The Plant
On July 21, 2016, John Kirby was updating reporters on the U.S. fight against ISIS. Then he stopped and asked a reporter, "You're playing the Pokémon thing right there, aren't you?" The reporter acknowledged, "I'm just keeping an eye on it." Even when our job is to report on a war, we can distract and delight ourselves by catching virtual creatures.
God appointed a giant sea creature to rescue Jonah. He sent him to see Nineveh for himself and He showed him the Ninevites turning away from evil, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, and crying out for forgiveness. He personally asks Jonah a question to show him what he needs to consider. Jonah is unchanged. But God continues to mercifully intervene. He appoints a little plant. Yes, it gives him shade, but for a specific purpose: to rescue Jonah from his trouble. It's a word we've seen before: rāʿâ. The same word used for his displeasure in 4:1. The same word that describes Nineveh's evil now describes Jonah's heart. Imagine watching a plant grow so quickly that it provides shade within one day. I can be spiritually obtuse, but I think even I could conclude: God is trying to teach me something. Even if I missed the lesson of the sea creature rescuing me, watching a plant grow overnight should make it clear. The Hebrew tells us that Jonah rejoiced with great joy. When we read Jonah's story next to other stories, his joy looks even smaller. In 2 Chronicles 30, Hezekiah leads the people to remove their altars dedicated to other gods, ritually purify themselves, and celebrate Passover together. Then there was "great rejoicing" because the people had turned away from their evil and turned to God. In Acts 15:3, Paul and Barnabas describe "in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters." Jonah is like the reporter who is trying to catch a Pokémon during a war briefing. This past Sunday, I wanted to check my social media engagement more than listen to the sermon. The only thing that makes Jonah happy is that a plant is giving him shade. But God doesn't give up on Jonah. At the start of the story, God was overpowering Jonah with a massive storm and a giant sea creature. Now, he's exposing Jonah with a little plant and a tiny worm. Instead of hurling a great wind onto the sea, God sends what Uriel Simon argues is best translated as "a quiet east wind." Under the hot sun, Jonah nearly faints and again complains to God: "It's better for me to die than to live." After all these interventions, he repeats the same complaint.
Jonah told God that the Ninevites' repentance made him want to die. God grew him a personal shade tree. What does this tell us about God?
What makes you happiest? Write down your top ten list.
When did you last experience God's mercy?
With a friend, take turns answering this question: What's one time you've been happy because of what God has done?