Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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THEBOOKOFJONAH
Lesson7,Chapters3and4END
InJonahchapter3verses7and8welearnthattheKingofNineveh(certainly
meaningtheKingofallAssyria)tooktoheartGod’soracleofwarningthrough
Jonah.Henotonlymadeacoupleofstrongdecreesforhissubjectstofollow,but
alsoledthewaybysteppingdownoffhisthrone,sittinginthedirt,anddonning
sackcloth.Thisisanearlyunthinkableactthatsurelystartledthecitizensof
Ninevehbecausethelevelofhumilityandsubjectionthattheirkingshowedto
Jonah’sGodwasalmostunprecedented.Itwasnotthathewasgivingupthe
royalthrone;it’sthathe’sacknowledgingthesupremacyofGodoverhim.But,
who,exactly,didhethinkthisgodwas?
Inverse8weheartheking’sdecreethatallhispeoplearetodonsackcloth,as
aretheirlivestock,and(mostimportantly)toturn(tosuv)fromtheirevil…
immediately!We’llusuallyfindthisHebrewwordsuvtranslatedinourBiblesas
“repent”.IntheChristiansense,torepentmeansachangeofmindfromevilto
goodandinvolvesanelementofsorrowoverourformermindset.IntheHebrew
sense,itmeanstochangeone’sbehaviorfromeviltogood.IntheChristian
sense,torepentis90%emotionandconscience,and10%action.IntheHebrew
sense,itis90%action,and10%emotionandconscience.TheHebrewsenseis
thebiblicalsenseofit…whetherOldorNewTestament…anditisthewayitis
supposedtobeforallGodworshippers.Thepointisthis:theNinevitesdidnot
suddenlyhavethissinceretrustandbeliefandknowledgeofYehoveh,Godof
Israel.Rather,theysimplybelievedthatJonah’sgodhadthepowerand
authoritytoharmthem,butalsotodefinegoodandevil.Whatisinterestingis
thatinverse8,whenitsays“letthem(Nineveh)callonGodearnestly”,the
HebrewwordbeingtranslatedasGodiselohim.EventhoughforcenturiesBible
translatorshaveassumed(wrongly,Ibelieve)thatelohimmeanstheuniqueGod
ofIsraelinsomecasesandfalse-godsinothercases,andsowearetaughtto
thinkthatway,usingthewordelohimactuallyindicatessomethingdifferent.
Hereinthisverse,TheNarratorcarefullychooseselohimforareasonthatthe
ancientIsraelites…theintendedaudienceoftheBookofJonah…wouldhave
immediatelyunderstood.Itisabroadtermmeanttoindicateahighlyranked
divinebeingbelongingtoaspecialcategorycalledelohim.Thus,thepeopleof
Ninevehdidn’tactuallyknowthisgodasYehoveh,GodoftheHebreworYehoveh,
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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GodoftheTorah,butratherthatheisadivinebeingthatJonahworships.I’llsay
itanotherway:abettertranslationthatwouldgetthepropermeaningacross
is…”letthemcallonthiselohim”.Thatis,thisparticularelohimwhosemessage
hisprophet,Jonah,haddeliveredtothem.Itbringswithitthesortofthought
thatPaulwasexplainingashegatheredasmallcrowdinAthens,whenthe
Athenianssaidtohimthatoneoftheirmanystatueswastohonorthe“unknown
god”.Paulthenwentontoexplaintotheminsimplistictermswhothisgod(this
elohim)waswhomtheydidnotknow,butyetwerehonoring.
Thebottomlineisthis:theNinevitesdidnotconvert.Theydidn’tevenreally
knowmuchaboutJonah’selohim…probablynotevenHisname.Itwasthedivine
powerofthosewordsthatJonahwastoldtosaypreciselyasYehovehgavethem
tohim,whichhadtheprofoundeffectoverthepeopletomakethemwantto
change.ItsoaffectedthemthatfurtherpersuasionfromJonahwasn’tneededto
getthemtobelievesufficientlytoDOwhatYehovehwantedthemtodo:turn
fromtheirevilbehaviortogoodbehavior.Whateveractualheartormindchange
couldcomeoveraperiodoftime,ifatall.Butthebehaviorchangehadtooccur
withinaperiodof40days,orNinevehwouldbecomeadisasterzone.
