Jonah 3-4: A Vine, a Worm, and a Whiny Prophet

The Rev. Nabil Nour, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD and fourth vice president of the LCMS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Jonah 3 & 4.

After his ordeal at sea, Jonah finally obeys God's command and preaches repentance in Nineveh. To his surprise, the wicked city heeds his words and turns from evil, sparking widespread repentance. Instead of rejoicing, Jonah becomes angry with God for relenting in judgment against Nineveh. After sheltering under a plant for shade, only to see it shrivel up overnight, Jonah pouts about the withered plant while ignoring the sprawling city of 120,000 people who God had spared. When God explains how His compassion extends even to "evil" Nineveh, Jonah remains stubbornly displeased over the fate of his shade plant, blind to the true purpose of his mission.

The story of Jonah is one of the most fascinating tales in the Bible, yet also one of the most perplexing. God called, but Jonah ran the other way. You know the story - the disobedient prophet thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. But there's much more to Jonah's tale than a big fish story. Jonah wrestled with a merciful God as he delivered a message of repentance to Israel's enemies in Nineveh. Why did Jonah resist God's call? How did the people of Nineveh respond? What do we make of this bitter prophet who would rather die than see his enemies receive grace? Dive deeper into this odd but meaningful story of rebellion, redemption, and the radical compassion of God that extends to all people.