Lessons from Jonah
The book of Jonah is full of lessons on what takes place outside the realm of our world. The life of Jonah part 5 gives us insights into the effective bonus lessons. We have the ability to see the full picture due to hindsight. We have a 20/20 vision in Jonah’s situation. Just like Job, Jonah did not have the ability to see what we do because he was living the story in real-time. Now let us dive into the book of Jonah the 4th chapter to finish the series on Jonah.
“And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.”
– Jonah 4:6
As stated in the life of Jonah part 5, Thurston states, “It is so easy to get in a mess.” Jonah could have easily have gotten into a ship. Traveled to Nineveh, and went back home. Jonah instead decides to rebel. The lessons from Jonah would not be something we can learn from if his decisions had been different. If Jonah had done exactly as he was told, we would not see the lessons.
God Teaches Jonah a Lesson
Jonah 4:2 states, ” And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Jonah becomes the pouting preacher in this situation. Even though Jonah sees God’s grace in his own life, he does not want grace for the people of Nineveh.
Jonah did not mind that God loved him. Jonah even states he would follow his vow. God teaches Jonah a very good lesson in the 4th chapter. After forgiveness is given to Jonah he decides to get mad because God gave forgiveness to the People of Nineveh. Does this not sound like the church of today? Here is the lesson God gives Jonah with a Gourd.
God and the Gourd, Effective Bonus Lesson
Jonah, because of his anger, missed the mark when looking at forgiveness. God is going to use a gourd, and in my opinion, a very large gourd, to teach Jonah a lesson. God made a gourd to give shelter and shadow to Jonah. The sun was burning him if we can put it in modern terms. Jonah was still mad.
“And the Lord God prepared a gourd and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd”
– Jonah 4:6
To quote Thurston in the life of Jonah part 5, “It didn’t bother him (Jonah) people were going to Hell. It bothered him that he was hot in the sun.” We as the church sometimes would be mad that we get sunburned, but we have many around us that will literally burn in Hell for eternity. We need to wake up and realize that our ministry should be focused on leading the lost to Jesus Christ, to keep them from Hell.
Be sure to join us for the conclusion of the life of Jonah, by subscribing to the Bear His Cross podcast on your favorite podcast provider.
Bear His Cross Podcast Host
David Marks
Host
David is the Registrar for the DeKalb County School System. A rural county in Alabama. He loves the “Mayberry” mentality to life. David is the product of a small town, and I feel the heartbeat of America lies in places like this across our country.
Thurston Garrett
Co-Host
Thurston Garrett is the pastor of Lacey’s Chapel Baptist Church located in Henagar, Alabama. Reverend Garrett has been working in the ministry and study of God’s word for many years in Alabama and Georgia.