I’mspeakingnowtoso-calledSeekersandtothoseofyouwhoareverynewto
beliefinChrist.Itisgoodthatyouhaveprayedthesinner’sprayer,confessed
yoursins,andhavechosentoacceptthefreegiftofsalvationthatonlyGodcan
givetoyou.But…whatGodisimmediatelylookingforfromyouisachangeof
yourbehaviorfromeviltogood.Youcanchangeyourbehaviornearlyovernight;
butchangingyourmindandgainingatrueunderstandingofGodandyournew
relationshipwithHimtakestime…alotmoretimethan40days.Yournewbelief
islikeyourreactiontotheStarter’sguninarace.But,afterthefirststepyou
take,itisalltheotherstepsthatcomeafterwardthatwilldefineyourraceand
whattheoutcomewillbe.Tosimplyreact,takethatfirststep,andthenNOTto
changebehaviorislikeimmediatelystoppingyourraceafterthatfirststepoutof
thestartingblocks.And,I’mheretotellyouthatdespitewhattheChurchmay
tellyou,orthatyoumighttellyourself,thatisNOTrepentanceinanysensethat
Godacceptsaslegitimaterepentance.Rather,thereactionofNinevehismore
whatGoddemandsofusthanmerelyaprayerandapassivegoodintention.
Let’sre-readthefinalfewversesofJonahchapter3.
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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RE-READJONAHCHAPTER3:7–end
Verse9continuesthewordsofthekingofNineveh.Theyechonearlyexactly
whatwereadinJoel.
CJB
Joel2:13-14
13
Tearyourheart,notyourgarments;andturntoADONAI
yourGod.Forheismercifulandcompassionate,slowtoanger,richingrace,and
willingtochangehismindaboutdisaster.
14
Whoknows?Hemayturn,change
hismindandleaveablessingbehindhim,[enoughfor]grainofferingsanddrink
offeringstopresenttoADONAIyourGod.
Theissueisthelackofcertainty.ThekingofNinevehisnotcertainwhatheand
hiscitizens’sinceresignofrepentancemightdotoappeasethisgod.Maybeit
willdonothing;maybeitwillsoftenthecomingblow;maybethisgodwillrelent
andnotdoanythingtothematall.Jonah,too,isn’tcertain.HefearsthatGodis
goingtoaccepttheirrepentanceandshowmercy;butheisequallyawareof
Yehoveh’skeensenseofjustice…ofcrimeandpunishment…assetdowninthe
LawofMoses(somethingtowhichJonahisfullydedicated).So,justasinJoelit
iswait-and-seeforIsrael.it’sgoingtobethesameforthesegentilesinNineveh.
OnlyGodknowstheanswertothequestionofmercyorjustice.
Thisissueofjusticeversusmercyisachallengethatespeciallythoseofuswho
trustinthegraceofferedthroughMessiahYeshuafacebecauseHisFatherhas
beeninadequatelyportrayedsincetheestablishmentofConstantine’snew
gentiles-onlyreligionthathasbecomethefoundationandmodeloftheChurch
asweknowittoday.Wetendtohaveboughtintoadoctrinethatsaysthatupon
ourtrustinChrist,Godoffersusiron-cladguaranteesandpromisesregardlessof
ourthoughtsandbehaviors,wheninfacttheScripturesseemtosaythatGod’s
reactiontothosethoughtsandbehaviorsaregenerallycontingentuponour
responsestoHislawsandcommandments.Evenmore,Godseemstomake
decisionsandchoicesthatincludeotherfactorsofwhichHeisprivy,butwhich
wemightnotbeaware.WhileHisresponsetouscomparedtoourstoHimarenot
necessarilyinequalproportion,nonethelessthereisadefiniteconnection…a
certaincauseandeffect.I’veoftensaidthatourlivesasBelieverscanbe
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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describedasoneofaco-operativeventurewithYehovehandHisSon,Yeshua.
WehaveourpartandGodhasHis,butourpartisalwayssubservienttoHis.
Innosenseinthisco-operativeventureisGodgiving-upsomeofHissovereignty
overhumankind.HeCHOOSEStohavethissortofrelationshipwithus.He
createduswithafree-willthatisthenecessaryprerequisiteforthiskindof
relationship,aswithoutfree-willwewouldbelittlemorethanunwillingslavesor
robotscapableonlyofpre-programmedresponses(notunlikeintheanimal
kingdomwherebypre-programmedinstinctisthedrivingforceoftheir
consciousness).Yet,whateverHisresponsetousGodalwayshasthesamegoal
inmindformankind:
CJB
2Peter3:9TheLordisnotslowinkeepinghispromise,assomepeoplethink
ofslowness;onthecontrary,heispatientwithyou;foritisnothispurposethat
anyoneshouldbedestroyed,butthateveryoneshouldturnfromhissins.
