2026 Summer Bible Retreat Special (4), Are You in the City or Out of City?
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2026-08-23 20:08
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Are You in the City or Out of City?
Jonah 4
In Chapter 3, Jonah received a second chance. He went to Nineveh to preach. Then a great revival took place. Chapter 3 would be a beautiful conclusion. So, is chapter 4 really necessary? Then, why was Chapter 4 added? Because Jonah hadn't changed yet. Chapter 3 is the salvation of Nineveh. Chapter 4 is the salvation of Jonah. Jonah hasn't been broken. He hasn't died. He is filled with pride and self-righteousness. He is too self-centered. This must be broken for him to be saved.
Verse 1. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah hates the salvation of Nineveh. He is very angry at God. He cannot forgive God for forgiving Nineveh. He judges God. “God did something wrong. How could He forgive them? I cannot forgive such a God.” He is like the older brother of the prodigal son enraged at his father who forgave his younger brother.
God's work is grace. However, grace is what people hate the most. People get angry not when others sin, but when grace comes upon them despite their sins. We get angry because we feel it is unjust and unfair. “Oh, that guy is a villain... but why is he doing so well?”
We rejoice when we are forgiven and receive God’s grace. However, we become angry when grace is shown to others.
In verse 2, Jonah said he knew this would happen. Jonah knew who God was. God is merciful. So, He will forgive Nineveh. “Ah, to think He would forgive that enemy nation. I hate it so much.” He is a prophet, yet he does not know God’s grace. The word, mercy, grace is originated from a mother’s womb. Despite the pain of childbirth, a mother loves her child. God is love. The church must have motherly love. God is slow to anger. That is why we are still receiving a second and third chance. If God were to judge us by the standard of the law, who would have survived until now? Love is Hesed, unconditional and everlasting love. Jonah likes God for forgiving him and showing him grace, but when God shows grace to Nineveh, he becomes enraged.
In verses 2-3, “I” appears nine times. He is thoroughly self-centered. He said, “It is better to die than to see grace given to them.”
Verse 3 says, “Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah only looked at himself, his miserable feeling, anger and hatred. Then he wanted to quit his life. Yes, if we meditate on ourselves all day, we fall into disappointment or discouragement or even no hope to live. Indeed, some quit their lives. Therefore, do not meditate on yourselves. When the Holy Spirit comes to us, among several changes, two mains are joy and neighbors are seen. appear. We come to know Jesus' greatest commandment: love God first and love your neighbors like yourself. If we love God and our neighbor, we are finally free from our self-seeking and selfish egos.
Israel failed. Why? Although they received more than ten thousand kinds of grace from God, they remained stuck in the mindset of being the chosen people. God wanted them to become the source and channel of blessing for all the peoples of the world. "You are priests. Go and let all people know my salvation." Priests are now expressed as apostles or witnesses of Jesus. We are to flow the grace we have received to our neighbors. However, Jonah was trapped in the mindset of being the chosen people and knew only himself and his close people. No flowing is destruction. "God's purpose in calling us is for our salvation and mission" However, if we do not preach the gospel, the blessing could be a curse. "Why is God giving me so much?" Because you may let it flow to your neighbors and the people of the world. Folks, are you letting the blessing you have received to flow to others?
Jonah did not have any desire to flow the grace he received to the Gentiles. God took pity on him and did one thing to make him realize his problem.
Look at verse 6. “Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.” Jonah was very happy over a leafy plant that would disappear in a day. Yet, he had no interest in the salvation of souls, which is more precious than the whole world. There are more people like this than you think. That is you and me. Look at verse 7. “But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”” He is thoroughly self-centered.
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Pointing his finger at God, Jonah retorted angrily, “It is. And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
Look at verse 10-11. Here the main word is ‘concerned,’ meaning caring for or cherishing. God is a caring God. Faith is caring a soul. Verses 10-11. ‘Concerning’ a mother’s grieving heart who has lost her only child. ‘Concerning’ is mother’s grieving heart with tears tending to her sick child. They say, “I can give my heart to people who actually deserve it.” It is not like that. What does a person's qualifications have to do with love?
