VideoBible

Give Now

VideoBible

Give Now

Jonah 4 — Expository Bible Preachin Sermon and Study Guide

Overview

Jonah 4 concludes the book of Jonah with a surprising and convicting turn. Instead of ending with Nineveh’s repentance in chapter 3, the spotlight returns to Jonah, revealing his anger over God‘s mercy toward Israel‘s enemies. The chapter exposes Jonah’s heart and contrasts it with God‘s. While Jonah sits outside the city, hoping for its destruction, God patiently teaches him a lesson about compassion using a plant, a worm, and the scorching east wind.

This chapter emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the depth of His mercy, and the need for His people to align their hearts with His. Jonah 4 reminds readers that God’s love reaches beyond Israel to all nations and that His character is unchanging—“gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (v. 2). The final question God asks Jonah remains unanswered, inviting every reader to examine their own heart before God.

Historical and Literary Context

Historical Context

Jonah was a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-25), a time of national prosperity for Israel but spiritual decline. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, Israel’s feared and brutal enemy. From Israel’s perspective, Assyria deserved judgment, not mercy. The Assyrians would later conquer the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., which underscores the irony of Jonah’s mission—being called to save a nation that would one day destroy his own.

This setting intensifies the personal and national tension in Jonah’s resistance. He isn’t just disobedient—he’s wrestling with God’s justice and God’s grace toward the enemies of His people.

Literary Context

Jonah 4 is written in narrative prose with dialogue, divine questions, and symbolism. It functions as a satirical and prophetic narrative, exposing the prophet’s pride and lack of compassion. It also mirrors the structure of earlier chapters:

  • Jonah’s disobedience (ch. 1) is matched by his anger at obedience (ch. 4).

  • God’s mercy on pagans at sea (ch. 1) and in Nineveh (ch. 3) is contrasted with Jonah’s resentment (ch. 4).

  • God‘s control over the sea, fish, and city (chs. 1-3) is echoed in His control over the plant, worm, and wind (ch. 4), showing His sovereignty over nature and human hearts.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. God’s Sovereignty

God controls every aspect of this story: from the great fish to the plant, worm, and wind. His hand is in creation, timing, and personal instruction. Jonah’s attempt to sit in judgment over God‘s decisions reveals a heart that has lost sight of divine authority.

Doctrinal Point: God has the right to show mercy to whom He wills (Romans 9:15-16). His sovereign will is perfect, even when it challenges human expectations.

2. God’s Mercy and Compassion

Jonah confesses that he fled to Tarshish because he knew God would be merciful (v. 2). God’s mercy offends Jonah, revealing that while Jonah received grace (chapter 2), he did not want to see that grace extended to others.

Doctrinal Point: God’s mercy is a central attribute of His nature (Exodus 34:6). The gospel extends mercy to all nations (John 3:16), and God desires none to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

3. Human Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy

Jonah, who was saved by God’s mercy, becomes angry when others receive it. His concern for a plant—something he did not create—exposes his misplaced priorities. He values comfort over compassion, and personal preferences over God‘s redemptive plan.

Doctrinal Point: Self-righteousness blinds people to the mission of God. The gospel calls believers to deny themselves and love others as God does (Matthew 16:24; Philippians 2:3-4).

4. The Mission of God to the Nations

Jonah’s story reveals that God’s heart is for all people, not just Israel. The book of Jonah is a missionary story, where God sends a prophet to a foreign nation to proclaim repentance and mercy.

Doctrinal Point: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is rooted in God’s character and is foreshadowed in Jonah. The gospel is for all nations, regardless of background or history.

5. God’s Patience with His People

Even in Jonah’s anger and immaturity, God does not destroy him. Instead, He patiently instructs Jonah through object lessons and questions. God is not only merciful to the lost but also longsuffering toward His own people.

Doctrinal Point: God‘s discipline is gracious and purposeful (Hebrews 12:6). He uses trials to expose and correct the attitudes of His people.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Jonah 4:1

“But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.”

Explanation:
 Jonah reacts negatively to God’s mercy. The Hebrew word for “wrong” (ra’ah) can also mean evil or disastrous. Jonah, a prophet of God, is upset not because of injustice, but because justice, in his mind, wasn’t served. This verse sets the tone: Jonah is in rebellion, not in behavior this time, but in heart.

Cross-reference:

  • Luke 15:28 – Like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, Jonah resents mercy shown to others.

  • Romans 9:14 – “Is God unjust? Not at all!”

