Welcome back to our series on the Book of Jonah! We’ve journeyed through the prophet’s rebellion, his prayer from the depths, and Nineveh’s remarkable repentance. Today, we wrap up with Chapter 4—the culmination of the entire book, where contrasts sharpen and reflections deepen. Follow us on social media for updates! Let’s dive in!
The Big Picture: Reflecting on Jonah and Ourselves
Jonah Chapter 4 brings everything full circle, contrasting the calm, quiet Jonah of the early chapters with his furious outburst here. In Chapters 1-2, Jonah is composed, viewing Yehovah as a figure of wrath—deserving punishment for his own rebellion. His prayer in Chapter 2 isn’t fully repentant but psalm-like, acknowledging Yehovah’s power. Now, in Chapter 4, we see another prayer, but it’s laced with anger. This chapter forces us to reflect not just on Jonah, but on Israel, the children of Abraham, and ourselves as gentiles that are grafted-in (Romans 11, Ephesians 2).
Yehovah has one people—the family of Israel—and as Gentiles, we’re grafted into that tree. In the New Jerusalem, we’ll enter through gates named after Israel’s tribes (Revelation 21). The goal? Heaven and earth united, as in Eden. Jonah’s story challenges us: Are we reflecting Yehovah’s mercy to all nations, or harboring wrath like Jonah?
We’re reading from the Lexham English Bible:
Jonah 3:10-4:11
And God saw their deeds—that they turned from their evil ways—and God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it.
And this was greatly displeasing to Jonah, and he became furious. And he prayed to Yahweh and said, “O Yahweh, was this not what I said while I was in my homeland? Therefore ⌊I originally fled⌋ to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger ⌊and having great steadfast love⌋, and one who relents concerning calamity. And so then, O Yahweh, please take my life from me, because for me death is better than life!”
And Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
And Jonah went out from the city and sat down east of the city, and he made for himself a shelter there. And he sat under it in the shade, ⌊waiting to see⌋ what would happen with the city. And Yahweh God appointed a plant, and he made it grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. And Jonah ⌊was very glad⌋ about the plant.
So God appointed a worm ⌊at daybreak⌋ the next day, and it attacked the plant, and it withered. ⌊And when the sun rose⌋, God appointed a hot east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head and he grew faint. ⌊So he asked that he could die⌋ and said, “My death is better than my life!”
So God said to Jonah, “⌊Is it right for you to be angry⌋ about the plant?” And he said, “⌊It is right for me to be angry enough to die⌋!”
But Yahweh said, “You are troubled about the plant, for which you did not labor nor cause it to grow, ⌊which grew up in a night and perished in a night⌋. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more ⌊than one hundred and twenty thousand⌋ people who do not know right from left, plus many animals?”
Jonah’s Fury: A Shift from Calm to Wrath
In 3:10, Yehovah sees Nineveh’s deeds—their turn from evil (ra’ah in Hebrew, meaning anything from rudeness to grave sin)—and relents. But this ra’ah displeases Jonah; it’s “greatly evil” to him (4:1). He’s furious—not just upset, but wrathful. Ironically, Jonah expected a God of wrath, yet Yehovah shows mercy. Now, Jonah embodies the wrath he anticipated from Yehovah.
This ra’ah shifts: In Chapter 1, it’s tied to Nineveh; now, it’s Jonah’s. He should rejoice—120,000 repent! Prophets like Jeremiah preached endlessly without response. Kings of Israel rejected rebukes, yet Nineveh’s king humbles himself. As Yeshua says in Luke 15:7-10, heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner. Imagine the celebration over 120,000! But Jonah sees them as undeserving—no Scriptures, no law, no prophets.
Jonah’s Prayer: Revelation and Despair
Jonah prays (4:2-3), revealing why he fled: “I knew You were gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, relenting from calamity.” He quotes Scriptures (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy, Proverbs)—knowing Yehovah’s character but resenting its extension to enemies. Like us, when someone we dislike receives grace, we think, “They don’t deserve it!”
This echoes Jewish views: Yehovah only deals with Israel. But Jeremiah 18:6-8 shows Yehovah can uproot or spare any nation that repents. Jonah misses this—focusing on his people while ignoring Yehovah’s global mercy.
Despairing, Jonah prefers death (4:3). Yehovah questions: “Is it right for you to be angry?” (4:4). Literally: “Does it cause good that anger is to you?” Echoing Yehovah’s words to Cain (Genesis 4:5-7), where sin crouches at the door. Jonah, like Cain, faces a choice: Master anger or be consumed.
God’s Appointments: Lessons in Mercy
Jonah sits east of the city, building a sukkah (booth, like Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23, Nehemiah 8)—watching for destruction (4:5). Yehovah appoints a plant (castor oil or gourd/vine in Septuagint) for shade, delivering Jonah from his ra’ah (discomfort/evil, 4:6). Jonah rejoices—not for the plant, but its benefit.
Then, Yehovah appoints a worm to wither it (4:7) and a scorching east wind (echoing Chapter 1’s storm), making Jonah faint. Again, he wants death (4:8). Yehovah repeats: “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah: “It is right—enough to die!” (4:9).
Yehovah didn’t need Jonah; He appoints nature (fish, plant, worm, wind) to teach. Like Israel, we’re tools for His will—He could raise stones as Abraham’s children (Luke 3:8, 19:40). Yehovah persists, cultivating maturity despite rebellion.
The Final Challenge: Concern for the Greater Things
Yehovah contrasts: Jonah pities a plant he didn’t cultivate—one that grew and perished overnight (4:10). Shouldn’t Yehovah pity Nineveh, the great city with 120,000 who “don’t know right from left” (ignorant of His ways, like Deuteronomy 5:32, Proverbs 4:27)—plus animals? Jonah cares for self-comfort; Yehovah, for faces, names, and even beasts with purpose.
Nineveh repents without knowing the law—turning from evil. Israel, with Scriptures and temple, often doesn’t. Yeshua warns: Nineveh will judge His generation (Matthew 12:41)—seeing miracles yet rejecting Him. Today, many claiming God’s name ignore commands: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15; Deuteronomy 6:5).
Jonah exemplifies what not to do: Israel’s commission is to draw nations to Yehovah. Yeshua loved enemies (Rome); we must too. Hosea 11 paints Yehovah as a loving Father, guiding despite mess.
Wrapping Up: A Blessing for Reflection
I pray this blesses you! Re-read Jonah slowly—four chapters, 15 minutes tops. Reflect on your life: Are you Jonah, harboring wrath? Or embracing Yehovah’s mercy for all?
Many blessings,
Javier Holguin Jr.
Word of Truth Fellowship 