Let's pick up with Jonah's wish to die. He said it three times in this chapter. At times we see our own selves following his pattern. We give ourselves to the fleeting things of this world and forget the eternal. What really matters to you? What matters the most to you? Don't be general and say the Lord. In your day-to-day life what matters? How much does the welfare of others matter? We have a tendency to put self first.
Jonah was bluffing God–testing God to change his mind. He was testing the people to see if they held out. If God decides to work in a certain way and I don't like it I am foolish to think God will backtrack. God decided that instead of Jonah testing the people, he would test Jonah. We pray for God's will to be done and if we don't like it we get mad. The hill became a test. God provided a gourd; this was a bush-like tree with broad leaves. It provided the shade Jonah needed in the hot sun; Jonah was glad. Do you think he felt like he was swaying God's mind–getting an apology from God. However God was showing Jonah that he was in control. God can. We can't. Jonah couldn't grow a gourd over night, but God could. God has a way of stopping us–for our good.
Jonah slept thinking he had God where he wanted him. During the night God sent a worm, and in one night a small worm–not a swarm of locusts–ate the tree and it withered away. Jonah woke and got mad. The tree meant so much to him. He almost forgot about Nineveh. Again this was for Jonah's good. It took away the ease which he gave more attention than 120,000 people in the city. He could not have cared less about them. He was so consumed with his own problem–the hot sun. If he had gone to help the people he wouldn't have been in the sun to start with. Helping others in the midst of our need helps us. Wrapping ourselves in God's blessings is wrong. Are we so insecure that we think we will lose what we have when we help others? God will take care of us.
God took the gourd away from Jonah because of his attitude. Then God sent a strong hot wind. Jonah probably got a sun burn. Do we take the every day things God gives us for granted? Without the protection of God it gets to you. Jonah wanted to die; he had a pity party. Again he didn't get his own way. The only real relief from the hot wind was to turn toward the city. God can turn us in whatever direction he wants. Nineveh turned to God, but Jonah would not–so God turned him. Jonah thought more of the gourd that the city. God asked Jonah why he thought he should be good to him and not be good to the people. We do not deserve anything better than what someone else deserves. Often we find ourselves more trained in condemning others than helping them. Jonah was a prophet of doom.
When we find fault and criticize God rightly judges us. Jonah should have been grateful as the people of Nineveh were. Instead that shrub mattered more than they did. When the little things in our lives matter more than others God can change us–for our good. It is not how much we have done for ourselves but how much we have helped others. When we help others our reward will be great.
The ending of this book leaves us with questions. But what matters to us? We all need the help of God AND we need to help others.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 