11 <\/sup>\u307e\u3057\u3066\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f\u5341\u4e8c\u4e07\u3042\u307e\u308a\u306e\u3001\u53f3\u5de6\u3092\u308f\u304d\u307e\u3048\u306a\u3044\u4eba\u3005\u3068\u3001\u3042\u307e\u305f\u306e\u5bb6\u755c\u3068\u306e\u3044\u308b\u3053\u306e\u5927\u304d\u306a\u753a\u30cb\u30cd\u30d9\u3092\u3001\u60dc\u3057\u307e\u306a\u3044\u3067\u3044\u3089\u308c\u3088\u3046\u304b\u300d\u3002<\/strong><\/p>\n\u30e8\u30ca\u66f8\u306f\u3053\u306e\u8a00\u8449\u3068\u5171\u306b\u9589\u3058\u3089\u308c\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3053\u306e\u30e8\u30ca\u66f8\u306f\u65e7\u7d04\u8056\u66f8\u306b\u8a18\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3089\u3001\u3053\u308c\u306f\u30a4\u30a8\u30b9\u30fb\u30ad\u30ea\u30b9\u30c8\u304c\u8a95\u751f\u3059\u308b\u524d\u306e\u51fa\u6765\u4e8b\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u65e7\u7d04\u8056\u66f8\u306f\u795e\u3068\u30a4\u30b9\u30e9\u30a8\u30eb\u6c11\u65cf\u304c\u7d21\u3044\u3067\u3044\u308b\u6b74\u53f2\u3092\u63cf\u3044\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u305d\u3057\u3066\u3001\u305d\u3053\u306b\u306f\u30a4\u30b9\u30e9\u30a8\u30eb\u3092\u901a\u3057\u3066\u306a\u3055\u308c\u308b\u795e\u306e\u6551\u6e08\u53f2\u304c\u8a18\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\u305d\u3046\u8003\u3048\u307e\u3059\u3068\u30a4\u30b9\u30e9\u30a8\u30eb\u4eba\u4ee5\u5916\u306e\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u7570\u90a6\u4eba\u306f\u5b8c\u5168\u306b\u8107\u5f79\u3067\u3042\u308a\u3001\u6575\u3067\u3042\u308a\u3001\u795e\u306e\u6551\u6e08\u53f2\u3068\u306f\u7121\u95a2\u4fc2\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306b\u601d\u308f\u308c\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u3057\u304b\u3057\u3001\u4e00\u898b\u3001\u30a4\u30b9\u30e9\u30a8\u30eb\u3092\u4e2d\u5fc3\u3068\u3057\u3066\u4e16\u754c\u3068\u4ed6\u6c11\u65cf\u3092\u898b\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3088\u3046\u306a\u65e7\u7d04\u8056\u66f8\u306e\u4e2d\u3067\u3001\u3053\u306e\u30e8\u30ca\u66f8\u306f\u5c06\u6765\u306b\u3064\u306a\u304c\u308b\u9a5a\u304f\u3079\u304d\u30e1\u30c3\u30bb\u30fc\u30b8\u3092\u8a9e\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002\u3059\u306a\u308f\u3061\u3053\u306e\u30e8\u30ca\u66f8\u306e\u6700\u5f8c\u306e\u7d50\u8ad6\u306e\u8a00\u8449\u306f\u795e\u306e\u6075\u307f\u3068\u3042\u308f\u308c\u307f\u306f\u30a4\u30b9\u30e9\u30a8\u30eb\u3060\u3051\u306b\u3067\u306f\u306a\u304f\u5168\u3066\u306e\u4eba\u306b\u6ce8\u304c\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3068\u3044\u3046\u3053\u3068\u3092\u660e\u3089\u304b\u306b\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u305d\u3057\u3066\u3001\u305d\u306e\u5168\u3066\u306e\u4eba\u306e\u4e2d\u306b\u30a2\u30e1\u30ea\u30ab\u4eba\u3001\u97d3\u56fd\u4eba\u3001\u30e1\u30ad\u30b7\u30b3\u4eba\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u65e5\u672c\u4eba\u3001\u5168\u3066\u306e\u4eba\u9593\u304c\u542b\u307e\u308c\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002\u3053\u306e\u70b9\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u30e8\u30ca\u66f8\u306f\u65e7\u7d04\u8056\u66f8\u306e\u4e2d\u3067\u7570\u8272\u304b\u3064\u3001\u3053\u308c\u304b\u3089\u7d9a\u3044\u3066\u3044\u304f\u65b0\u7d04\u306e\u6642\u4ee3\u306e\u795e\u306e\u6075\u307f\u3092\u6307\u3057\u793a\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u9a5a\u304f\u3079\u304d\u5e0c\u671b\u306e\u66f8\u306a\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002\u30e8\u30ca\u306e\u7f6e\u304b\u308c\u305f\u74b0\u5883\u3067\u8d77\u304d\u305f\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3001\u70b9\u304c\u4e26\u3073\u3001\u4e00\u3064\u306e\u7dda\u306b\u7d50\u3073\u5408\u308f\u3055\u308c\u3001\u8056\u66f8\u4e2d\u3001\u6700\u3082\u5927\u5207\u306a\u795e\u306e\u30e1\u30c3\u30bb\u30fc\u30b8\u3078\u3068\u5c0e\u304b\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u4eca\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u5d50\u306b\u3042\u3046\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u6708\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u9b5a\u306b\u98f2\u307e\u308c\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u706b\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u9b5a\u306b\u5410\u304d\u51fa\u3055\u308c\u3001\u795e\u306e\u4f7f\u547d\u306b\u518d\u3073\u3001\u7acb\u3064\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u6c34\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u58f0\u9ad8\u3089\u304b\u306b\u795e\u306e\u6551\u3044\u3092\u53eb\u3076\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u6728\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u4e0d\u8c9e\u8150\u308c\u3001\u795e\u306b\u98df\u3063\u3066\u304b\u304b\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