Christian Trivia World Online Bible Study |
Jonah’s Anger
at God’s Compassion
Jonah
was a prophet who God called to preach in the foreign city of Nineveh. Jonah
tried to run away from God and was swallowed by a great fish.
When
the fish returned him to land, Jonah went to Nineveh and warned the people about
God’s judgment. Jonah learned, to his dismay, that God would forgive even a
heathen city if the people were sorry for their sins.
Jonah 4:1-11
1.
But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.
2.
He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at
home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a
gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who
relents from sending calamity.
3.
Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to
live."
4.
But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
5.
Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a
shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
6.
Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade
for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.
7.
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it
withered.
8.
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on
Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would
be better for me to die than to live."
9.
But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the
vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."
10.
But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did
not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.
11.
But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell
their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be
concerned about that great city?"
1.
Why
do you think Jonah asked the Lord to take his life?
2.
What was Jonah’s biggest problem?
3.
How do you express your anger in general, and anger toward Gods in particular?
4.
Who are the “Ninevites” to whom
God might be calling you to go?
5.
How does the book of Jonah end?
Home | Stories Room | Music Room | Our Pictures | Photo Club | mIRC Download | Pirch98 Download | Prayer Request | Sign Guest Book |