Application:
 We must examine if we, like Jonah, are more concerned with personal opinions than God‘s glory and compassion.

Jonah 4:2

“He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish…’”

Explanation:
 Jonah is honest, yet hardened. He knew God’s character but didn’t want to see it demonstrated toward the Ninevites. This verse is a window into Jonah’s theology—he understood God, but only wanted His mercy on his own terms.

Cross-reference:

Application:
 Right theology must lead to right practice. Knowing God’s character should move us to love who He loves.

Jonah 4:3

“Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Explanation:
 Jonah would rather die than see God’s mercy triumph over judgment. His pride and nationalism are offended. This echoes his earlier suicidal wish (1:12), showing that external obedience without internal transformation is incomplete.

Cross-reference:

Application:
 We must align our emotions with God‘s purposes, especially when ministry doesn’t go as we expect.

Jonah 4:4

“But the Lord replied, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’”

Explanation:
 God’s gentle question invites reflection. Rather than rebuking Jonah outright, God patiently probes his heart. This method—asking rather than accusing—shows God’s fatherly instruction.

Cross-reference:

  • Genesis 4:6 – “Why are you angry?” God asked Cain a similar question.

  • Luke 10:29 – The lawyer “wanted to justify himself.” Like Jonah, people often defend their anger instead of submitting to God.

Application:
 God calls us to bring our emotions under His authority. Righteous anger is about God’s glory, not our comfort.

Jonah 4:5-6

Jonah goes outside the city and makes a shelter. God causes a plant to grow to shade him, bringing Jonah comfort and temporary joy.

Explanation:
 Jonah still hopes God will destroy Nineveh. Ironically, he is happy about the plant but not about souls saved. God uses the plant as an object lesson in compassion.

Cross-reference:

  • Matthew 5:45 – God makes the sun rise on the evil and the good.

  • James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift comes from above.

Application:
 Are we more grateful for comforts than we are for conversions? Do we rejoice over God‘s mercy shown to others?

Jonah 4:7-8

God appoints a worm and a scorching wind. The plant dies, and Jonah becomes faint and angry again.

Explanation:
 God appoints three things in this chapter: the plant, the worm, and the wind. All creation obeys God—except Jonah. The discomfort exposes Jonah‘s heart. He mourns a plant but not people.

Cross-reference:

  • Job 1:21 – “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.”

  • Isaiah 40:7-8 – People and grass both fade, but God’s Word stands.

Application:
 God uses trials to reveal our misplaced loves. The loss of small comforts may be God’s way of correcting big attitudes.

Jonah 4:9-11

God asks Jonah if he has a right to be angry about the plant. Then He contrasts Jonah’s concern for a plant with God’s concern for people and even animals.

Explanation:
 God ends the book with a question, not a statement. His argument is rooted in grace, not condemnation. If Jonah can mourn a plant, shouldn’t God show compassion to a city of 120,000 people who don’t know right from wrong?

Cross-reference:

Application:
 We are called to share God’s heart for the lost. If our love for people doesn’t reflect God‘s, we must repent and realign.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

  1. Jesus is the Greater Jonah

Matthew 12:41 – “Now something greater than Jonah is here.”
 Jesus refers to Jonah to illustrate both the sign of His death/resurrection and the contrast between Jonah’s heart and His own. Jesus willingly went to the cross for His enemies, while Jonah ran from his mission to avoid showing mercy.

  1. God‘s Redemptive Plan Extends to All Nations
     Jonah is one of the clearest Old Testament pictures of God‘s missionary heart. Jesus fulfills this mission in the New Testament by commanding His followers to go to every nation (Matthew 28:19). Jesus is the embodiment of God‘s mercy to the Gentiles.

  2. The Gospel Exposes and Transforms the Heart
     Jesus exposes religious pride in people just like God exposed Jonah‘s. Jonah needed more than a second chance—he needed a new heart. Jesus offers that through the new birth (John 3:3). His death and resurrection not only save sinners but sanctify saints.

Connection to God the Father

In Jonah 4, we see God the Father as:

  • Patient Teacher: He instructs Jonah through object lessons (plant, worm, wind) rather than destruction.

  • Compassionate Creator: He cares not only for people but also for animals (v. 11). This reflects His providential love and care for all creation (Psalm 145:9).

  • Gracious Sovereign: The Father orchestrates every element of nature to bring Jonah’s heart to light and offer Nineveh a chance to repent.