And,aswereadinTimothy:
CJB
1Timothy2:4Hewantsallhumanitytobedeliveredandcometofull
knowledgeofthetruth.
InJonah,whatwelearnaboutwhoGodreallyis,isthatHisjustice,love,and
mercyextendtoallhumans…notjustaselectfeworjustaselectgroup.Jonah,
however,doesnotwantthistobeso;infact,heissoadamantaboutitthathe
isreadytodieifheactuallyhastoacceptwhatisapparentlythisnewrevelation
forhimabouthisGod(we’lltalkaboutthismorewhenwegettochapter4).He
wantsYehoveh’sloveandmercytobedirectedexclusivelytohisfellowHebrews;
buthe’smorethanhappyifGodusesHisotherattributeofstrictjusticeon
gentiles.DespiteGodbeingtheuniversalGodforall,therestillremainsthefact
(anirony,really)thatthereisaselectgroup(Israel)thatGodhasspecifically
chosenandset-aparttobringtheknowledgeofHimandofHisjustice,morality,
loveandmercytotheworld,andalsofromthisgroupwilleventuallycomethe
Saviortorescuemankindfromourequallyuniversal,humanlyinsolvable
predicament.
Inverse10,Jonah’sworstnightmarecomestopass:
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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CJB
Jonah3:10WhenGodsawbytheirdeedsthattheyhadturnedfromtheir
evilway,herelentedanddidnotbringonthemthepunishmenthehad
threatened.
Tobeabrokenrecord,pleasepaycloseattentiontothefirst6wordsofthisverse:
“whenGodsaw…”sawwhat?Hesaw“bytheirdeeds”thattheyhad
turned…suv…repented…theninconsequenceHerelented.I’veattemptedto
persuadeyouallthatIcanaboutwhatrepentancetrulyis,andthatyoucan
believeinJesusofNazarethallyouclaimto.But,ifthatbeliefisnotreflectedby
yourdeeds…inyourchangedbehavior…Godrefusestoacceptitasrepentance
andsoyourbeliefisworthless.AmongmostChristianswhatIjustsaidis
heresy.InGod’sWordwhatIjustsaidisfoundationaltruth.Let’smoveonto
chapter4.
READJONAHCHAPTER4all
ThefirstthingIwanttosayaboutthischapteristhatthepointintheBookof
Jonahinwhichchapter3endsandisseparatedfromthebeginningofchapter4
wasaterriblechoicebysomeone1000yearsagoorso.Itcompletelyseparates
thethoughtofGodrelentingfromrainingdisasterdownuponNinevehdueto
theirchangedbehavior,andthethoughtofJonahbeinghighlydispleasedabout
Godrelenting.Italloughttobenotonlyinthesamechapter,butprobablyjust
onelongverse.Thatis:WhenGodsawbytheirdeedsthattheyhadturnedfrom
theirevilway,herelentedanddidnotbringonthemthepunishmenthehad
threatened.ButthiswasverydispleasingtoYonah,andhebecameangry.
Chapter4isessentiallythestoryofJonah’ssecondrebellion.Itrevolvesaround
God’softenperplexing(perhapsfrustrating?)paradoxofbeingaGodofstrict
justicemixedwithmagnanimousdisplaysofcompassionandmercytotheguilty.
Thus,Judeo-Christianityhashadapropensityoverthecenturiestoattemptto
downplayoreveneliminateoneoftheseparadoxicalattributesinorderto
provideclarityorperhapssimplytovalidateanagenda.Forinstance,perhaps
themostcommonwaythisdivineparadoxishandledisbyclaimingthatGod’s
strictjusticeisreflectedinthemindsetoftheOldTestamentGod,Yehoveh,while
mercyandcompassionarenot.But,thatdynamic(alsocalledDispensation)
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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endeduponthedawnoftheNewTestamentera.NowGod’scompassionand
mercyisreflectedbytheGodoftheNewTestament,Jesus,andstrictjusticehas
beenabandoned.TheparadoxofGodisprobablybesthighlightedand
summed-upwiththesetwoScriptures:
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Numbers23:19"Godisnotahumanwholiesoramortalwhochangeshis
mind.Whenhesayssomething,hewilldoit;whenhemakesapromise,hewill
fulfillit.
Andyet…ontheotherhand:
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Exodus33:19…moreover,IshowfavortowhomeverIwill,andIdisplay
mercytowhomeverIwill.
Interestingly,PaulquotesthissamepassageintheBookofRomans.
CJB
Romans9:13-18
13
Thisaccordswithwhereitiswritten,"Ya'akovIloved,
butEsavIhated."
