Today's entry is the final one in this study, let's see how it ends!
Verse 6:
Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah,
that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So, Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the
plant.
God prepared a quick growing climbing plant that grew up over
Jonah’s booth providing him additional shade for the blazing sun and heat. God, in His great compassion for all mankind,
was trying to get the sulky, pouting prophet to realize an important lesson.
Jonah was very happy about the plant, but he still wasn’t accepting the
lesson. In fact, Jonah was happier about
the plant than he was the city of Nineveh repenting!
Verse 7:
But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that
attacked the plant, so that it withered.
And just like that, the plant that protected Jonah, that gave
him comfort was gone!
Verse 8:
When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun
beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was fain. And he asked that he might die and said, “It
is better for me to die than to live.”
“Scorching east wind,” that just brings to mind all kinds of
discomfort, doesn’t it? Evidently, it
was as bad as it sounds for Jonah asked that he might die, again!
Verse 9:
But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?”
And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.”
Whew! Jonah appears to
be having a temper-tantrum! God asks
Jonah “if it’s right for him to be angry about the plant” and Jonah replies
that “yes, it’s right for him to be angry, and that he’s angry enough to die!”
Jonah is one stubborn prophet, stewing in his feelings and in what he wants!
Verse 10:
And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not
labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished
in a night.
Jonah’s unreasonableness is glaring! God has begun to make a point and Jonah needs
to settle down and listen closely.
Verse 11:
And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are
more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and
also much cattle?
God is asking Jonah which is more important, the plant or the
people? The 120,000 persons referred to are
most likely infants and children.
Jonah cared more about the plant and his comfort than he did
the lost souls of Nineveh.
And that’s where the book of Jonah ends!
That’s quite a cliffhanger, isn’t it? The Bible doesn’t tell us anymore or any less and we are left wondering about a lot of things. Did Jonah learn the lesson God was trying to teach him or did he continue to rebel? Did Jonah continue on as a prophet for God or did his rebellion end it? What about Jonah's spiritual state before God? We are left with many thoughts and questions.
When I come across something like this in God's word, I always go back to Deuteronomy 29:29 (NKJV) ...
God revealed in His word what He wanted us to know about
Jonah, so we are left looking for the lessons, the take-aways from this account. Here are five that I came up with, what are
some that you see?
Take-away # 1: Jonah obeyed God, but not with his whole heart.
Take-away # 2: Jonah’s
hatred for the Ninevites hurt him more than it did them.
Take-away # 3: God is
merciful, patient and longsuffering.
Take-away # 4: Jonah allowed his feelings, wants and desires, even when they didn't align with what God wanted, to rule his heart.
Take-away #5: There's a little bit of Jonah's attitude in all of us just waiting for an opportunity to make an appearance!
I hope this study helps you in your walk with God. May God be glorified in all that we do!
(c) 2022 by Patsy Norwood. All Rights Reserved.
Thank you, Patsy! Yes, this gives me much to think about and room for growth.
ReplyDeleteLana, you are welcome! Every time I do a deep study such as this, I always find room for my own spiritual growth. Thank you for your participation.
DeleteThank you for doing this study. As you said, there's a lot to think about.
ReplyDeleteChristine, thank you!
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