Jonah's Anger and the Lord's Compassion

Jonah 4

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I a fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a b gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 c "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for d it is better for me to die than to live!" 4 Then the LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a 1 plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah 2 was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, e "It is better for me to die than to live." 9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" 10 But the LORD said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which 3 came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 "And should I not pity Nineveh, f that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons g who cannot discern between their right hand and their left - and much livestock?"

  1. Cross References
    Jonah 1:3
    But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 34:6
    And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.
    Numbers 14:18
    'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.'
    Psalms 86:5
    For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
    Psalms 86:15
    But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
    Joel 2:13
    So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
  3. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:4
    But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!
    Job 6:8
    Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
    Job 6:9
    That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
  4. Cross References
    Jonah 4:8
    And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, " It is better for me to die than to live.
  5. Cross References
    Jonah 4:3
    "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!"
  6. Cross References
    Jonah 1:2
    "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
    Jonah 3:2
    "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."
    Jonah 3:3
    So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:39
    Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
    Isaiah 7:16
    For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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