Seeing people who don’t know right from wrong & having compassion
- Thad DeBuhr
- Dec 23, 2025
- 6 min read
Day 20 = Jonah 4:11
Imagine watching an intense movie where the hero and the villain are facing off in the final scene. The music is swelling, the tension is high, and just as someone is about to speak—the screen goes black. No credits, no "happily ever after," just total silence. You’d probably be frustrated! You want to know what happened. Did the hero forgive? Did the villain change?
The Book of Jonah ends exactly like that. It doesn't tell us if Jonah repented, if he went home, or if he stayed angry. Instead, it ends with a question from God that isn't really for Jonah—it’s for us. It’s like the Bible is holding up a mirror and asking, "Are you going to keep being like Jonah, or are you going to start caring about what I care about?"
Before you dig into the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene: The final question is for you
The Final Argument (Verse 11): God has just pointed out that Jonah was upset about a plant he didn't even work for. Now, God delivers the final blow to Jonah's pride. He says, "Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left...?"
The Animals (Verse 11): Interestingly, God ends the book by mentioning "also much livestock." It’s a subtle way of saying that God even cares about the animals in the city. If God cares about the cows and the sheep of Nineveh, how could Jonah be so heartless toward the people?
Scholarly Deep Dive: "Right Hand from Their Left"
The exact phrase "knowing the right hand from the left" is unique to the Book of Jonah in this specific wording. However, it is widely recognized as a Hebrew idiom for moral discernment or legal accountability.
1. Biblical Parallels
While the exact phrase is rare, the concept appears elsewhere in Scripture to describe those without full moral awareness:
Deuteronomy 1:39: Refers to children who "have no knowledge of good or evil."
Isaiah 7:15-16: Mentions a time before a child "knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good."
Ecclesiastes 10:2: A symbolic use where "A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left."
In the context of Jonah, this refers to innocence due to ignorance. God is pointing out that the people of Nineveh are "spiritually illiterate"—they are doing evil things, but they don't have the moral compass (the Law) that Jonah’s people have.
2. Theological Perspectives
When we look at this final question, three major themes emerge from the study of the text:
The Shift from "Evil" to "Humanity": The book begins with God noticing Nineveh's "evil" and ends with God noticing their "humanity." This highlights God's complex justice. While Jonah sees a city of monsters, God sees a city of "lost toddlers." This suggests God’s primary posture toward the world is one of a protective parent, not just a judge.
The Rebuke of Religious Elitism: Jonah "knew" his right hand from his left—meaning he had God's instructions (Torah), the rituals, and the "right" theology—but he used that knowledge to hate others. God's question suggests He values a "helpless heart" more than a "haughty head."
The Mission of the Light: If a people are confused and don't know the way, it is the responsibility of those who do know (the Jonahs of the world) to have mercy and guide them, rather than sitting on a hill waiting for them to burn.
3. The "Unique Nugget": Who are the 120,000?
Scholars generally fall into two camps regarding this number:
The "Children" View: 120,000 is the number of literal toddlers. This would make Nineveh a massive metropolis of nearly a million people.
The "Metaphor" View: The 120,000 represents the entire population of the city, described as "children" because they haven't been taught God's ways. They are "morally underage."
The Takeaway: Regardless of which view you take, the point remains the same: God finds a reason to be merciful even when Jonah finds every reason to be judgmental.
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🛑 How to Apply the Lesson Incorrectly (Missing the Point):
The "Universal Pass" Mistake: Thinking that because God pities everyone, it doesn't matter how we live.
Correction: Nineveh only experienced God's mercy because they changed their ways. God’s pity isn't an excuse to stay "lost"; it's an invitation to be found.
The "Wait for the Ending" Mistake: Waiting to see if "bad people" deserve mercy before we are willing to help them.
Correction: Jonah wanted to wait and see if Nineveh would fail again. God wants us to move in compassion now, regardless of what we think someone deserves.
✅ How to Apply the Lesson Correctly (Tips and Principles):
Living with the "Mirror": Instead of judging Jonah, ask yourself: "Who is the person I am currently hoping God will punish?" Recognizing your "inner Jonah" is the first step toward changing.
Prioritizing the "Lost": Looking at people you disagree with—politically, socially, or personally—and remembering they are people who often "don't know their right hand from their left" spiritually. This changes your anger into a desire to help them see the light.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage.
Why do you think the author of Jonah chose to leave the ending a mystery? How does it make you feel that we never find out if Jonah "got it" or not?
God mentions the 120,000 "innocents" in the city. How does shifting our focus to the helpless (children, the vulnerable, the confused) help us let go of our anger toward a group of people?
If God were to write a "Verse 12" based on your life today, what would it say? Would it say you stayed under the plant, or that you walked back into the city to help?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation about justice and what we think is fair.
"If the Book of Jonah is a mirror, what is the most uncomfortable thing it has shown you about yourself over the last 20 days?"
"How can our group help each other stay focused on God's 'Global Heart' instead of our 'Local Comforts'?"
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