14
Soarewetosay,"ItisunjustforGodtodothis"?Heaven
forbid!
15
FortoMoshehesays,"IwillhavemercyonwhomIhavemercy,andI
willpitywhomIpity."
16
Thusitdoesn'tdependonhumandesiresorefforts,but
onGod,whohasmercy.
17
FortheTanakhsaystoPharaoh,"Itisforthisvery
reasonthatIraisedyouup,sothatinconnectionwithyouImightdemonstrate
mypower,sothatmynamemightbeknownthroughouttheworld."
18
Sothen,
hehasmercyonwhomhewants,andhehardenswhomhewants.
Paul,too,wrestledwiththeparadoxofGod.HisonlysolutionisthatGodisn’ta
man,soHedoesn’tthinklikeaman,andalsoisn’tconfinedtolimited
understandingandthusalimitedsetofpossibleresponsesasisaman.So,
Yehovehmay(onwhatevertermsHechooses)grantmercyordemandsevere
retributionasHedeemsthesituationandHisplansrequire.Paulconcludes:
CJB
Romans9:19-20
19
Butyouwillsaytome,"Thenwhydoeshestillfindfault
withus?Afterall,whoresistshiswill?"
20
Whoareyou,amerehumanbeing,to
talkbacktoGod?Willwhatisformedsaytohimwhoformedit,"Whydidyou
makemethisway?"
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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Intheend,GodisNOTahuman…norisHeasuper-human…Heisanentirely
differentkindofsuperiorbeing.Hedoesn’tanswertous…weanswertoHim.
WhoarewetojudgetheJudge?And,yet,aswereadinthefinalchapterofJonah,
thatispreciselywhatGod’sownprophet,Jonah,wasdoing.Partofwhatmakes
Jonahsodifficulttointerpretandfathominanumberofwaysisthisdivine
paradoxweseesoclearlyifwe’llallowourmindstoopentoitinsteadoffiltering
itoutduetopreviousChurchteachingsanddoctrines.Ourdifficultyarises,then,
mainlybecauseofourmisguidedmindset;wehavelearnedthingsfromour
religiousleadersaboutGodthataresupposedtofitinthenice,neatboxeswe
havebeencreatedforHim…butdon’t.Instead,whenwelettheBiblespeakfor
itself,wefindaverycomplexandinfinitelysuperiordivinebeingthatreserves
therighttoactinwaysthatHedoesn’tnecessarilygivetoHiscreated
creatures…waysthatwehavenohumanabilitytodealwithnomatterhowmuch
ourintelligenceandknowledgemayincreaseoverthecenturiesandintothe
future.Godalwaysjudgesperfectly.Wedonotandneverwill.Heisabletodoso;
wearenot.HereissomethingGodshowedmeinthepreparationforteaching
thisbookthatI’dliketosharewithyou.
UnlessGod(inanactual,real,tangibleform)isthejudgepresidingoverevery
trial,overeverymoraldecisionwemustmakeaboutrightandwrong,goodand
evil…sinceHeisall-knowingincompleteperfectionthatHecandetermineguilt
andinnocencewithouterrorandwithperfectconfidence…thentheonly
alternativeistoputjudgmentofhumansonearthinthehandsofhumanjudges.
ThisisthepositionthatMosesimmediatelyfoundhimselfinanditbefuddledand
overwhelmedhimsuchthathisfather-in-lawJethrohadtogivehimsome
wisdomonhowtogoaboutit.InourUniverse,onEarth,wemusthavehuman
judgestodecideeachcaseandtodeterminenotonlyguiltandinnocence,but
alsowhenitispropertodispensestrictproportionalpunishmentorinsteadto
exercisemercy.Yet,beforeanydeterminationcanbemade,wefirsthavetoa
lawcodetogoby.Whoorwhatistobethesourceofthatlawcode?Shallitbe
varioushumansinleadershipwhocreateit,andsoweshallmakeour
determinationsaccordingtomanydifferentlawcodes,societybysociety,nation
bynation?Humanityhasdetermined:yes,wecanandshould.Godsays
otherwise.