Connection to the Holy Spirit

Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned directly in Jonah 4, His work is present through the lens of biblical theology. As the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit:

1. Reveals and Convicts the Heart

Jonah’s heart condition is exposed in this chapter—not just his actions but his motives. The Spirit of God works in the same way today to convict us of sin, self-righteousness, and indifference.

John 16:8 — “When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”

2. Teaches God’s Compassion

It is the Spirit who transforms the hearts of believers to align with the compassionate heart of God. Jonah resisted this transformation, but the Spirit leads believers to love their enemies and extend God’s mercy.

Galatians 5:22-23 — The fruit of the Spirit includes love, patience, kindness, and gentleness—all absent in Jonah, but evident in a Spirit-filled life.

3. Guides in God’s Mission

Jonah ran from his mission, but the Spirit empowers believers to fulfill God’s calling. The early church in Acts was Spirit-led in reaching all nations with the gospel.

Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”

Sermon Outline and Flow

Title: “When Mercy Offends: God’s Heart vs. Ours”

Text: Jonah 4:1-11

Introduction

  • Share a brief story of someone upset when their enemy was shown kindness.

  • Ask: Have you ever felt angry at God’s grace toward someone you didn’t think deserved it?

  • Transition: In Jonah 4, we meet a prophet who is angry—not at sin, but at mercy. What does that reveal about him… and us?

I. The Offense of Mercy (vv. 1-3)

Main Point: Jonah is angry because God spared Nineveh.

  • Jonah knows God’s character (v. 2) but doesn’t rejoice in it.

  • His theology is right, but his heart is wrong.

Application:

  • Do we rejoice in God’s mercy when it’s given to people we dislike?

  • Are we willing to see God save those who’ve hurt us?

Illustration:
 A pastor shares how he struggled to forgive the drunk driver who killed his daughter—until God showed him that grace must extend even to enemies.

II. The Question of the Heart (vv. 4-5)

Main Point: God gently confronts Jonah’s anger.

  • “Is it right for you to be angry?”—a heart-check from God.

  • Jonah avoids the question and isolates himself.

Application:

  • When we are angry, do we allow God to speak into our emotions?

  • Isolation often feeds bitterness; engagement with God leads to healing.

Example:
 A believer, upset with how her church handled a conflict, withdrew for months—only to find that in solitude, her heart grew cold, not healed.

III. The Object Lesson (vv. 6-8)

Main Point: God uses a plant, a worm, and a wind to expose Jonah’s misplaced priorities.

  • Jonah rejoices over a plant but not people.

  • His comfort matters more than 120,000 lives.

Application:

  • What “plants” (comforts, privileges) do we love more than lost souls?

  • God often removes comforts to expose spiritual apathy.

Illustration:
 A businessman whose company went bankrupt said, “Losing everything made me see I’d built my life around success, not souls.”

IV. The Heart of God (vv. 9-11)

Main Point: God reveals His compassion, even for those who don’t know right from wrong.

  • God cares for people Jonah despises—and even for animals (v. 11).

  • The chapter ends with a question: Will you share My heart?

Application:

  • God’s mission includes the people we least expect or want.

  • Will we align our hearts with His?

Example:
 A missionary who was once a racist found himself weeping as he baptized someone from a people group he used to hate. “That was the moment,” he said, “I finally understood Jonah.”

Conclusion: The Call to Action

  • Jonah’s story ends with a question, not an answer. Why?

  • Because God is still asking each of us: Will you care about what I care about?

  • The call is to let the Holy Spirit reshape our hearts to match the Father’s compassion and Christ’s mission.

Call to Action

  • For the believer: Surrender any pride or prejudice that keeps you from loving others. Ask the Spirit to give you compassion.

  • For the church leader: Lead your congregation in praying for and reaching the “Ninevehs” in your community.

  • For the lost: God is merciful, even to the worst sinner. Come to Him through Jesus Christ today.

Application for Today’s Christian

Jonah 4 offers a mirror for the modern believer. It challenges us not just in what we believe, but in how we live out that belief—especially in discipleship, stewardship, and faithful obedience.

1. Discipleship: Aligning Our Heart with God’s

  • Jonah knew God’s character but failed to reflect it. Christians are not just called to know about God, but to become more like Him.

  • Practical Steps:

    • Regularly pray for those you struggle to love (Matthew 5:44).

    • Join or lead a discipleship group focused on missions and evangelism.

    • Study God’s attributes and ask the Holy Spirit to transform your heart accordingly.

2. Stewardship: Caring for What Matters to God

  • Jonah mourned a plant more than people. As stewards of God’s gifts, we are called to prioritize eternal things over temporary comforts.

