Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Anger in Jonah 4

While marking who and when, you probably noticed the repeated use of "angry" and "anger." Go through Jonah 4 and mark each occurrence of these words. Also mark "anger" in chapter 3.

Who is described as angry in chapter 3?
Why is He angry?
How is His anger described?
What does the king say might God to withdraw His burning anger?
And if God were to withdraw His anger, what might not happen to them?
According to 3:10, what happened?
When did Jonah first become angry?
What was it that made him angry?
What does Jonah tell us about God and anger?
In his anger, what does Jonah want God to do?
What question does God ask Jonah about his anger?
Does Jonah answer the Lord's question?
What does he do instead of answering?
Do you think that he thinks that God might change His mind? If so, why do you think Jonah might think God would change His mind?
If the Lord God had acted more like Jonah instead of Himself in verse 6, what might have happened when Jonah stubbornly refused to accept how God was working with the Ninevites?
Does what Jonah said earlier about the Lord appear to be true in the way the Lord is dealing with His stubborn prophet in verse 6? How so?
What does God say that Jonah is angry about in verse 9?
Why would Jonah be angry about the plant? Is he angry at the plant? Exactly what do you think he's angry about concerning the plant? (Use the context, including the following verse to help you decide on your answer.)
Did Jonah answer God's question this time? If so, what did he say?
What comparison between the plant and the Ninevites does God make for Jonah?
Why does God make that comparison?
What contrast do you see in Jonah 4?
What was the point of making this contrast? What do we learn from it?

When in Jonah 4

Read through Jonah 4 and mark all the references to time.
Answer these questions:
What word precedes "now" in verse 3?
What is "therefore" referring to? What did Jonah say he knew while he was still in his own country?
So, now, what would Jonah like the Lord to do because of what Jonah knows and has seen to be true?
The Lord asks Jonah if he has good reason to be angry. Then, what does Jonah do?
For how long did Jonah intend to sit under the shelter he made?
When did God appoint a worm to attack the plant?
When did God appoint a scorching east wind?
When did God ask Jonah once again if he had good reason to be angry?
When did the plant come up?
How quickly did it perish?
When did God talk to Jonah about having compassion?