Nothing but hatred

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.

He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Jonah 4:1-4

Jonah is so angry that he would rather be dead.

He has the full freedom of a person to express his total disappointment and anger at God.

Instead of hitting him with divine lightning Lord simply asks “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Simple question, yes, but very difficult to answer.

Book of Jonah does continue from this point as a verbal discourse, philosophy of theodicy or the like.

Instead, in the following section words are combined with objects and actions that work as signs.

This is a truly powerful and unforgettable way to say things! Jesus of Nazareth had good command of this style His words and parables being choke full of objects, places and people.



Allahu rahman urahim
Daily Muslim prayers contain this sentence, one of the few allowed for describing Allah - that God is gracious and compassionate. These words are originally from the Bible and appear also here in the Book of Jonah.

חנּוּן hanun - gracious
רחוּם rachum - merciful