READ: Jon. 4:4: Then the LORD said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’
As an answer to Jonah’s bitter complaint, the LORD asks him a decisive question: “Is it right for you to be angry?” Once again the LORD shows Jonah grace and wants Jonah to pause and reflect.
In verse 2 Jonah had already given a faithful description of God by quoting the LORD’s glorious self-revelation to Moses upon Horeb (Ex. 34:6): “God is gracious and merciful, longsuffering and abundant in lovingkindness.”
Does Jonah really understand what he has confessed? God’s grace means that in His divine favour He stoops down to all who come to Him in humility. He bestows undeserved favour upon whomsoever He wills. His mercy means that He reveals His tender compassion toward all who seek His help. His longsuffering means literally that He is slow to anger. He exercises great patience and grants many opportunities to come to repentance.
This longsuffering is shown not only toward His covenant people but toward all mankind, for He wills that not one of His own should perish (2 Pet. 3:9).
Finally, the LORD is rich in lovingkindness. His faithful and loving goodness knows no bounds. His covenant mercy overwhelms all who receive it and endures forever toward His children.
Has not the LORD abundantly demonstrated all these things toward His people throughout the ages? Did Jonah himself not recently experience this when God rescued him from the punishment he deserved in the sea and in the fish? And afterward the LORD even restored him to his office.
Has Jonah still not understood? God bestows His almighty and gracious love upon whom He wills (Rom. 9:14–16). He does so freely and sovereignly. Jonah himself had become a sign of this for the Ninevites (Luke 11:30).
Does God not have the right to respond with divine compassion to the repentance of men (cf. Gen. 6:6; Ex. 32:14; 1 Sam. 15:11; 2 Sam. 24:16)? The people of Nineveh understood this, but Jonah did not. Yet even now God continues to show grace to Jonah. He is about to instruct him further.
Is it our calling to summon unbelievers to repentance?
Sing: Ps. 136:1, 2.