Conclusion By ferreting out the implications of the background, literary structure, grammar and syntax, and themes of Jonah 4, pastors and teachers alike can make applications that are faithful to the text. Such applications will not only be textual accurate but also personally convicting, confronting readers both ancient and modern with a choice as to keep accusing God of injustice or to withdraw our self-centered accusations. Jonah 4 serves to complete the structure of the book as a whole. One would think that the structure of the whole story can be found by studying the functions of the narrative. For the functions cannot be understood without proper structure. For instance, leading up to chapter four is what makes chapter four …show more content…
This verse makes it clear that Jonah did not run away out of fear of the savage Ninevites or out of the potential embarrassment of being perceived as a false prophet. No, his prayer immediately following Nineveh’s repentance betrays his true motives: “Oh LORD, wasn't this what I said would happen while I was in my own land? Therefore, I got up early and fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious God, compassionate, slow to anger, with abundant merciful kindness, One Who is relenting in sending trouble.” This verse provides the literary key in understanding Jonah’s outright disobedience after hearing God’s call (1.1-3). This verse also helps move a general contemporary application that Christians should not disobey God to the specific application of not being angry when He chooses to show mercy on notorious sinners who make an inferior attempt at …show more content…
Instead, it demonstrates that God sovereignly allows mankind a supply of free will and that God controls its limits. It demonstrates, furthermore, that the free will God does give humans can result in their great advantage or great disadvantage. The variable is whether or not one submits to God’s will. God can and does sovereignly offer options that are truly conditional on the free choice of man, and God can and does sovereignly govern the fallout of those choices. The book of Jonah is a case and point. Yahweh allows Jonah to run (1.2) and to accuse him of injustice (4.4, 9-10), and He allows Nineveh to repent (3.5-9) and be spared