Most everyone knows, or has heard of, the story of Jonah and the whale. But there is a story in this short book of the Bible that caught my attention even more than a man being swallowed whole by a whale and living to tell the tale.
But before I get to that story, I need to tell you my own story. I have acquired a few little houseplants over the last couple of months, and although I've never really done much gardening other than pulling weeds, I have thoroughly enjoyed taking care of these little guys. I notice when their soil is dry, when their leaves begin to droop, and I know whether they need more sunlight or more water depending on how they look and behave. It's actually quite fascinating. What's even more fascinating is watching the leaves perk back up after just a few minutes of soaking up the sun or drinking in the water. It actually brings me joy to see the little plants thriving.
In Jonah 4, God appoints a plant to grow over Jonah's head to shade him from the sun. Just as quickly as it has grown, God appoints a worm to attack the plant, and even more, a wind to make it wither. Of course, Jonah is upset that the plant has died, and God points out to him that if he cares so much for the plant that he didn't even create and nurture, doesn't God care that much and more for his people?
Imagine the joy and the love our Father feels when we come to Him for sunlight and water, for nutrients to help us thrive. He wants and has good for us! I didn't even plant the seeds for my houseplants... I bought them at a store, already sprouted and growing. I didn't even harvest the seeds to be planted. Heck, I didn't even create the seeds that were planted! But God... He created us with his own hands, His own breath.
Sister, He cares for you.
xoxo, Erin
"Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" - Jonah 4:6-11 (ESV)
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