Rebellion Meets Grace — the Story of the Prophet JonahSample

Jonah’s heart was cold and embittered

Jonah had told God plainly that he was angry because Nineveh was not destroyed. Instead of starting a philosophical discussion, God made a plant grow that provided Jonah with shade. Jonah was exceedingly glad about this. But when God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered, he was faint and “angry enough to die”.

God used this plant to reveal what was in Jonah’s heart. As soon as God did something good for Jonah (rescuing him from drowning, saving him from the big fish, providing a plant for shade), he was glad. But as soon as his privileges were taken away, or when God blessed other people, he was exceedingly angry. This is a huge contrast to the behavior of Job, when he lost almost everything he had!

Jonah’s heart was selfish and embittered. He lost his temper about trifles, but did not mind the destruction of “more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left”.

Jonah was a prophet; he knew a lot about God. He had preached and he had seen God at work. But his heart was not filled with love. That is a major problem, as 1 Corinthians 13:2 makes clear: “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”.

What is at the bottom of your heart? Is it filled with God’s love, or is it cold and embittered?