Jonah Week 5: Nathan Hughes

Title: Wrestling With Grace
Text: Jonah 4:1–11
Big Idea: It’s possible to obey God outwardly but still resist Him inwardly. The real fight is often between our heart and His grace.

I. Jonah’s Outrage at Mercy

After Nineveh repents and God spares them, Jonah is furious.

“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” (v. 2)

Jonah obeyed God—but resented Him for being too gracious.

He quotes Exodus 34:6 back to God: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…” but says it like it’s a bad thing.

Key tension: Jonah didn’t mind grace when it saved him—he hated it when it saved them.

II. The Jonah Inside All of Us

This chapter exposes something in all of us:

We want justice for others but mercy for ourselves.

We’re often more concerned with being right than being righteous.

God’s question in verse 4 hits home:

“Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah never answers. He sits down and watches the city—hoping for judgment.

III. The Object Lesson with the Plant

God causes a plant to grow up and shade Jonah (v. 6)

Then God appoints a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah is angry again (v. 7–9)

God uses the plant to reveal Jonah’s self-centeredness:

He’s more upset about a plant than about people.

More concerned with comfort than with compassion.

IV. The Final Confrontation

God’s last question is the heart of the book:

“Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh…?” (v. 11)

The book ends without closure—because the real story is your response.

The uncomfortable truth: God’s grace often offends our sense of fairness.

Final Challenge:
Where in your life do you want grace for yourself, but judgment for others?
Are you angry about God’s compassion toward people you don’t like?
If the book of Jonah is a mirror—what is it reflecting in you?