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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SinceGodcannot(oratleastHehasdecidedHewillnot)bethejudgepresentat
everytrialandmoraldecision,thentheLordgaveusaUniversallawcode…a
codeofmorality…thatisperfectandperpetual.Itisuniversalinitsapplication.It
transcendstimeandculture.TheLawofMoseswasgiventhatwehaveameans
ofhumansdispensingdivinejusticebasedonGod’sprinciplesofmoralityand
(necessarily)alsoonwhatissinandwhatoughttobedoneaboutitthose
principlesareviolated.Itisanobjective,notasubjective,Lawcode.Itdoesnot
playfavorites;ithasnoregardforsocialstatusorraceorwealth.Andyet,
despiteitsperfectionanduniversalitybecauseofitsdivinesource,andbecause
imperfecthumansarelefttoadministerit,mistakeswillbemade.
Sadly,though,theChurchthatoughttobeitsgreatestdefenderandadvocate
hasactivelyencouragedChurchaswellasseculargovernmentstodiscardthis
divineLawcodeinfavorofonebasedonmanmadedoctrinesandonhumanity’s
opinionsofjusticeandmercy.Whatwasobjectiveandperpetual,hasbecome
subjectiveandevolving.Thus,theworldoperatesoncountlessdifferentlaw
codesand,asisclear,God’sdefinitionsofgoodandevil,ofmorality,havebeen
kickedtothecurbandweareliving-outthechaoticandruinousresults.
Intheend,Godwillgrabholdofthereignsofjusticeandremovethemfrom
humanhands.TheFather’sagent…Yeshua,HisSon…hasbeenappointedasthe
solejudgeandeveryhumanwhohaseverlivedwillbejudgedbyHim.What
standardwilleachindividualbejudgedupon?Theoneeachprefers?Theone
eachparticularsocietyonearthgoesby(atthetimetheywerealive)?Ofcourse
not.Itwillbeaccordingtotheonlydivinely-givencodeofLawandmercyever
establishedonearth:theLawofMoses.WillYeshuajudgeusthesameaswe
judgeourselvesorassocietyjudgesusorasahumanjudgeinacourtoflaw
judgesus?No.HewilljudgeusasonlyGodcan.Heseesthroughourclaimsand
intooursouls.Helookspastourdeedsintothemotivesforthosedeeds.Hewill
determineourcircumstancesinwaysthathumansystemscannot.Hewillmete
outeternaljusticethathumanscannotpossiblydoandsoreservesthe
responsibilitysolelytoHimself…asitshouldbe.ThisisyetanotherlessonJonah
is(angrilyandstubbornly)learning.Letuspaycloseattentionthatwemaylearn
itaswellandceaseattemptingtoremakeGod…andHismorallawcode…inour
image.
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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Jonah’sresponseinverse2seemscomical;almostasifTheNarratorwaswriting
satire.Thatiscertainlynotthecase.JonahiscriticizingGodforHisdecisionto
showmercytoNineveh.Infact,JonahsaysthatheknowsYehovehsowellthat
evenbeforeheleftJoppaforTarshishthathejustknewthatshouldNineveh
showrepentanceafterhearingGod’swarningtothem,thatGodwouldmost
likelyshowthemmercyandgrace.Ifeverwehaddoubtaboutthemotivefor
JonahfleeinghishomelandforTarshish,itishereputtorestasitcouldnotbe
moreexplicitlyandsimplystated.
Tohelpusnavigatethroughthisfinalchapter,let’stalkabouttiming.Inthefinal
verseofchapter3whenwegetthenewsthatGodisrelentingandisnotgoingto
destroyNineveh,thisissomethingthatisnotactuallyknowntoJonahortothe
Ninevitesuntilthe40dayshavepassed.Itissimplyaretrospectivecomment
thatTheNarratorhasprovidedforthebenefitofthereaderofthebook.So,what
followsiswhatwentonduringthat40-dayperiod,asallwaitedinsuspenseto
seewhathappens.EventhoughJonahknewinhisheart-of-heartsthatNineveh
wasgoingtoreceiveGod’smercyandnotHiswrath,heheldouthopeallthat
timethathemightbewrong.Hewantedtobewrong.Hewantedtowatchthe
cityofNinevehobliteratedaswasSodomandGomorrah.Thus,hisprayerisnot
oneofpraiseandcontritionbeforeGod,butratheroneofscornand
disappointmentinGod.Ashardasitcanbeforustograsp,Jonahwasconvinced
inhisownmindthatGodwaswrongaboutthis.Therefore,theconclusionofhis
prayer(inverse3)isthatJonahwantstodie.Hewantstocommitpassivesuicide.
Jonahwassoconvincedthathisownrebellionwasright,andthathisownsense
ofjustice,morality,andmercywasright….andbecauseJonahwassucha
single-mindedandprincipledman…heagainchooseshisowndeathover
agreeingwithGod.
