Daily Devotionals

When Pigs Fly Week 1: Saturday

Then the LORD said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Jonah 4:10-11

Jonah chapter 4 is perhaps the most interesting chapter of the book of Jonah. You see, Jonah did what God told him to do, and the people of Nineveh repented. If Jonah has obeyed God and the people of Nineveh have repented, the question becomes, why do we have chapter 4 of Jonah? We have chapter 4 of Jonah because God was not done working in Jonah's life. He cared not only about Jonah's obedience but also about the condition of his heart.

We find Jonah in Jonah chapter 4 sulking. God had shown mercy to Nineveh, and Jonah was not happy. He complained to God, saying, "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away from Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love" (verse 2). Don't miss the reason why Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. He did not want to go because he knew God would show mercy to the Ninevites. While Jonah sulked, God taught Him another lesson. Jonah watched the city of Nineveh and waited to see what would happen to the city (verse 5). It was very hot, so God sent a plant to grow up to give Jonah shade from the brutal sun (verse 6). This plant pleased him (verse 6). In fact, it was the only thing that Jonah was pleased about in the book of Jonah. Then, God sent a worm to eat the plant and remove Jonah's shade (verse 9). Once again, Jonah was angry. This time, Jonah was angry about the plant's untimely death. As Jonah complained to God about losing his shade, God said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there... but Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness... Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" The obvious, unanswered answer to this question is a resounding "yes."

With this lesson from the plant, God revealed to Jonah that although He had done what God asked him to do, his heart was not in the right place. He needed to have compassion for Nineveh. In His kindness and mercy, God continued to teach Jonah and work in his heart in Jonah chapter 4, even when it meant revealing a lack of compassion for over 120,000 people. God wants more than obedient actions; He wants obedient hearts. He still wants obedient hearts today. May we love Him with everything in us so that our hearts and actions are obedient to Him, whom we love so much. 

Moving toward action

Maybe you have started to take steps of obedience to do something that God has called you to do. Your question today is, are you obeying begrudgingly? Are you obeying but carrying feelings of disappointment or anger? Confess that to God today. Ask Him to work in your heart so that you not only have the right actions but the right attitude as well. 

Going Deeper

Jonah 4:1-11

"This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen."

4 The Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?"

5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?"

"Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!"

10 Then the Lord said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"