June 5, 2016

Jonah’s Petulance and God’s Provision

He changed His mind and did not 10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

1This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.

2 So he complained [prayed] to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish!

You are eager to turn back from destroying people! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love (chesed). You are eager to turn back from destroying people!

3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, Ephesians 4:26

5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city

5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.

6 And the Lord God arranged for [prepared] a leafy plant to grow there,

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: A ship leaving Joppa A berth available for Jonah A supernatural storm A crew that was both religious and superstitious

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: Lots cast by the seamen A great fish The heart of the king and subjects of Nineveh

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: A gourd vine

…and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort [misery], and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

7 But God also arranged for a worm!

Worm (8) Scarlet (34) Crimson (1)

1"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

since He delights in Him!” They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” Psalm 22

"When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly [in a shell] and permanently that she would never leave again.

"The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle.

the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted.

He died for us, that we might live through Him!” What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood that He might 'bring many sons unto glory' (Hebr. 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through Him!” Henry Morris. Biblical Basis for Modern Science

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

God’s Ultimate Provision 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us?

God’s Ultimate Provision No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:33-34

In remembrance of Me