u91d1\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u4e3b\u306f\u79c1\u9054\u306b\u300c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u307e\u300d\u3092\u4e0e\u3048\u3001\u559c\u3073\u3068\u52b1\u307e\u3057\u3092\u304f\u3060\u3055\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u571f\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u3001\u4e3b\u306f\u79c1\u9054\u306b\u866b\u3092\u4e0e\u3048\u3001\u305d\u306e\u559c\u3073\u3092\u53d6\u308a\u4e0a\u3052\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u65e5\u66dc\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u3053\u308c\u3089\u306e\u80cc\u5f8c\u306b\u3042\u308b\u795e\u69d8\u306e\u58ee\u5927\u306a\u5fa1\u5fc3\u3092\u77e5\u308a\u3001\u795e\u306e\u524d\u306b\u3072\u308c\u4f0f\u3059\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u3053\u308c\u304b\u3089\u59cb\u307e\u308b\u79c1\u9054\u306e\u4e00\u9031\u9593\u3001\u4e3b\u306f\u79c1\u9054\u304c\u5c0e\u304b\u308c\u308b\u74b0\u5883\u3084\u51fa\u6765\u4e8b\u3092\u901a\u3057\u3066\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u306b\u8a9e\u308a\u304b\u3051\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3092\u77e5\u308a\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002\u3082\u3057\u3001\u79c1\u9054\u304c\u305d\u308c\u3092\u5fc3\u306b\u7559\u3081\u308b\u306e\u306a\u3089\u3001\u305d\u306e\u6642\u306b\u79c1\u9054\u306f\u5929\u6765\u306e\u77e5\u6075\u3092\u5f97\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306b\u306a\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u305d\u308c\u306f\u3053\u306e\u4e16\u304c\u4e0e\u3048\u308b\u77e5\u8b58\u3068\u306f\u7570\u306a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002\u306a\u305c\u306a\u3089\u3001\u5929\u6765\u306e\u77e5\u6075\u3068\u306f\u795e\u69d8\u304c\u4e00\u3064\u306e\u70b9\u3068\u4e00\u3064\u306e\u70b9\u3092\u7d50\u3073\u5408\u308f\u305b\u3001\u305d\u308c\u3092\u3054\u81ea\u8eab\u306b\u901a\u3058\u308b\u4e00\u672c\u306e\u7dda\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3044\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3092\u79c1\u9054\u304c\u609f\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3060\u304b\u3089\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n
\u79c1\u306f\u3088\u304f\u3053\u3046\u7948\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002\u7686\u3055\u3093\u3082\u5171\u306b\u7948\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304b\u3002\u300c\u4e3b\u3088\u3001\u4eca\u65e5\u3001\u79c1\u304c\u898b\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3001\u805e\u304f\u3053\u3068\u3001\u611f\u3058\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3001\u305d\u306e\u751f\u6d3b\u306e\u4e2d\u306b\u8d77\u304d\u308b\u51fa\u6765\u4e8b\u3092\u901a\u3057\u3066\u79c1\u306b\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u5fa1\u5fc3\u3092\u8a9e\u308a\u304b\u3051\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002\u305d\u306e\u3053\u3068\u306b\u3088\u308a\u3001\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u5b58\u5728\u3068\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u5049\u5927\u3055\u306b\u6c17\u304c\u3064\u304d\u3001\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u5fa1\u540d\u3092\u307b\u3081\u305f\u305f\u3048\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3088\u3046\u306b\u300d<\/p>\n
\u304a\u7948\u308a\u3057\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002<\/p>\n
Book of Jonah: The Lord speaks through a \u201cstorm,\u201d \u201cfish,\u201d \u201cleafy plant,\u201d and \u201cworm\u201d
\nJune 8 2025<\/p>\n
There are some very interesting stories in the Bible. The first of these would be the book of Jonah. \u201cJonah Swallowed by a Fish\u201d is the kind of story that would make a great children\u2019s picture book. Many people think that the Book of Jonah is a made up story and that Jonah is a fictional person. However, Jonah is an actual biblical figure, as recorded in I Kings 14:23-25.<\/p>\n
2 Kings 14:23-25<\/p>\n
23\u00a0<\/sup>In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years.\u00a024\u00a0<\/sup>He did evil in the eyes of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.\u00a025\u00a0<\/sup>He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.<\/strong><\/p>\nAccording to what is recorded in the book of Kings, it clearly shows the names of the kings during Jonah\u2019s lifetime, the length of their reigns, and even Jonah\u2019s hometown and the name of his father. This description indicates that Jonah was indeed a real person.<\/p>\n
And that shows that the events recorded in the Book of Jonah also actually happened. Let me first give you a summary of the book of Jonah. The Book of Jonah opens with these words.<\/p>\n