EssentiallywhathashappenedisthatJonahhasre-definedGodinhisownmind,
andwhenGodshowedhimwhoHereallyis,Jonahrejectedit.Jonahwantedthe
Godofhisownpersonalimaginings,nottheOnethatexists.TheGodofJonah’s
imagewasaGodofstrictjudgmentuponthenations,butalsoaGodthatfiltered
everythingthroughgraceandmercybutonlyforIsrael.HewasIsrael’sGodand
soHisloveandmercyweresupposedtobereservedonlyforIsrael.SinceAssyria
wasIsrael’sconstantenemy,thenofcourseGodwoulddispenseHisharshest
judgmentuponthem.Instead,itturnsoutthatGodalsoshowsthatsamemercy
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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andgracetogentiles…eventoIsrael’senemies.Jonahpreferredhiswayof
thinkingaboutjusticeandmercytothepointthathe’dratherhavehislifeended
thanhavingtoadjusthisunderstandingofYehoveh.Oh,whatacautionwehave
runhead-longinto.Whenwe,indespairorarrogance,seriouslyaskGod“why?”,
wearedeepdownquestioningGod’sjudgment,orperhapstoalesserdegreethe
qualityofHisinnateattributes.IfweknewandacceptedGodasHeis,wewould
NEVERthinktodosuchathing.Theproblemisthat(likelyunawares)wehave
madeGodinourownimage,andnowHehasdisruptedthatimage,andweare
nothappyaboutit.Perhapswe’reconfusedandflummoxedaboutit.Whatever
occurred,GodwasNOTsupposedtoreactinwhateverwayHehas.This,too,was
Jonah’sdilemma.Iknowofapersonwhoconfidedinmethatearlyinheradult
life,whenaseriesoftragediesinherfamilycausedherincrediblementalpain
andlong-termsuffering,shedeterminedtostoptalkingwithGod.Shewasangry
withHim.Shefeltthatshedeservedbetter.Godwaswrongnottorewardwhat
shesawasherfaithfulnesstoHim;itwasabargaingonebad.Allherdetermined
faithfulnessseemedtogofornought.Inhermind,Godhadrenegedona
promise.Itwasmanyyearslaterbeforesherealizedthefollyofsuchthinking
thathappenedbecauseshehadmadeGodinherimage;andimaginedaquidpro
quorelationshipwithHimthatmeantthatifshedidcertainthings,God
guaranteedhercertainprotectionsinreturn.Shefinallyrepentedanddevoted
herselftorelearningwhoGodreallyisandacceptingit.Atthispointinourstory,
Jonahisyettoreachthatconclusion.
ObviouslyignoringJonah’srequesttodie,GodinsteadasksJonahaquestion:
“whatrightdoyouhavetobeangry?”.Jonahisangry,buthisangeris
completelywithoutgoodcauseandGodcallshimonit.Goddoesn’tdoubtthe
seriousnessofJonah’srage,ratherHequestionsJonah’sjustificationforit.At
thispointIwantyoutobealerttosomethingthatisrunninginthebackground
intheJonahstoryfornow,butbecomesapparentinthenextseveralverses.God
isnotangrywithJonah.Rather,GodactuallyseesJonah’sgreatemotional
distressandwantstosootheitthewayafatherwantstosootheachild’s
vexationandupsetoversomethingtheydon’tunderstand.Thechilddoesn’t
needtobedisciplined;heneedsloveandcompassionandperhapssomegentle
explanation.Goddidn’tpunishJonahforarebellionthatisunprecedented
amongGod’sprophets,whenoureveryhumanemotionandinstinctsayshe
oughttobe.Instead,justasGodshowedNinevehpatienceandmercy,soHedid
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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forJonah.Jonah’sdistresswasveryreal,eventhoughtheunderlyingreasonfor
itwasnotjustifiedanditwashisownfault.
Inverse5,Jonahleavesthecity.Totheeastsideofthecity,hefindsasuitable
spotandtherebuildshimselfashelter.TheHebrewwordusedforthisshelteris
succah…awordthatisfamiliartothosewhocelebrateGod’sbiblicalfeasts.Itis
atemporaryhutorbooth.Whydidhegothereanddothis?Theverseplainly
states:“…toseewhatwouldhappentothecity”.So,thisistakingplaceduring
that40-dayperiodGodwarnedabout,andthepeopleofNinevehandJonahwait
insuspensetoseewhatisgoingtohappentothem.Itisn’thardtounderstand
theNinevites’dailyanxietiesastheywaitedfortheirfatetounfold.ButforJonah?
