Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?”
“I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.”
But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:5-11
Quiet your mind and heart. Close your eyes and clear your thoughts.
Read the passage from Jonah 4:5-11. Did any word or phrase stick out in your mind? Think about that word or phrase. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you why that word or phrase struck you.
Now, read the passage again. Notice if the same words or phrases touched your heart again or if different ones did. Pray about what you have noticed. Ask God to reveal to you what you need to understand about this passage today.
As you read the passage once more, ask yourself, am I concerned about the things that concern God? Pray about your answer. Be honest with God. Ask for forgiveness if you need to.
By Grace Hunter
