Q&A Jonah’s Anger and Cattle

Q: Why Does Jonah 4:11 Specifically Mention “Much Cattle?”

When I preached on this passage about 11 years ago and again this past fall, the contrast that struck throughout the last dialogue between Jonah and God was between God's grace and Jonah's graceless anger. 

Jonah’s anger has brought him to despair of life, of all life, including the people of Nineveh, and the animal life included. Lest we think this is some "PETA" approved version, or 21st-century animal rights-influenced version of an interpretation, we ought to see the very specific form of anger Jonah experienced. Jonah was not jealous of Nineveh's riches. He was not hoping that by the destruction of Nineveh the greatness of Israel would come. There was no hope of plunder or benefit to others by a righteous act of judgment upon Nineveh. 

The whole of the text has made clear time and time again that Jonah does not have a righteous indignation against Nineveh, but instead a very hate-filled zeal against those whom the Lord has designed to show mercy and grace towards. This is a hatred somewhat akin to Saul of Tarsus prior to his meeting the Lord Jesus. Saul was zealously seeking the destruction of the church of Christ. With a hatred that was directly opposed to the favor of God in the grace of the Lord Jesus. 

Jonah’s anger is an exhausting anger, it's a despairing anger. It's an anger that looks at every living thing and despises the gift of life given by God. We see this time and again with Jonah regarding his despising of God's call (chapter 1) to him, God's preserving grace of him (chapter 2), God's special grace to the people of Nineveh in bringing repentance (chapter 3) and in the life of the tree God specially gave to Jonah (chapter 4). 

In all this Jonah has despised life, risking the lives of the sailors. Desiring his own death rather than service to God. And in the most widespread way, desiring the utter and absolute destruction of Nineveh, not only the people but also the livestock. 

The way of Jonah is the way of death. But the gift of God is life. 

Speaking in terms of suicidal thoughts and motives, Jonah wants to kill himself, everyone, and everything around him. Although there are moments, by God's grace, where he is used mightily by the Lord (chapters 2-3) as Jonah comes to a grace-filled experiential knowledge of God. Jonah isn't suicidal due to being a burden on others, nor is he suicidal because he can't handle the realities of His calling. Jonah is consumed with a hatred that once conceived and gives birth produces a desire for death in himself, and in all living things around him. Jonah's wrongful attitude puts himself in the judgment seat of God that only the Lord God occupies. He is in some ways a precursor of those who sat in judgment against Christ, who by grace lived and demonstrated the kingdom of heaven was near. 

The Lord's character is on display all over the book of Jonah as a God filled with grace, who is not limited to geographical borders, and whose plan to save is mighty and grand and extends to all of creation, including animals whom the Lord had made even before humanity. Paul wrote of how all of creation groans and looks forward to the restoration of all things in the consummation of the returning Lord Jesus. God's plans are always good. His salvation is grand and far beyond what we often consider. And our hatred is far more damnable and disgustingly destructive than we would (by our own power) care to admit. 

Praise God for his grace and mercy to sinners like me! Who by nature have a Jonah-like attitude, hell-bent on our own destruction, and the destruction of all that is living around us. God's grace is great enough to redeem and lead into repentance the most spiteful and hate-filled of any of us. As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1 - God's grace was poured out on me abundantly! By God's grace, we look forward to the final coming day when all things are reconciled and made new, all things, every person of the countless hosts described in Revelation 7, and every last aspect of creation redeemed and remade, as far as the curse is found our God has special intentions on redemption, including us as humans, and wildlife, even many cattle.