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Jonah and the Plant
4: 1-11

This chapter again focuses on the disgruntled prophet’s relationship with ADONAI as they dialogue about Yonah’s anger over the mercy and grace shown by YHVH. God argues His preference for compassion, even in horrible circumstances. The LORD has compassion for His creation, no matter how ignorant, abusive, or violent the culture. Jonah is about this, so Ha’Shem gives His reluctant servant an object lesson in the form of a plant. He attempts to convince Jonah (and us) that His response of compassion is better than justice and more important than strict justice. Elohim, the God of creation and destruction, argues that, “If you, Yonah, are moved to pity over the destruction of a plant that you did not create, shouldn’t I have pity over the destruction of people and animals that I did create.” God loves all of His creation, for He is gracious and compassionate (4:2).86

What do you do when you’ve yielded to the divine intervention but things still have not turned out as you’d like. You followed God’s path, resting in the comforting thought that at least some things might work out the way you wanted. Now, after the fact, you sit in stunned disbelief. NOTHING turned out the way you’d hoped. NOTHING. Without verbalizing it, you realize that you made a deal with God. You just thought He’d hold up His end of the bargain.

“OK, God. I’ll do this if the result will be that.”

Obviously you forgot to shake hands on it because ADONAI didn’t keep His part of this one-sided deal. You’re upset. Disappointed, and angry with the Lord.

Ever been there?

Why do you think we make unspoken deals with God when choosing to yield to His will?87

Dear Great and Merciful Heavenly Father, Praise You that You always want the best for those who love You (Romans 8:31-39). Praise You that you reward those who love You – yes, with heaven and yes with Your presence and yes some other way also because You promised. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid – which is Yeshua the Messiah.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work – what sort it is.  If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward (First Corinthians 3:11-14). For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due for the things he did while in the body – whether good or bad (Second Corinthians 5:10).

We do not work for the reward. We joyfully serve You out of love and we desire to do with our rewards what the twenty-four elders do with their crowns in worship of You, our wonderful and Awesome God!  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, For You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:9-11)! We love You and look forward to living with You forever in Your heavenly home and praising Your great and holy name forever! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen