s blessing. For that they have to share Gods word according to Genesis 22:18. Jonah might have thought that God should not freely give his salvation to a wicked pagan nation. We got to understand that God’s salvation is free to all who come to him through faith. Jonah did not understand that the God of Israel was the God of the entire world. We do not deserve to be forgiven by God, but he is so merciful to us.

Jonah was happy when God saved him from inside the fish, but was angry when Nineveh was saved. We are happy when we get God’s blessings but do not show the same happiness when other people are blessed. God’s forgiveness was not only for Jonah or Israel or me, it extends to all who repent and believe. God spared the sailors when they pleaded for mercy. God saved Jonah when he prayed from inside the fish. God saved the people of Nineveh when Jonah preached the word of God. God answers the prayers of all who call upon him. God has a desire that everyone come to him, trust him, and be saved. If we respond in obedience, God will be gracious and we will receive his mercy not his punishment. Today we need to say with all our heart, “thank you Lord for forgiving me.” Prayer idea: Pray about heaven.