Finishing the Story

Scripture – Jonah 4:9-10: ⁹But 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.” ¹⁰But 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. ¹¹But 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?”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) In all the times I’ve read Jonah, I’ve never really understood this vine business. Jonah says he’s angry about the vine. Yet his anger is way out of proportion for that. Is he still angry about the redemption of Nineveh? Is he still angry with God for bringing that about and using him to do it? I can only wonder what that anger’s about. The story ends here. Jonah’s still in this very resentful mood. God is trying to get him to understand that He is concerned for the people of Nineveh. I want to add a few more lines and bring it to a conclusion. As it is, the story’s not over.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It could be I’ll complete the story in my own life. There are resentments I’m carrying around. There are some unanswered questions I have for God. I will lift up one resentment and offer it to Christ as a sacrifice of praise.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, help me bring this story to a conclusion. Show me how to let go of things that keep me captive. Please change me today so I might serve you freely without resentment or hesitation.