Title: Jonah 4: Made in the Shade. God when the people repent. Jonah 3:10 (NLT), When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. • In our day, this news would make Jonah a celebrity missionary overnight. • Luke 15:10, “… there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Jonah when the people are saved. Jonah 4:1-5, This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” 4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” 5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. • We learn why Jonah ran away! Because he knew God would forgive. • Jonah believes God is doing evil in not punishing evil. • Jonah is angry that God isn’t angry. Jonah is angry that God is merciful. Parable: God is not willing that any should . Jonah 4:6-9, And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. 9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” • In v.3 Jonah is angry that God does not destroy the people. • In v. 9 Jonah is angry that God does not save the plant. • Destroy or Save? That is the question. Jonah is wrestling with God’s justice and God’s mercy – His saving/destroying. God destroyed the plant but saved the people. In Jonah’s mind, God should have saved the plant, and destroyed the people. Jonah loves his shade more than he loves ! 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” Conclusion: Jonah 4:10-11, Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah closes with an a fortiori argument: Jonah has compassion when a plant is destroyed. How much more should God have compassion when people are destroyed? “Nothing becomes important until it becomes personal.” For God, lost people matter. Do lost people matter to us? The ending of Jonah reminds us of Jesus parable of the lost son in Luke 15. Jonah is angry like the older son and the father begs him to come in and welcome his lost brother home. Luke 15:32 (NLT), “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!" Final Questions: Do I personally celebrate when lost people find Christ? Do I know the biblical meaning of justice and mercy? Am I so self-absorbed that I devalue other people? Do I secretly wish someone would go to hell? “Is it right for me to be angry about _____?” “Shouldn’t I feel sorry for _____?”