Sometimes we convince ourselves we’re aligned with God’s heart, when in reality, we’re just protecting our own material comforts. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being comfortable, but when stuff becomes more important than compassion, we’re in dangerous territory. The story of Jonah illustrates this.
You probably know his story, the prophet who ran from God, was swallowed by a fish, and lived to tell about it. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, it’s a quick read. Here is a link to the first chapter.
Many who know about the fish story don’t realize how the story ends. After God saved the city of Nineveh, Jonah was furious. Not because people ignored his preaching. Not because his message failed. But because it was successful. They believed, but Jonah did not want them to. That is actually the true reason Jonah ran away in the first place. Jonah knew God would show mercy to the Ninevites instead of judgment, and Jonah didn’t like that.
See Jonah’s confession below.
That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
Jonah 4:2b (ESV)
That might sound surprising, even contradictory to the version we learned in Sunday School. But the book doesn’t stop there. The last chapter gives us something even more unexpected—a prophet who is angry at God because of his mercy.
The pouting prophet sulked and moped his way out of the city’s gates. He sat down east of Nineveh and watched the town from afar. Jonah was still hoping the Lord would destroy it. As he sat, God allowed a plant to grow that Jonah might find comfort from the hot Mesopotamian sun as he grieved God’s grace. This made Jonah glad. However, God then caused a worm to destroy the plant. Jonah’s comfortable spot in the shade was gone. The sun blazed. Jonah became angrier.
That’s when God confronted Jonah, not with a big fish, but with a sharp rebuke and correction. Here is what the Lord told him.
You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?
Jonah 4:10–11 (ESV)
Jonah did not do anything to make this plant grow. He did not plant it. He did not water it. Jonah did not even ask for the plant. It was a gift from God to provide Jonah comfort. Jonah didn’t love the plant because it had great meaning, but because it was a good thing in his life. When it was gone, he grieved, not because it was valuable, but because it was comfortable. Yet if God poured his wrath upon Nineveh in that moment, Jonah would’ve had no pity.
While Jonah was grieving the loss of comfort, God grieved, too, but over something entirely different. God was concerned about a city full of 120,000 spiritually confused people “who do not know their right hand from their left.”
So here’s the contrast: Jonah did not make the plant, but the Lord created each soul in the city of Nineveh. Jonah did not work to save the plant, but the Lord worked to bring this evil city to salvation. Jonah mourned his loss of shade. God mourned the thought of lost people perishing.
If God showed this much mercy to Nineveh, how much more is this relevant to us today in light of Jesus Christ, who didn’t just spare judgment, but willingly took it upon himself to save us. The cross shows us how far God will go to rescue the lost, and Jonah shows us how far we’re often unwilling to go.
To Jonah, God made his point, and that’s where the story ends, with God asking Jonah a question. It’s never answered. Maybe because that question isn’t just for Jonah. It’s for us, too.
The Lord is showing us that his heart is for broken, confused, lost, and even offensive people. We may prefer to avoid them. We may not think they deserve mercy, but I am no better, and neither are you. God shows his forbearing patience for us by not smiting each of us.
Will we grieve lost comforts more than we grieve lost souls? Will we celebrate God’s grace for others, even when it challenges our pride or biases?
The real question isn’t how Jonah responded. It’s how we will respond.
Bee-Attitude
Blessed are those who pity the souls who do not know the Lord, for they understand the heart of God.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