  • Practical Steps:

    • Evaluate your time, money, and resources. Are they being used to reach people for Christ or to maintain comfort?

    • Give toward global missions, especially among unreached or neglected peoples.

    • Use your home or business as a platform to show God’s compassion.

3. Living Out the Faith: Embracing God’s Mission

  • Jonah sat outside the city hoping for destruction. Christians are called to go into the world offering the message of redemption.

  • Practical Steps:

    • Engage with people different from you—culturally, politically, socially—and show the love of Christ.

    • Share the gospel even with those who seem undeserving. No one is beyond God’s reach.

    • When God convicts your heart, respond in humility and obedience rather than pride.

Connection to God’s Love

Jonah 4 reveals God’s love as patient, global, and personal:

1. Patient Love

  • God does not strike Jonah down for his disrespect and disobedience. Instead, He asks gentle questions and teaches through a living parable.

  • Romans 2:4 – God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance.

2. Global Love

  • God’s love extends to Nineveh, a Gentile city, filled with sin and idolatry. His desire is not for destruction, but for redemption.

  • John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world…”

3. Personal Love

  • Even while dealing with a rebellious prophet, God remains engaged. Jonah is not cast aside. This shows God’s love for His own—even when they are out of step with Him.

  • Hebrews 12:6 – “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.”

Summary: God‘s love is not limited to those who seem deserving. It pursues the rebellious (Jonah), the wicked (Nineveh), and the confused (those who “do not know their right hand from their left,” Jonah 4:11). His love is relentless, restorative, and redemptive.

Broader Biblical Themes

Jonah 4 fits into the sweeping narrative of Scripture, contributing to key theological themes:

1. Creation and Sovereignty

  • God controls nature throughout the book—storm, fish, plant, worm, wind. This underscores that creation is under His sovereign rule.

  • Psalm 103:19 – “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

2. Redemption and Mission

  • God’s desire to save Nineveh points to His redemptive mission for all nations. Jonah is a preview of God‘s heart for Gentiles, which is fully unveiled in the New Testament.

  • Revelation 7:9 – A multitude from every nation, tribe, and people worshiping God.

3. Covenant and Obedience

  • Jonah is a prophet from Israel, the covenant people of God. Yet the Gentile Ninevites respond more readily to God than Jonah does. This contrast highlights how covenant is not just about privilege but responsibility.

  • Deuteronomy 7:6-8 – Israel was chosen not for superiority, but to be a light to the nations.

4. Heart Transformation

  • The book ends not with a resolution, but with a question—a prophetic literary device that calls the reader to examine their own heart.

  • God is not satisfied with external obedience; He desires inward transformation.

  • Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…”

Reflection Questions

Use these questions for personal meditation, small group discussion, or sermon application. Each one is designed to lead the heart toward transformation, not just information.

1. Where in your life have you struggled to rejoice in God’s mercy—especially when it’s shown to someone you think doesn’t deserve it?

Reflect on people, groups, or situations where you’ve felt more like Jonah than Jesus.

2. Do you find yourself more emotionally invested in your comfort than in the eternal destiny of others?

What are the “plants” in your life—temporary blessings or comforts—that you value more than God’s mission?

3. How do you respond when God’s plans don’t match your expectations?

Like Jonah, are you ever tempted to retreat, isolate, or grow angry when God acts differently than you hoped?

4. In what ways is the Holy Spirit prompting you to love those who are hard to love?

Ask God to make your heart more like His and to break through any spiritual apathy or prejudice.

5. Are there areas in your discipleship where you know God’s truth intellectually but resist living it out practically?

Jonah had sound theology but a cold heart. Are there areas in your life where you need God to bring alignment between your head and your heart?

6. How can you practically live out God’s compassion in your community this week?

Identify specific steps—like sharing the gospel, offering forgiveness, or serving a difficult person—that reflect God’s love to others.

7. What is God teaching you through trials, discomfort, or loss right now?

Just as God used the worm and the wind to speak to Jonah, He often uses our circumstances to reach our hearts.

8. How does this chapter help you better understand God’s love for the lost?

What does that mean for how you pray, give, and go for the sake of the gospel?

9. What mission is God calling you into that you’ve been avoiding?

Like Jonah, is there a “Nineveh” in your life that God keeps bringing up? Will you obey?

10. How can your church reflect the heart of God more faithfully to the world?

Consider how your congregation engages the broken, the outsider, and those in need of grace.

Related Videos