Jonah 4
1
But this really upset Jonah, and he became very angry.
1
Notes
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In the sense that Jonah thought that this was a wrong decision on God's part.
2
He prayed to the Lord and told him, “Lord, wasn't this what I said when I was back home? That's why I ran away to Tarshish in the first place! For I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, very patient and full of kindhearted love, who relents from sending disaster.
2
Notes
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Literally, “in my land.”
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Or “slow to become angry.”
3
So just kill me now, Lord, because I'd prefer to die than to live!”
4
The Lord responded, “Do you have a good reason to be so angry?”
1
Notes
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Or “Is it good for you to be so angry?” or “What right do you have to be so angry?”
5
Jonah left the city and sat down to the east of it. There he made himself a shelter so he could sit in the shade and watch what would happen to the city.
6
The Lord God had a plant grow up and provide shade over Jonah's head to ease his discomfort. Jonah was very happy with the plant.
7
The next day at dawn the Lord had a maggot attack the plant and it withered.
8
Then as the sun came up the Lord arranged for a scorching east wind to blow, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he became faint and wanted to die. “I'd rather die than live!” he said.
9
But the Lord asked Jonah, “Do you have a good reason to be so angry about the plant?” “Yes I do!” Jonah replied. “I'm angry enough to die!”
10
Then the Lord told Jonah, “You're concerned about a plant which you did nothing about, and you didn't make it grow. It came up overnight and died overnight.
11
Shouldn't I be concerned about the great city of Nineveh where one hundred and twenty thousand people live who don't know their right hand from their left, not to mention all the animals?”
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Notes
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In other words they are spiritually ignorant.