HewasalreadyconvincedthatGodwasnotgoingtoharmthosepeople;yet,his
stubbornrebelliousnessmeantthatheheldoutsomesmallmeasureofhopefor
Nineveh’sdestructionandhewantedtoseeitforhimself.
JustasearlierJonahhadfledtothefarwestinordertonotgoeasttoNineveh,
sonowhehadenteredNinevehfromthewest,beganpreachingthere,andlater
hasemergedontheeast.Thesuccahhebuiltwasprobablymadefrompilingup
stones.Wood…timberforconstruction…wasscarceinthatareaandsovery
expensiveasithadtobeimported.Ausableandeffectiveroof(whosepurpose
wouldhavebeenshelterfromthesunandnotfromrain)wouldhaverequireda
fewwoodenpolesorbeams.So,whateverhefirstusedforroofmaterialwas
inadequatetokeepfromroastingintheintensesunandheatofthearea.God,
mercifulandcompassionate,decidestohelpincorrigibleJonahbyproviding
someshelterfromthesunforhim.
Inverse6,thefirstwordsare:“Adonai,God,preparedacastor-beanplant…..”
Or,moreusually,“TheLord,God,preparedaplant(orgourd)….”Whatwehave
hereisaveryuniqueHebrewwordcombinationinJonahconcerningGod.Inthe
originalHebrewthewordsare“Yehoveh,elohim”.Knowingwhatwenowknow
aboutYehovehbeingGod’sformalname,andelohimmoremeaning“divine
being”asopposedtomeaning“God”or“gods”,herethiswordcombinationis
intendedtoimparttheinformationthatitisYehovehthatistheparticularelohim
whomiraculouslypreparedthisplantforJonah.Afterall,asrebelliousasJonah
hasbeenandremains,itishardforan8
th
centuryB.C.readertoimaginethatthe
sameGodthatJonahisrebellingagainstisalsoprovidingJonahshadesothathe
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
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cansitmorecomfortably,poutingasitwere,waitingtoseewhathappensnext.
Jonahwas,ofcourse,delightedwiththisplantthatgrewsuddenly,overnight,
andprovidedhimrelieffromhisdiscomfort.
Disastrously,however,thenextdayawormattackedtheplantanddestroyedit;
so,itwitheredanddied,andalongwithitwentJonah’sprizedshade.Onlyone
fulldayofshadeandreliefhadbeenprovidedforJonah,butitwasenoughtime
forhimtogreatlyappreciateitandexpectit.DespitemanyattemptsofBible
translatorstoidentifytheexacttypeofplantortheexacttypeofworm,itisa
uselessendeavor.Thereissimplynotenoughinformationtodothat.
Wearenexttoldthataneastwindbegantoblow.Nodoubtthisdirectionofthe
windhastodowiththesideofthecityJonahisencamped.Ifhewasonthewest
side,hewouldhavebeensomewhatshelteredfromthewindbythegreat,high
citywalls.Butsinceheisoutsidetheeasternwalls,heisbearingthebruntofit:
ahot,dryeastwindcombinedwiththehotsunbeatingdownonhimmadehim
evenmoremiserable.Whydidn’thego,then,backinsidethecitythatwasright
thereinfromofhim?Because,hestillbelieveditwaspossiblethatYehovehwas
goingtodestroyNinevehasHedidwithSodomanddidn’twanttoriskbeing
insideofitshouldithappen.So,hissufferingonlyincreasesduetohiscontinuing
folly.
Jonahbecomessomiserablethatheutterstonooneinparticularthathe’d
ratherdiethancontinuetolive.LiterallytheHebrewsaysthat“hewilledhimself
todie”.Ofcourse;clearlyGodwasn’tgoingtodotheworkofkillinghim,soJonah
waswillinghimselftostopbreathing.Itdidn’twork.GodnowspeakstoJonah
nottochastisehimbutrathertoteach.AlreadyGodhasaskedJonahwhatright
hethoughthehadtobeangrywithGodsimplybecauseHeshowedNineveh
mercy.NowHeagainasksJonahabouthisanger,onlythistimeitwasoverthe
deathofhissourceofshade:theplant.Jonahnotonlyself-righteouslyreplies
thatyes,heisangryaboutthedeadplant,butthatheissoangryhewantstodie.
Jonahkeepsmakinghisangerandbitternesssofiercethathecan’tbearitany
longer.
Verses10and11arethecruxofthelessonYehovehisgraciouslytryingtoteach
Jonah.Hesays:
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
13/14
CJB
Jonah4:10-11
10
ADONAIsaid,"You'reconcernedoverthecastor-beanplant,
whichcostyounoeffort;youdidn'tmakeitgrow;itcameupinanightand
perishedinanight.
