But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah had gone out 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. – Jonah 4:4-5
R. Reed Lessing writes:
Jonah 4:4 portrays the marvelous grace of Yahweh in the face of Jonah’s judgmental anger. Yahweh does not break off the conversation with the recalcitrant prophet. He refuses the acquiesce when Jonah asks Him to take his life. Even for such a sinner, Yahweh does not want death! Here the LORD of history, who rules the wind and sea and the mighty power of Sheol, who has converted and saved a formerly wicked metropolis, stoops down to hold conversation with a pouting child. What patience! What grace!
… Yet even when Yahweh extends a revelation of His word to Jonah … the prophet is unmoved by such a radical act of kindness. Jonah hears only Yahweh’s judgment that his anger has not been an appropriate response. The rhetorical question “Is it right that you are inflamed?” implies that the converse is true: it is good and right that God’s grace is not limited either geographically or ethnically only to Israel, but is freely available to all who repent and believe.
MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 77
Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially in witness-bearing.