"If that person has the value or qualification, I will love them." Then, do we receive God's love because we are worthy and qualified? Romans 5:6, 8, 10 says, “when we were still powerless, while we were still sinners and while we were God’s enemies, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: Christ died for us. We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.”
He loved and saved us when we were completely unworthy and undeserving. Then shouldn't we also care for those souls? Faith is caring for a person’s soul. God cared for those who were perishing in Nineveh and saved them.
The problem is, Jonah had no love. We have no love either. We love ourselves and our families, and we love the people we like, but in reality, we are selfish and self-centered. What we truly need is love. Where does this love come from? It comes from God.
Paul was originally very violent, judgmental and selfish. With religious public authority, he arrested and imprisoned and killed many Christians. Then, how could such a person shed his tears and wholeheartedly dedicated his entire life to caring for and saving souls? He said, “For Christ’s love compels me.” (2 Cor 5:14) His love and sacrifice did not come from his nature or personality or will but from Christ who is love.
The devil tries to erase love from us. Satan plants hatred, anger and indifference in us. Jonah has biblical knowledge, experience and zeal. However, he has no love. This is fatal. He is nothing.
What is Jonah's problem? Look at verse 5. Jonah went out of the city and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. The city was the place of his mission, but he went out of the city. There, he built a shelter for himself. He became a spectator, not a worker. He sat with his arms crossed, watching to see what would happen. Jonah went outside the city. This means he left his mission field. There are people who do not draw near to the Lord but keep drifting far away. Because of trivial matters, they keep leaving the Lord—leaving the place of worship, prayer and mission. And they build a comfortable shelter for themselves again. Like Jonah, they enjoy their plants and shade, but God's will is completely out of their minds.
Where is your place? Is it Inside the city or outside? Is it God-centered or self-centered? Are you satisfied with the small comfort and security from a vine plant and shade, or are you witnessing the gospel for the souls of Nineveh? Are you a spectator or a worker? What are you building? A shelter or the Kingdom of God?
In this age, the devil causes people to go out of the city, makes them build a shelter for themselves, and makes them sit in the shade of vine plant, turning them into spectators. “Hey, it’s okay to go to church. But don’t get too deeply involved. If you get too deep, you’ll lose your freedom and material. Just live for yourself.” So, many people take just one small step in and quickly pull out.
The devil whispers to us to live as spectators.” This means living as a consumer. Modern people have a consumer mindset. So, just like choosing a product online, they click on a church or sermon that looks enjoyable. “This looks good.” What sense of responsibility, care, devotion or mission does a consumer have? A consumer is self-centered. My benefit, satisfaction and emotions are top priority. Consumers just watch. If it looks good, they take it; if it looks boring or difficult to do, they don’t go near it. Becoming a consumer is the devil’s temptation. We are worshipers, men of prayer and mission. We become the best people when we are in the place of mission.
Paul lived a wonderful and happy life. He said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) Although he often faced hardships, difficulties and persecution, he was a happy person who fully enjoyed God's grace and power. Folks, live as a person with a mission, not a consumer. Only then can you escape Jonah's trap.
There are times when God removes the gourd vine and the shade we enjoy so that we may live as people with a mission, not consumers. "Why make such a big deal over a gourd and some shade?" Yet Jonah was very happy about the plant. Look at verse 7. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. Consequently, the shade disappeared. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint, causing him to become extremely angry. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” Why? Just because a single plant is gone.
For Jonah, the plant and the shade are God's grace. We have such plant and shade that offer us comfort, satisfaction and security such as school, job, friends, health or family. Yes, such things are given to us from the Lord that we can enjoy them. However, there is a time when unexpected worm chews our plant, causing it to wither and the shade to disappear. Under the blazing sun with scorching east wind, Jonah grew faint and angrily raised his voice against God, “Why did you take them away from me? Why? To give him greater grace and true blessing. "Jonah, how can you care so much about a fleeting shade that came up in a night and perished in a night?" There is greater grace waiting for you. If we are happy only in the grace of the vine and the shade, and remain there, we will end our lives stuck in a one-dimensional existence. For Jonah to receive greater grace God has prepared, he had to give up the gourd vine and the shade and move into the city. He had to go to the place of his mission. Now you understand the meaning of God-prepared plant and the shade, don't you?
