2. Past Weeks Jonah is called by God to preach to the Niinevites
Jonah refuses to go (disobeys God)
Jonah runs from God
God causes situations that bring us to repentance
Jonah gets swallowed by a big fish
Jonah prays for deliverence
God brings us to places that are uncomfortable in order to get our attention
Jonah went to the midst of the people and preached
Jonah preached “to” the people, not “against” them
Jonah preached a simple message from God
The people responded to God's message

3. Jonah 3:9 Who knows? (said the king of the Ninevites) God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 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. 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, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4. 4 But the Lord 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 Lord 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.”

5. 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 Lord 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?” NIV

6. 1. Description of who God is...
Gracious-
filled with grace
Compassionate-
cares about the hurting
Slow to Anger-
not rash in decision to be angry
Abounding in love-
filled with love for people
Relenting in sending calamity-
doesn't send natural disasters freely

7. 1. Description of who God is...
About grace
New Testament understanding
God's---- Riches---- at----Christ's Expense
God is able to retain His character
God is able to forgive sin
God is able to bring about justice
All in the cross of Jesus Christ
Forgiven little or forgiven a lot
Forgiven early in life or forgiven late in life

8. 2. Jonah got angry Jonah didn't just get angry at God relenting.
Jonah got angry at who God is
1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry...I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
We do the same thing
We get angry when God has compassion on an evil person
We get angry when God doesn't wipe out an evil (group of people) (despot)

9. 3. Who knows best? 4. The Lord said “Is it right for you to be angry?”
When God comes, God most often brings
questions,
not statements
Not condemnation
Who formed the circumstances of your life?
Plant?
Shelter
Food
Job
The ease of life.
Shade is gone?
Loss of what you have counted on

10. Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city
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 Lord 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.”

11. 4. Let God be God What if God knows best?
What if you are not in control?
What if God doesn't come through the way you want Him to?
Is that still OK with you?
Do you find yourself telling God what to do?
Is it OK with you that God does what God wants?
When God wants it done?

12. So What?
The book of Jonah is really all about letting God have His way.
When have you pouted because God didn't perform the way you wanted Him to?
Is there a situation in your life right now in which you are telling God what to do?
If God wants to answer differently, is that OK?
Is God trustworthy?
Can you trust God?