Worshipping and Praising God for who God is and Does, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu
Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg, Bible Study Material on Jonah 4:2
Introduction
In our previous lesson, we learnt that Jonah had no right to be angry with God. We understood that the root problem of his anger with God was not that he had wrong perspective about God but it was a submission problem. This was supported Jonah’s confession about God’s character in Jonah 4:2. This lesson further reflects on Jonah’s affirmations and thus confessions about who God as a basis for our worship and praises.
Affirmations of Who God is
In Jonah’s anger, he made some important affirmations concerning God’s character in Jonah 4:2: “I know you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, one who relents from doing harm.” Worthy of note is the fact that these affirmations have become a creed or a confession of faith among the Hebrew people. Jonah’s statement about God appears to be a reflection of an ancient formula first seen in Exodus 34:6-7 and it occurs 10 times in the Old Testament. It is referred too in other places as well (Joel 2:13; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Psalms. 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Nah. 1:3; 2 Chr. 39; and also Psalms 111:4, 112:4, and 116:8). Most importantly, these affirmations form the basis of our worship.
God is gracious (Jonah 4:2)
The gracious nature of God means that God is kind in God’s attitudes towards us and all that God does especially towards the undeserving. It implies that God does for sinners which they do not deserve.
God is Merciful (Jonah 4:2)
God’s mercifulness reveals God’s compassionate and loving nature. God’s compassionate and merciful nature is likened to the kind of love that mothers have towards their children. Thus, just as mothers love their children, so is God’s love to those who are made in God’s image.
God is Longsuffering (Jonah 4:2)
The longsuffering nature of God means that God is slow to anger. God does not have a quick temper. God is patient and long suffering. It is not within God’s nature to immediately bring judgment upon those who God has made and thus loves. God’s first response is to be slow in getting angry, even in the face of sin and rebellion.
God is Loving (Jonah 4:2)
God is abounding in love and reflects God’s loving-kindness (ESV, “steadfast love”). The word used pictures the covenant faithfulness and love of God, and it is a rich word in Hebrew thought. It is variously understood and translated to mean “loving-kindness; steadfast love; covenant loyalty; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion.
Agape is the closest New Testament equivalent to the Hebrew thought. Both terms accurately and beautifully speak of God’s covenant love and faithfulness to those who are recipients of His grace. − Kindness, loyalty and unfailing love are all terms that depict the beauty of this Hebrew thought.
God is Forgiving (Jonah 4:2)
God is one who desists (relents) from doing harm or “disaster.” The word is the same that has previously been translated “evil” or “trouble” in the book of Jonah. There is no sin that God cannot forgive us.
God is Patient (Jonah 4:3-4)
That God was patient with the people of Nineveh and Jonah in his depressing state as well is an indication that God refuses to place a limit on His grace. God is a patient God.
Conclusion and Application
This lesson on Jonah 4:2 is an invitation to move beyond our proper understanding of who God is to relating with God as such. Who God is and what God does are both inseparable. As a gracious God, God’s grace upon us are limitless. As a merciful God, God is compassionate towards us and loves us unconditionally. As a long-suffering God, God is patient with us and prepares us to be more like Christ. This God deserves our appreciation. God deserves our worship.
