Jonah Is Grieved by the Lord's Compassion
Jonah 4, verse 1. But Jonah was deeply grieved and was troubled. Jonah 4, verse 2. So he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, were these not my words when I was yet in my land? Therefore I saw the need to flee to Tarshish; because I knew You to be compassionate and merciful, longsuffering and abundant in mercy, and willing to change your heart concerning evils. Jonah 4, verse 3. And now, Master, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4, verse 4. And the Lord said to Jonah, “Are you exceedingly grieved?” Jonah 4, verse 5. Then Jonah went out of the city and seated himself opposite it. There he made for himself a tent and sat under its shade, until he might observe what would happen to the city. Jonah 4, verse 6. And the Lord God commanded a gourd, and it came up over the head of Jonah to be a shade over his head, to shield him from his discomforts. Jonah rejoiced with great joy because of the gourd. Jonah 4, verse 7. But early the next morning, God commanded a worm, and it smote the gourd, and the gourd withered up. Jonah 4, verse 8. And when the sun rose, God commanded a burning east wind; and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah, and he grew faint and despaired of his life. And he said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4, verse 9. Then God said to Jonah, “Are you exceedingly grieved on account of the gourd?” And he said, “I am exceedingly grieved, even unto death.” Jonah 4, verse 10. And the Lord said, “You took pity on the gourd, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came up during the night and perished before the next night. Jonah 4, verse 11. And shall I Myself not take pity upon Nineveh, the great city, in which dwell more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know either their right hand or their left—and many livestock?”