Let God Change Your Perspective

God told Jonah to go preach to Nineveh so they could hear and repent. Jonah eventually did it and then got angry at God because the hated people of Nineveh actually did repent and were spared immediate judgment. Jonah got so upset that he wanted to die, but God did some things to help Jonah through his anger, depression and lack of concern for others. Let’s take a look at Jonah 4:5-11 in the New Living Translation and see what we can learn from this scenario.

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. Jonah 4:5 (NLT)

Jonah found a place outside the city to sit and watch what would become of the wicked city of Nineveh. I believe he was hoping to see something catastrophic take place, maybe similar to what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.

And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. Jonah 4:6 (NLT)

God prepared a gourd plant to give Jonah shade while he waited.

But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. Jonah 4:7-8 (NLT)

However, as Jonah was enjoying the shade from the plant, the Lord sent a worm to eat away at it. Then, the sun beat down on Jonah and God arranged for a hot, harsh wind to blow on Jonah. Jonah became miserable and wanted to die.

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” Jonah 4:9 (NLT)

God asked Jonah if he was angry about losing the shade of the plant and if it was right for him to feel that way. Jonah replied that he was- and that he was angry enough to want to die. Jonah was having a fit, much like children who don’t get their way. God was trying to show Jonah something in this scenario, but Jonah wasn’t getting it.

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:10-11 (NLT)

The Lord pointed out to Jonah that he was exhibiting kinder feelings towards a gourd that he hadn’t even planted than he did towards an entire city of people who could not discern between good and evil. God even had compassion on the animals of Nineveh, mentioning them along with the citizens. Through a simple object like a gourd plant, the Lord was trying to get Jonah to understand His heart towards the inhabitants of Nineveh and to see them the same way He did.

God will work with us to bring us over to His perspective. He will do things to wake us up to see what’s really important. We usually want to have our own way and when we don’t get it, we often get angry at God, our lives, our circumstances, or other people. In our selfish immaturity, we may even throw a bit of a tantrum, like Jonah did when he lost his shade. However, God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and kind. He works with us and in our lives to point out what really matters.

The book of Jonah ends with God’s comment about His compassion and pity on Nineveh. God is saying, “Will you care for people even as I do?” He wants us to do His will over our own will.

When God changes our perspective about the things that are bothering us, such as not liking the assignment He has us on, the place where we are, or difficult tasks we have to do, let’s embrace His point of view. Let’s do what we have to do with a good attitude as unto the Lord. We will then experience God as gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and kind in our own lives. Life always looks better and goes better when we allow God to change our perspective. One thing I noticed about the book of Jonah that used to bother me is the fact that it ends so abruptly. I believe God does not show us how Jonah responded because it is up to us to decide if we will submit our will to God’s will or go our own way. We don’t know for sure how Jonah’s story ended, but we can choose to see things God’s way, and our story will always turn out well.