There will be times when they disappear. At that time, do not get angry at God asking, "Why are you taking this away from me?" It is because God wants to give you something greater. He wants to use you more greatly and magnificently. To make you a true person with a mission. He is calling you to use you more than a hundredfold. For it, you must quickly enter the city. You must return to the place of worship, prayer, and mission. Fulfilling a mission means living according to God's scale, not your own. Then, you will become broader, more capable, more abundant, more joyful, and happier. This is the purpose for which God called Jonah and us.
When the plant and shade you cling to and love disappear, expect the best. God is about to give you something truly good. Therefore, do not leave the city God has placed has sent you to. Do not try to built a shelter for yourself as a mere spectator. I hope you live a precious life as a man of mission and messenger of God.
God is leading Jonah to a place of glory. That is knowing God's heart. God is love. In verse 10, 11, the word, ‘concerned,’ is "hus" in Hebrew meaning to shed tears, to grieve, to have compassion for someone. This is ‘spranconizomai,’ God's heart.
Do you have "hus" within you? Do you have a concerning heart over the perishing souls in SFU and this world? Do you have a heart that sheds tears? Or is your heart only in your plant and shade?
I ask myself. Did Jonah truly return to the city? Did he live as a messenger of God? Did he shed tears for the perishing people? Yet, the Northern Israel did not return to God. It was destroyed 30 years later, in 722 BC. If we do not hold onto God's heart, we too will collapse.
God first seeks out Jonah and makes a proposal. “Go to Nineveh. Just as you care for the vine that withers overnight, shouldn’t you care for those souls? Shouldn’t you go and preach the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God?” As you come to church, the Lord comes to find you. “Will you do this for me?” Then you must accept Him with an Amen. “Yes, I will go there.” Faith is about accepting. The reason the Book of Jonah ends with an open ending is that we must write Chapter 5. “I care for them. I have compassion on them.” Then what must I do? I must go out to the place of my mission with the Word and prayer of Jesus Christ. You must write Chapter 5. A new semester is beginning. Do not go outside the city walls, but go inside. Go to your own Nineveh. There, preach the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the most glorious place.
Jonah 4
In Chapter 3, Jonah received a second chance. He went to Nineveh to preach. Then a great revival took place. Chapter 3 would be a beautiful conclusion. So, is chapter 4 really necessary? Then, why was Chapter 4 added? Because Jonah hadn't changed yet. Chapter 3 is the salvation of Nineveh. Chapter 4 is the salvation of Jonah. Jonah hasn't been broken. He hasn't died. He is filled with pride and self-righteousness. He is too self-centered. This must be broken for him to be saved.
Verse 1. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah hates the salvation of Nineveh. He is very angry at God. He cannot forgive God for forgiving Nineveh. He judges God. “God did something wrong. How could He forgive them? I cannot forgive such a God.” He is like the older brother of the prodigal son enraged at his father who forgave his younger brother.
God's work is grace. However, grace is what people hate the most. People get angry not when others sin, but when grace comes upon them despite their sins. We get angry because we feel it is unjust and unfair. “Oh, that guy is a villain... but why is he doing so well?”
We rejoice when we are forgiven and receive God’s grace. However, we become angry when grace is shown to others.
In verse 2, Jonah said he knew this would happen. Jonah knew who God was. God is merciful. So, He will forgive Nineveh. “Ah, to think He would forgive that enemy nation. I hate it so much.” He is a prophet, yet he does not know God’s grace. The word, mercy, grace is originated from a mother’s womb. Despite the pain of childbirth, a mother loves her child. God is love. The church must have motherly love. God is slow to anger. That is why we are still receiving a second and third chance. If God were to judge us by the standard of the law, who would have survived until now? Love is Hesed, unconditional and everlasting love. Jonah likes God for forgiving him and showing him grace, but when God shows grace to Nineveh, he becomes enraged.
In verses 2-3, “I” appears nine times. He is thoroughly self-centered. He said, “It is better to die than to see grace given to them.”
