A Gracious God

March 14, 2010

Lesson: Jonah 4:1–11

Key Verse: Jonah 4:2

Introduction

The grace of God is an elusive doctrine to many Christians because they define this grace by their own views or experiences. How could God show grace to those who have denied him, or have openly refused to obey him? We are more willing to show grace to those who positively respond to our hopes for them. Certainly grace is easier, and should be given, when someone does well. A child receives a special love from the parent when he or she is obedient. However, that same special love, which is of grace, should also be given to child who has disobeyed. Yes, that disobedient child may need discipline, but Christian love is not measured by the circumstance, but by the heart. It is true that, as the grace of Christ ought to be shown in the grace we communicate, the grace of Christ is God’s communication of his love in the fullest: “Grace in the saints is as water in a vessel, grace in Christ is as water in the spring. ‘Of his fullness have all we receive and grace for grace.’ John 1:16” (Thomas Watson).

The grace which Christ gives is poured out from its original source: the heart of God; John Calvin commented: “True, indeed, the fountain of life, righteousness, virtue, and wisdom, is with God, but to us it is a hidden and inaccessible fountain. But an abundance of those things is exhibited to us in Christ that we may be permitted to have recourse to him; for he is ready to flow to us, provided that we open up a channel by faith.” And to further know the wonder of the grace of God, this faith, by which we look to Christ alone for our salvation, is also a gift of grace: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).

Anger Against God: Jonah 4:1–4

It displeased Jonah very much that God would show such compassion on an evil city. He was very angry. Let us not, though, cast the first stone. There are times when the Christian holds back the praise that God should receive, wondering why God should bless someone we believe does not deserve such mercy. The compassion of the Lord irritated Jonah to the extent that he thought of it as a great evil. Jonah had preached destruction for Nineveh. The Lord’s mercy brought him discontent.

Jonah’s displeasure is seen in his prayer: “O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Jonah seems to hate Nineveh so much that he does not wish to see God’s giving of compassion. He wanted the prophecy of destruction to hold true, not the truth of God’s kindness and mercy. He is so irritated that he prays that the Lord would take his life, “for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Take note of the fourfold nature of the Lord God Almighty which Jonah so clearly knows: That the Lord is:

1. a gracious God
2. a merciful God
3. a God who is slow to vent his anger
4. a God who is abundant in lovingkindness
5. a God who repents or relents from doing evil or harm (revealing that it is in his will and purpose to show mercy on whomever he chooses to show mercy)

Why then would it better for Jonah to die? Jonah had a zeal for his nation and his God. However, he would be like the apostles, James and John, when they saw the evil of a Samaritan village. They said to Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?” Jesus answered, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:54–56).

This question comes from the Lord to Jonah: “Doest thou well to be angry?” God’s question is the same as the statement of Jesus to his disciples. What is your spirit, Jonah? Are you justified to speak as you do? Instead of seeing the spirit of saving grace, Jonah dwelt only upon the message of wrath. Jonah had forgotten the purpose of the message of destruction, to bring men to repentance.

Discussion: How is the nature of God revealed in His dealing with Nineveh?

God Prepares a Worm: Jonah 4:5–8

Jonah leaves the city and makes himself a booth, a small campsite, “and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.” Jonah sits in anger, a prophet who knows his Lord, who has faith in the word of God. But his anger clouds his view.

God, however, loves his prophet and teaches him a lesson. The Lord prepares a covering over his servant that he might be delivered from his grief. This makes Jonah very happy. The next morning “God prepared a worm,” and the worm struck the gourd and it withered. The sun became hot in the sky as the Lord prepared a strong hot east wind. The sun beat against the head of Jonah. He fainted from the heat, and wished himself to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

With the loving understanding of a Father, God draws Jonah to himself. These acts of the Creator were to teach Jonah that the compassion which he witnessed in the Lord toward Nineveh, was the same compassion that was always his. Adversity and affliction certainly test our faith. But they are given to the child of God for teaching and admonishment in how to live as children of God. The depth of the trouble is seen in Jonah’s wish to die. Both the severest and lightest of trouble may bring such a wish to our lives. However, Elohim, the God of Creation, the God who is personally involved in our lives, draws us to himself.

Discussion: What was Jonah’s reaction to the gourd and the worm?

Pity the Gourd: Jonah 4:9–11

Jonah is now ready for this question: “Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?” Should he not be angry that his comfort died with the plant? Jonah replied, “I do well to be angry, even unto death.” Jonah had been pleased with the miraculous growth which gave him pleasure. If he expressed such compassion upon a tree, should he not have seen and rejoiced in the compassion of the Lord upon Nineveh? For here was a city with thousands of souls destined to God’s wrath. The Lord proceeds to teach Jonah, saying, “Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou has not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should I not spare Nineveh, that great city?”

Jonah showed pity on the gourd, which he did not plant, nor did he have anything to do with its growth. Shall not God, who created the inhabitants of Nineveh, who also sustained them through the years, show pity, have mercy upon which he shall have mercy? Why, there were even oxen in the city, are they not much more important than a plant? Jonah grieves over a plant. Yet he is heartless in grieving over souls who must face eternal life, either in hell or in heaven.

The story ends without a remark from Jonah. The purpose of the book has been clearly set forth. Both Israel and the Church must learn the true meaning of God’s compassion. Christ testifies to the compassion of our Father in heaven, saying, “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here” (Matt. 12:41).

Christ has loved with the compassion of a father, of a shepherd who would give up his life for his sheep. We give thanks for the love revealed to us in the shedding of his blood on Calvary. We also give thanks that our preaching will not be in vain; for the Word of God will not return to the Lord without those souls for which he gave his Son. We must praise God for the repentance sown in the soul of the greatest sinners. Were we not once one of them? “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23–24).

Discussion: To whom does Christ show his compassion?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.