Jonah 4:5-11
New International Version
5 Jonah had gone 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. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east 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.”
Saturday - August 21
The book of Jonah ends with a question from God: “Shouldn’t I be concerned?” Shouldn’t God love and want people to repent and receive mercy, forgiveness, life and salvation? This story has a lot in common with the Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. The older brother who stayed on the family farm and obeyed his father deeply resents his father’s love and mercy towards the son who ran away, wasted his wealth, and ruined the family’s reputation. But shouldn’t the father love his lost son? It’s his son! That parable ends with a question, too. Will the older brother join the party? Will you? Will you forgive as Jesus has forgiven?
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