Verse 3 says, “Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah only looked at himself, his miserable feeling, anger and hatred. Then he wanted to quit his life. Yes, if we meditate on ourselves all day, we fall into disappointment or discouragement or even no hope to live. Indeed, some quit their lives. Therefore, do not meditate on yourselves. When the Holy Spirit comes to us, among several changes, two mains are joy and neighbors are seen. appear. We come to know Jesus' greatest commandment: love God first and love your neighbors like yourself. If we love God and our neighbor, we are finally free from our self-seeking and selfish egos.
Israel failed. Why? Although they received more than ten thousand kinds of grace from God, they remained stuck in the mindset of being the chosen people. God wanted them to become the source and channel of blessing for all the peoples of the world. "You are priests. Go and let all people know my salvation." Priests are now expressed as apostles or witnesses of Jesus. We are to flow the grace we have received to our neighbors. However, Jonah was trapped in the mindset of being the chosen people and knew only himself and his close people. No flowing is destruction. "God's purpose in calling us is for our salvation and mission" However, if we do not preach the gospel, the blessing could be a curse. "Why is God giving me so much?" Because you may let it flow to your neighbors and the people of the world. Folks, are you letting the blessing you have received to flow to others?
Jonah did not have any desire to flow the grace he received to the Gentiles. God took pity on him and did one thing to make him realize his problem.
Look at verse 6. “Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.” Jonah was very happy over a leafy plant that would disappear in a day. Yet, he had no interest in the salvation of souls, which is more precious than the whole world. There are more people like this than you think. That is you and me. Look at verse 7. “But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”” He is thoroughly self-centered.
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Pointing his finger at God, Jonah retorted angrily, “It is. And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
Look at verse 10-11. Here the main word is ‘concerned,’ meaning caring for or cherishing. God is a caring God. Faith is caring a soul. Verses 10-11. ‘Concerning’ a mother’s grieving heart who has lost her only child. ‘Concerning’ is mother’s grieving heart with tears tending to her sick child. They say, “I can give my heart to people who actually deserve it.” It is not like that. What does a person's qualifications have to do with love?
"If that person has the value or qualification, I will love them." Then, do we receive God's love because we are worthy and qualified? Romans 5:6, 8, 10 says, “when we were still powerless, while we were still sinners and while we were God’s enemies, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: Christ died for us. We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.”
He loved and saved us when we were completely unworthy and undeserving. Then shouldn't we also care for those souls? Faith is caring for a person’s soul. God cared for those who were perishing in Nineveh and saved them.
The problem is, Jonah had no love. We have no love either. We love ourselves and our families, and we love the people we like, but in reality, we are selfish and self-centered. What we truly need is love. Where does this love come from? It comes from God.
Paul was originally very violent, judgmental and selfish. With religious public authority, he arrested and imprisoned and killed many Christians. Then, how could such a person shed his tears and wholeheartedly dedicated his entire life to caring for and saving souls? He said, “For Christ’s love compels me.” (2 Cor 5:14) His love and sacrifice did not come from his nature or personality or will but from Christ who is love.
The devil tries to erase love from us. Satan plants hatred, anger and indifference in us. Jonah has biblical knowledge, experience and zeal. However, he has no love. This is fatal. He is nothing.
What is Jonah's problem? Look at verse 5. Jonah went out of the city and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. The city was the place of his mission, but he went out of the city. There, he built a shelter for himself. He became a spectator, not a worker. He sat with his arms crossed, watching to see what would happen. Jonah went outside the city. This means he left his mission field. There are people who do not draw near to the Lord but keep drifting far away. Because of trivial matters, they keep leaving the Lord—leaving the place of worship, prayer and mission. And they build a comfortable shelter for themselves again. Like Jonah, they enjoy their plants and shade, but God's will is completely out of their minds.
Where is your place? Is it Inside the city or outside? Is it God-centered or self-centered? Are you satisfied with the small comfort and security from a vine plant and shade, or are you witnessing the gospel for the souls of Nineveh? Are you a spectator or a worker? What are you building? A shelter or the Kingdom of God?
In this age, the devil causes people to go out of the city, makes them build a shelter for themselves, and makes them sit in the shade of vine plant, turning them into spectators. “Hey, it’s okay to go to church. But don’t get too deeply involved. If you get too deep, you’ll lose your freedom and material. Just live for yourself.” So, many people take just one small step in and quickly pull out.
