Questions
1. Read Jonah 4:1–11. What are your initial reactions to this interaction between God and Jonah? What do you think is the main thing God is trying to get Jonah to understand?
2. Read Jonah 4:1–4. Why is Jonah so angry? Have you ever been angry at God for doing something you did not want? How does this anger look in your life? Do you withdraw from God, or like Jonah, do you argue with God? Do you do well to be angry? (v.4)
3. Read Jonah 4:5–9. Why do you think God gives the plant to Jonah and then takes it away? What does this do to Jonah? Has God ever given something and then taken it away? How did you respond? What did you think of God during this time? Why do you think God did this?
4. Read Jonah 4:6, 7, 8. What word is repeated? What does this say about the difficulties and blessings that come into our lives? Who appoints them? Do you attribute all of these things to God?
5. Read Jonah 4:10–11. What do you think of this conclusion? What is God saying to Jonah? To Israel? To us?