🌱 Jonah, Are You Out of Your Gourd?

Jonah 4:1–11

Jonah just witnessed the greatest revival in human history. A wicked empire bowed its knee. A million souls may have turned to God. You’d think the prophet would be thrilled. But instead of rejoicing, Jonah is angry. Furious, even.

This chapter isn’t about Nineveh’s rebellion. It’s about Jonah’s. It reveals the ugly side of a religious heart—when pride, nationalism, and selfishness overpower compassion and grace.

1️⃣ Angry at Mercy

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.” (Jonah 4:1)

The Hebrew literally reads: “It was evil to Jonah, a great evil.” What was so evil? That God spared Nineveh. Jonah wanted wrath, not redemption. He didn’t want his enemies forgiven—he wanted them destroyed.

Jonah’s problem wasn’t theological—it was personal. He didn’t like how God handled grace.

2️⃣ A Depressed Prophet

“Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3)

Jonah spirals into despair. The same man who had prayed for deliverance in the fish now prays for death under a tree. Why? Because he couldn’t control the outcome.

God had changed Nineveh’s future—but Jonah hadn’t changed his heart.

3️⃣ God’s Gentle Question

“Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4)

God asks—not to shame Jonah but to reason with him. “Is it right for you to be angry about grace?”

Jonah doesn’t answer. Instead, he goes outside the city, builds a booth, and waits—hoping, perhaps, that Nineveh might still be destroyed. His heart is still hard.

4️⃣ The Gourd and the Worm

“And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head… So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.” (Jonah 4:6)

For the first time, Jonah is happy. Not about revival. Not about souls. But about shade.

God, in mercy, prepares a plant to relieve Jonah’s discomfort. But the next morning, God prepares a worm, and the gourd withers.

“And it came to pass, when the sun did arise… Jonah fainted, and wished in himself to die.” (Jonah 4:8)

🌿 What Was the Gourd?

In Hebrew, the plant is called קִיקָיוֹן (qiqayon)—a unique word used only here in Scripture. Scholars have suggested a few possibilities:

Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis): Large leaves, rapid growth—provides instant shade.
Bottle gourd vine (Lagenaria siceraria): Fast-growing vine with broad leaves, commonly cultivated in the region.
Generic vine or shrub: Some translations simply say “plant” or “vine.”

Whatever it was, God prepared it with purpose. Jonah cared deeply for the gourd—but not for the people. That contrast is the heart of God’s rebuke.

5️⃣ Priorities Revealed

“Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd… and should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:10–11)

God’s closing words pierce Jonah’s hypocrisy. Jonah grieves a plant—but not people. He’s angry over shade—but indifferent to souls.

The “120,000 who can’t discern” likely refers to small children. That means Nineveh may have had one million or more people, and Jonah had no compassion, even for the children.

📝 Final Reflection: A Prophet with No Pity

Jonah knew theology. He could quote Exodus 34:6 word-for-word (see verse 2). But his heart didn’t match his doctrine. He loved his nation. He loved comfort. But he didn’t love people—especially his enemies.

You can know God’s Word and still not share God’s heart.

The book ends with a question—not an answer. Why? Because the question is for us.