Story so far 770 BC

Jonah 4 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the L ORD, “Isn’t this what I said, L ORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing 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, L ORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the L ORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5 Jonah had gone 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 L ORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant 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, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the L ORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

A personal God and a God of details concerned at a large scale, for an entire city but also at a small scale, for Jonah, the vine, the worm, wind and sun … moving nature to teach a lesson for one child - ____________?

an intimate conversation

like a conversation between a doting father and a sulking son; or a kind mother and her upset child

a God filled with love, and loving teaching His ways a God willing to reason and not just dictate a child confident of his father’s love and having the freedom in the relationship to argue/reason, show disappointment - basically be a child – (but not irreverent)

Jonah – the good guy! Deep understanding of who God was and what He was capable of – Study and Meditation In times of desperation and need – Worship Spoke confidently to God and heard from Him – Prayer Obeyed (eventually) - Service

At the start – Jonah had a calling He rejected God fixed it Toward the end, what was God fixing? His heart, his attitude, his CHARACTER }

We all live to fulfill two things: Calling (general and specific) a reason to live what Character – to be like Jesus! a way to how For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. - Rom 8:29

If being Jesus is too vague … Luke 6 Love – even your enemies; pray for them; bless them Don’t judge or condemn Forgive Give – generously Obey – what you hear

Personally Anger ▪ Judging ▪ Condemning Speech My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. – Jam 1:19-20 Speak to build-up - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Col 4:6

How is God dealing with your Character today? What is He saying to you? What circumstances are testing you? What could they mean?