Jonah 1:1-2<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/sup>The word of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0came to Jonah\u00a0son of Amittai:\u00a02\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cGo to the great city of Nineveh\u00a0and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nJonah, a Jew, is told by God to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, the enemy of his country Israel, to warn them that \u201cthis city will be destroyed because of your sins\u201d. Needless to say, it is also a historical fact that this Assyria was a real country in history and Nineveh was its capital.<\/p>\n
And where Assyria was then is Iraq today. Nineveh was located in the city of Mosul, where the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group once controlled the entire region. In light of this, this is what is written in the Book of Jonah.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Jewish rabbi goes to Mosul, Iraq, a stronghold of ISIS (Islamic State). And it is something like using a loudspeaker microphone on that main street to shout at Muslims to repent for their sins. When we think about it in this manner, I think we can see what kind of mission Jonah was given by God. Most likely no Jewish rabbi today would respond to such a request.<\/p>\n
Likewise, Jonah does not want to go to the enemy nation of Assyria, even if it is God\u2019s appointment, and takes a boat to Tarshish, which is in the exact opposite direction.<\/p>\n
However, \u201cThen the\u00a0Lord\u00a0sent a great wind on the sea\u201d (Jonah 1:4), and the ship began to sink, endangering the lives of the sailors. In response to this, those on board drew lots to see who was to blame for the storm. As a result, the lot fell to Jonah, and he was thrown into the stormy sea. To Jonah, who was thrown into the sea, the Bible says, \u201cNow the\u00a0Lord\u00a0provided\u00a0a huge fish to swallow Jonah\u201d (Jonah 1:17). Jonah ended up in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, but God commanded the fish, and the fish spat Jonah out alive on the shore.<\/p>\n
Every human being is destined to \u201cdie\u201d. One day, that day will come for me too, but I have one fervent wish. That is, I want to avoid being eaten to death by an animal. Losing consciousness and my life ending while being gnawed to pieces by a bear or lion. A snake tightening around me, fainting, and being swallowed. It is too painful to imagine myself like that, and I would like to be spared that.<\/p>\n
Jonah was swallowed by a fish. However, he was not \u201cbitten\u201d by the fish but \u201cswallowed\u201d by it, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If he had been bitten, his body would have been damaged, which would have been fatal, but if swallowed whole, his body was protected, so he remained in the fish\u2019s belly for three days and three nights without any physical damage, and finally was spit out onto dry land.<\/p>\n
When we tell the story of Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, we think, \u201cSee, the book of Jonah is a fairy tale after all\u201d. However, Jesus Christ speaks of this ancient event on the assumption that it actually happened.<\/p>\n
Matthew 12:39-41<\/p>\n
39\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cA wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.\u00a040\u00a0<\/sup>For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,\u00a0so the Son of Man\u00a0will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41\u00a0<\/sup>The men of Nineveh\u00a0will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,\u00a0and now something greater than Jonah is here.<\/strong><\/p>\nHere Jesus is prophesying His own resurrection, saying that just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so He Himself will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.<\/p>\n
In the belly of the huge fish, Jonah prayed repentantly and with a renewed resolve,\u3068\u201cI will sacrifice\u00a0to you. What I have vowed\u00a0I will make good. I will say, \u2018Salvation\u00a0comes from the\u00a0Lord.\u2019\u201d (Jonah 2:9) The Bible records that knowing this heart of his, \u201cthe\u00a0Lord\u00a0commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land\u201d (Jonah 2:10).<\/p>\n
Spit out of the fish, Jonah went to Nineveh, which God had shown him from the beginning, and just as he had been told, he declared God\u2019s word to the people, \u201cForty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.\u201d Jonah would have been prepared for the backlash of the people of Nineveh against his harsh words and the danger to himself because of it.<\/p>\n
But the situation was not what he had imagined. In response to Jonah\u2019s warning, everyone from the king down to the servants fasted and repented. By doing this, God saved them instead of destroying Nineveh.<\/p>\n