The devil whispers to us to live as spectators.” This means living as a consumer. Modern people have a consumer mindset. So, just like choosing a product online, they click on a church or sermon that looks enjoyable. “This looks good.” What sense of responsibility, care, devotion or mission does a consumer have? A consumer is self-centered. My benefit, satisfaction and emotions are top priority. Consumers just watch. If it looks good, they take it; if it looks boring or difficult to do, they don’t go near it. Becoming a consumer is the devil’s temptation. We are worshipers, men of prayer and mission. We become the best people when we are in the place of mission.
Paul lived a wonderful and happy life. He said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) Although he often faced hardships, difficulties and persecution, he was a happy person who fully enjoyed God's grace and power. Folks, live as a person with a mission, not a consumer. Only then can you escape Jonah's trap.
There are times when God removes the gourd vine and the shade we enjoy so that we may live as people with a mission, not consumers. "Why make such a big deal over a gourd and some shade?" Yet Jonah was very happy about the plant. Look at verse 7. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. Consequently, the shade disappeared. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint, causing him to become extremely angry. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” Why? Just because a single plant is gone.
For Jonah, the plant and the shade are God's grace. We have such plant and shade that offer us comfort, satisfaction and security such as school, job, friends, health or family. Yes, such things are given to us from the Lord that we can enjoy them. However, there is a time when unexpected worm chews our plant, causing it to wither and the shade to disappear. Under the blazing sun with scorching east wind, Jonah grew faint and angrily raised his voice against God, “Why did you take them away from me? Why? To give him greater grace and true blessing. "Jonah, how can you care so much about a fleeting shade that came up in a night and perished in a night?" There is greater grace waiting for you. If we are happy only in the grace of the vine and the shade, and remain there, we will end our lives stuck in a one-dimensional existence. For Jonah to receive greater grace God has prepared, he had to give up the gourd vine and the shade and move into the city. He had to go to the place of his mission. Now you understand the meaning of God-prepared plant and the shade, don't you?
There will be times when they disappear. At that time, do not get angry at God asking, "Why are you taking this away from me?" It is because God wants to give you something greater. He wants to use you more greatly and magnificently. To make you a true person with a mission. He is calling you to use you more than a hundredfold. For it, you must quickly enter the city. You must return to the place of worship, prayer, and mission. Fulfilling a mission means living according to God's scale, not your own. Then, you will become broader, more capable, more abundant, more joyful, and happier. This is the purpose for which God called Jonah and us.
When the plant and shade you cling to and love disappear, expect the best. God is about to give you something truly good. Therefore, do not leave the city God has placed has sent you to. Do not try to built a shelter for yourself as a mere spectator. I hope you live a precious life as a man of mission and messenger of God.
God is leading Jonah to a place of glory. That is knowing God's heart. God is love. In verse 10, 11, the word, ‘concerned,’ is "hus" in Hebrew meaning to shed tears, to grieve, to have compassion for someone. This is ‘spranconizomai,’ God's heart.
Do you have "hus" within you? Do you have a concerning heart over the perishing souls in SFU and this world? Do you have a heart that sheds tears? Or is your heart only in your plant and shade?
I ask myself. Did Jonah truly return to the city? Did he live as a messenger of God? Did he shed tears for the perishing people? Yet, the Northern Israel did not return to God. It was destroyed 30 years later, in 722 BC. If we do not hold onto God's heart, we too will collapse.
God first seeks out Jonah and makes a proposal. “Go to Nineveh. Just as you care for the vine that withers overnight, shouldn’t you care for those souls? Shouldn’t you go and preach the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God?” As you come to church, the Lord comes to find you. “Will you do this for me?” Then you must accept Him with an Amen. “Yes, I will go there.” Faith is about accepting. The reason the Book of Jonah ends with an open ending is that we must write Chapter 5. “I care for them. I have compassion on them.” Then what must I do? I must go out to the place of my mission with the Word and prayer of Jesus Christ. You must write Chapter 5. A new semester is beginning. Do not go outside the city walls, but go inside. Go to your own Nineveh. There, preach the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the most glorious place.