Malice, Mercy and Missions

I preached last Wednesday from the fourth chapter of the book of Jonah. In the final chapter, we have two scenes that play out before us. It is interesting as well to note that each scene leaves us with an unanswered question from God. Jonah had just preached one of the greatest revival meetings that ever have been where the whole city had come under the guilt and condemnation of God’s just wrath; thus repenting of their sins and crying out to God for mercy.

The final chapter opens with Jonah much as we found him in chapter one, angry. What is striking is the difference in Jonah. In other prophesies, we learn little or see little of the prophet, but see much of the message and the people he ministers to; some prophets we don’t really know anything about them. Here, the focus is on Jonah’s development.

We see the sailors in their interaction with Jonah, the fish in relation to Jonah, his preaching, and now the consequences of the preaching. The book has not focused so much on the people he ministered to, but his reaction to their repentance.

Had a man written the book, the conclusion would have focused on the numbers saved, the revival of the city, the benefits to the people, and the people they waged war against who see the change in the city, making Johan a hero. Jonah would have justified his behavior or made himself into the redemptive character who becomes the hero at the end after overcoming tremendous odds (see 95% of every motion picture ever made). But after this great revival, the scene still focuses on Jonah, not in the midst of a jubilant, forgiven city, but alone, angry and hoping for a slaughter.


I. SCENE ONE: THE POUTING PROPHET -- Jonah 4:1-4
II. SCENE TWO: THE PITILESS PROPHET--Jonah 4:5-11



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Douglas Newell IV