JONAH 4:7-8 - SHADE PLANT DIED: JONAH CRIED

JONAH 4:7-8

SHADE PLANT DIED:

JONAH CRIED

Jonah 4:7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

Susan: Earlier the Lord prepared a humongous fish to save Jonah from the raging sea. Now He sends a lowly worm to gnaw at the plant until it shrivels up and dies.

Susie: God’s sovereignty runs the gamut of the animal kingdom. He controls the entire world. Jonah himself said, “I fear Adonai, the God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land,” (Jonah 1:9b).

Psalm 104:13-14 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth

Jonah 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

Susie: The region where Nineveh was located was known for fearsome, hot winds called siroccos. The omnipotent (all-powerful) God brought that wind out of His storehouse and pointed it directly at Jonah’s meager shelter, now without the added protection of the plant. Jonah became faint and wanted to die.

Jeremiah 10:13 (NIV) When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Susan: Jonah is quite dramatic. I think he may have been going through male menopause. Once again Jonah thought he would be better off dead. Jonah really put God’s patience and His ability to contain His anger to the test!

Susie: I am afraid I have been like Jonah at various stages in my life. Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace! In our next lesson, we will see God’s explanation of the plant illustration.

QUESTIONS

1.        How did God cause the plant to die?

2.        What force of nature did God use next to get Jonah’s attention?

3.        What did Jonah wish in verse 8?

4.        Did God grant Jonah’s wish this time?

5.        Have you ever had a time that in retrospect you were glad God did not give you what you asked for?