Jonah Chapter 4

Jonah’s Anger over the LORD’s Mercy

¹ That really made Jonah mad. ² He told the LORD,

“That’s exactly what I said back home and why I tried to run away to Tarshish. I knew you’re a gracious, merciful God, slow to get angry and full of enduring love, and relent from bringing catastrophe. ³ So take my life; I’d be better off dead.”

⁴ The LORD asked, “What right do you have to be mad?”                            Jon 4:1-4

⁵ Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made a lean-to and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. ⁶ The LORD God had a plant grow up to shade him and give him relief. He was glad to see it. ⁷ But at dawn the next day, God had a worm attack the plant, and it withered. ⁸ When the sun came up, God had a scorching east wind blow and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head till he became faint and begged to die, “I’d be better off dead.”                                                                                                                     Jon 4:5-8

⁹ Then God asked, “What right do you have to be mad about a plant?!”

“I’ve got reason to be mad enough to die.”

¹⁰ “You’re concerned about a plant you didn’t plant or make grow, that came up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹ Shouldn’t I be concerned about Nineveh, a big city with more than 120,000 people that don’t know left from right—as well as lots of animals?” Jon 4:9-11

Version by Virgil Warren: christir.org