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Jonah 4

11 verses

TL;DR

Jonah mourns his escape and begs for death, but God uses a gourd, worm, and wind to teach him compassion for Nineveh.

Summary

In Jonah 4, the prophet is upset that God spared the people of Nineveh, and he cries out that death would be better than life. He leaves the city, sits in a booth on the east side, and receives a gourd that provides shade. God then sends a worm to eat the gourd, causing it to wither. Following this, God brings a harsh east wind and a scorching sun that makes Jonah faint, again expressing a desire to die. God questions Jonah's anger over the gourd, reminding him that he had no part in its growth. He then declares His intent to spare Nineveh, a city with more than sixty thousand people and abundant cattle, showing God’s mercy even to the wicked. The chapter highlights the tension between human resentment and divine compassion.

Outline
  1. Jonah’s lament and request for death
  2. God’s demonstration through the gourd, worm, and wind
  3. God’s revelation of mercy toward Nineveh
Themes
God’s compassionHuman anger and humilityRepentance and mercy
Keywords
angermercyrepentanceNinevehgourdwormwindsunshadow
People
JonahLord
Places
NinevehTarshishthe city
Things
gourdwormeast windsunboothshadow
Key Verses
  • Jonah 4:6: Shows God’s mercy by providing shade, only for Jonah to later lament
  • Jonah 4:11: Reveals God’s intent to spare Nineveh, the central message of the chapter
Questions
  • Why did Jonah feel such intense anger after God spared Nineveh?
  • How does God’s use of natural phenomena (gourd, worm, wind) teach Jonah about compassion?
  • What can we learn from Jonah’s reaction that applies to our attitudes toward those who repent?
Sentiment

mixed
Jonah’s anger contrasts with God’s compassionate response