"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 15 April 2013, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."
Today's Blog Title: "Jonah's Anger and God's Kindness
Today's Blog Scripture Reading" Jonah 4:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Jonah 4:10-11 "But the LORD said, "You have pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand an their left--and much livestock?"
In verses 1-3, Jonah still maintains a false Jewish nationalism and hatred of all non-Jews, especially Assyrians. Jonah had experience God's Grace when he had been rescued and given a second chance to obey. But he objected to God's acting in character in withholding judgment when Nineveh repented. We who are undeserving ourselves of God's Mercy can hardly object
when God showers His Mercy on others who may be undeserving too.
In verse 3, Jonah says, "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." We need to look at the request of Jonah and that of Elijah. Jonah's death wish came from disgust at the people's repentance, while Elijah's came from a yearning for the people's repentance in 1st Kings 19:4. Only a few days, Jonah had screamed for God to keep him alive.
Jonah, in his steadfast and continuing stubbornness and lack of compassion, held out hope that God would judge Nineveh, and this was God's chief complaint against Jonah. In verse 6, the nature of the pant mentioned is unknown. Some have speculated that it was a castor-oil tree or a bottle-gourd vine. It may have been a species that grew especially fast. The Lord had rescued Jonah from drowning, now He wished to relieve His prophet from the misery of the sun. The reach of God's Mercy to the undeserving is a theme that continued to elude Jonah even as he experienced it from God.
In verse 7, and throughout the Book of Jonah, depicts the Lord as both sovereign, and free to act in creation. God placed the worm in the plant to serve as His agent in Jonah's life. The scorching "sirocco wind" blows in from the desert draws moisture from plants, causing them to wither. Jonah then pitied himself more than the plant. Jonah's anger in verse 1 did not rise from a desire for justice, but from his own selfishness, for he continued to justify his rebellious attitude.
"Pity" is the same word used to describe Jonah's feeling toward the plant in verse 10, is also used by God and His feelings toward the people of Nineveh. People are of more value than animals, and animals of more value than plants, but the Lord has a concern that extends to all His Creation. The Lord's "pity" comes from His character.
If Jonah could take "pity" on a plant, which is even less important than an animal, it only made sense that God would take "pity" on human beings, who are made in God's image. The Book of Jonah ends, on this note of contrast between Jonah's ungracious heart, and the kind heart of the Lord.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "Jonah's Anger and God's Kindness
Today's Blog Scripture Reading" Jonah 4:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Jonah 4:10-11 "But the LORD said, "You have pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand an their left--and much livestock?"
In verses 1-3, Jonah still maintains a false Jewish nationalism and hatred of all non-Jews, especially Assyrians. Jonah had experience God's Grace when he had been rescued and given a second chance to obey. But he objected to God's acting in character in withholding judgment when Nineveh repented. We who are undeserving ourselves of God's Mercy can hardly object
when God showers His Mercy on others who may be undeserving too.
In verse 3, Jonah says, "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." We need to look at the request of Jonah and that of Elijah. Jonah's death wish came from disgust at the people's repentance, while Elijah's came from a yearning for the people's repentance in 1st Kings 19:4. Only a few days, Jonah had screamed for God to keep him alive.
Jonah, in his steadfast and continuing stubbornness and lack of compassion, held out hope that God would judge Nineveh, and this was God's chief complaint against Jonah. In verse 6, the nature of the pant mentioned is unknown. Some have speculated that it was a castor-oil tree or a bottle-gourd vine. It may have been a species that grew especially fast. The Lord had rescued Jonah from drowning, now He wished to relieve His prophet from the misery of the sun. The reach of God's Mercy to the undeserving is a theme that continued to elude Jonah even as he experienced it from God.
In verse 7, and throughout the Book of Jonah, depicts the Lord as both sovereign, and free to act in creation. God placed the worm in the plant to serve as His agent in Jonah's life. The scorching "sirocco wind" blows in from the desert draws moisture from plants, causing them to wither. Jonah then pitied himself more than the plant. Jonah's anger in verse 1 did not rise from a desire for justice, but from his own selfishness, for he continued to justify his rebellious attitude.
"Pity" is the same word used to describe Jonah's feeling toward the plant in verse 10, is also used by God and His feelings toward the people of Nineveh. People are of more value than animals, and animals of more value than plants, but the Lord has a concern that extends to all His Creation. The Lord's "pity" comes from His character.
If Jonah could take "pity" on a plant, which is even less important than an animal, it only made sense that God would take "pity" on human beings, who are made in God's image. The Book of Jonah ends, on this note of contrast between Jonah's ungracious heart, and the kind heart of the Lord.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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