11
Soshouldn'tIbeconcernedaboutthegreatcityofNinveh,
inwhichtherearemorethan120,000peoplewhodon'tknowtheirrighthand
fromtheirleft-nottomentionalltheanimals?"
WhatisGodactuallysayinghere,becausewhatisrevealedisyetanother
attributeofGodthatfurtherexplainswhoHereallyis?GodisaskingJonah:
howcanitberightthatIshouldstrikedownthe120,000humanlivesofNineveh,
butitisnotrightthatIshouldstrikedownasimpleplant?Therealityforwe
readersandfollowersofGodisthatwearelefttocompletethiscomparison
betweenthepeopleofNinevehandtheplantforourselves.Weshould,bynow,
(asofcourseshouldJonah)getit.ItisaswereadinJeremiah:
CJB
Jeremiah45:3-5
3
'Woetomenow!ADONAIhascompoundedmypainwith
sorrow,Iamwearyfromgroaning,andIcanfindnorelief!'
4
"Tellhimthat
ADONAIsays:'IwillteardownwhatIbuiltup,IwilluprootwhatIplanted….
5
Areyouseekinggreatthingsforyourself?Don't!….'"
NinevehistheworkofGod’shands.Hehastherighttotearitdownortokeepit
intact,andtouseitforwhateverHepurposes.But,anotherimportantfactoris
this:Ninevehisagreatimportantcity.Itisperhapsthemostancientofcitiesstill
inexistenceinJonah’sday.And,althoughitwasimpossibleforanyoneinJonah’s
daytoknowatthetime,GodhasplanstouseAssyria(justafewyearsintothe
future)todisciplinetheKingdomofEphraim/IsraelforHim.Nineveh(Assyria)
neededtosurvivebecausetheywouldbeGod’sinstrumenttoexilethe10tribes
oftheNorthernKingdomfortheirrebellionagainstHim.Further,unlikeasingle
plant,Ninevehishometomorethan100,000livingsouls…humansAND
animals…allwhichGodhascreated.ItisimportanttoHim.Itisfarmore
importantthanaplant.Andyet,forJonah,thatplantthathasnosoulismore
importantthanallthosewithlivingsoulsinNineveh.
Godcreatedalllife;butalllifewasnotcreatedequal.Therearebasically3
spheres…maybeitis3categories…oflife:plants,animals,andhumans.Humans
sitaloneatthetopofthehierarchy;animalsnext,andplantsadistantthird.God
Lesson7-JonahChapters3&4END
14/14
caresthemostabouthumanlife.Hecaresforhislivinganimalcreatures,butnot
nearlyinthesamewayhecaresforhumans.Plantsareonlytherefortheuseand
enjoymentofhumansandanimals.Therefore,God’sdivineattributeof
compassionandmercy(somethingwhichJonahisinfullrebellionagainst)has
twofacestoit.OnefaceisthatHeforgivessinsofthosehumanswhotrespass
againstHismoralcode,andtheotherfaceshowscompassiontohumansand
animalssimplybecausetheyarealllivingcreatureswiththebreathoflifein
them.
PerhapsthemostprofoundpartofthislessontoJonahisthis:God’sloveforHis
creatures…greatandsmall…innowaydiminishesHisdivinelyordainedjustice.
Inpointoffact,mercyandcompassionareessential,indispensableelementsof
God’sjusticesystem.Whatseemsasparadoxtohumans,isperfectiontoGod.
ItismostinterestingthatourbookendswithnoresponsefromJonah.Whether
itissoornot,I’dliketothinkthatJonahhasfinallyrecognizedthatGodisright.
And,thattheonlyproperresponseishumblesilence.Althoughtheroutetothe
conclusionisdifferent,JonahagreeswithJob.
CJB
Job42:1-6Then[atlast,]IyovgaveADONAIthisanswer:
2
"Iknowthatyou
candoeverything,thatnopurposeofyourscanbethwarted.
3
"[Youasked,]
'Whoisthis,hidingcounsel,withouthavingknowledge?'Yes,Ispoke,without
understanding,ofwondersfarbeyondme,whichIdidn'tknow.
4
"Pleaselisten,
andIwillspeak.[Yousaid,]'Iwillaskquestions;andyou,givemeanswers'-
5
I
hadheardaboutyouwithmyears,butnowmyeyeseesyou;
6
thereforeIdetest
[myself]andrepentindustandashes."
ThisconcludesourstudyoftheBookofJonah.