Passage Overview · Free · Jonah 4:1–11
Jonah Knows Exactly Why God Spared Them
The shock is not that Jonah misunderstands God but that he understands him very well. He quotes the great biblical confession of YHWH’s character—gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in covenant kindness—and admits that this is why he fled. Exodus 34 is thus turned into the theological key to the whole book. Jonah rejoiced in rescue for himself but is angry that God’s revealed character also extends mercy toward enemies. God answers with a question: is Jonah’s anger right?