UNDER JONAH’S VINE (Jonah 4:1-11)

Sequence of Events Sent to preach to Nineveh (1:1-16) Swallowed by a fish (1:17-2:10) Sent a second time (3:1-10) Displeased with God’s mercy (4:1-11)

Incidental Lessons National sin demands national repentance Can’t run away from God (Psalm 139:7-11) God’s ability to use incidents and attitudes for good Opportunity begets challenge (Esther 4:14)

Lessons to Be Learned Jonah’s displeasure at their repentance (4:1) They repented (3:5-10; Matthew 12:40, 41) They turned from wickedness God spared them Infinite love of God (John 3:16) His hatred of sin (Proverbs 6:16-19) Yet, Jonah was displeased

Lessons to Be Learned He didn’t want to live (4:2-4) Seen in the Jews (John 8:48) Seen in the elder brother (Luke 15:1, 2, 28-30) Seen in the Pharisees (Luke 19:7, 10) Are we willing to forgive others? (Matthew 6:13, 14; Ephesians 4:32) Job had no right to be angry (v. 4)

Lessons to Be Learned The largeness of God’s heart (vv. 5-8) Jonah pouted Lord provided a gourd for shade Then He brought a worm and wind to destroy it Jonah was sad about the vine’s destruction Yet, he wasn’t about Nineveh’s possible destruction Need a big heart (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)

Lessons to Be Learned Concern over the wrong things (vv. 9-11) Too far to worship, but not work Family visiting, to work but not worship Too sick to worship, but not to work No loss of sleep over spiritual (2 Corinthians 11:28, 29) Do we have a right to do as we do? (v. 9) Quit worrying (Philippians 4:6)

Conclusion Do you mourn over the lost? What if he or she has mistreated you? Do you rejoice over their misfortune? Are you “under the vine?”