Ah, but you see, people, human emotions are very complex. Jonah is displeased with this outcome and is furious, and says to God:<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:2-3<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIsn\u2019t this what I said,\u00a0Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew\u00a0that you are a gracious\u00a0and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,\u00a0a God who relents\u00a0from sending calamity.\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup>Now,\u00a0Lord, take away my life,\u00a0for it is better for me to die\u00a0than to live.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Lord responds to Jonah\u2019s anger in this way:<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:4<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it right for you to be angry?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nJonah must have had a feeling in his heart that he wanted his enemies to be destroyed and that he would be in trouble if they were not destroyed. However, the people of Nineveh were unwillingly converted by the words he told them. God\u2019s mercy and grace was poured out, and they escaped destruction. Jonah was devastated, enraged, and at a loss because of that.<\/p>\n
With such bitter feelings inside, he builds a shelter on the outskirts of the city to see what the future holds for Nineveh. God does something to such a Jonah.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:6<\/p>\n
Then the\u00a0Lord\u00a0God provided\u00a0a leafy plant\u00a0and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort,<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Japanese Bible specifically mentions this tree as \u201ctougoma\u201d while the English Bible refers to it as a \u201cleafy plant\u201d. The \u201ctougoma\u201d looks like a tree with large leaves like this one. Under this tree, Jonah would have been able to avoid the scorching sun. The book of Jonah notes that Jonah was very pleased with this tree. But the Lord moves, again.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:7-8<\/p>\n
7\u00a0<\/sup>But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.\u00a08\u00a0<\/sup>When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah\u2019s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, \u201cIt would be better for me to die than to live.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Lord responds to this anger of Jonah, and Jonah responds to the word of God.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:9<\/p>\n
But God said to Jonah, \u201cIs it right for you to be angry about the plant? \u201cIt is,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m so angry I wish I were dead.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nDear people in the Lord, when the people of Nineveh unexpectedly had a change of heart, Jonah got angry. To his anger, the Lord says.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:4<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it right for you to be angry?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nAfter the worm ate the leafy plant, Jonah said he was so angry he wish he were dead. Even to this anger of his, the Lord says.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:9<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it right for you to be angry about the plant?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nThis morning, we are all listening to the ancient exchange between Jonah and God. With what thoughts are you all looking at this Jonah now? We who are human like him, and have feelings, will likely have anger in our hearts from now on. Someone\u2019s mind may be simmering with anger right now.<\/p>\n
In such times, let us retreat to a quiet place, take a deep breath, and speak these words of the Lord into our own hearts. \u201cIs it right for you to be angry?\u201d \u201cIs what you are angry about now, worth being angry about?\u201d If we ask ourselves and reflect on these words of the Lord, we will save our own lives and the lives of those around us.<\/p>\n
There are many people in the world who are on the verge of losing their precious things due to their uncontrollable anger at this very moment. People in the Lord, let us look at our own hearts so that we will not regret it later.<\/p>\n
In the book of Jonah, there was a \u201cconversation\u201d that took place between God and Jonah. And it didn\u2019t stop with the conversation; God spoke to Jonah through \u201cevents\u201d. When Jonah disobeyed God\u2019s word and headed in a different direction, his path was blocked because \u201cThen the\u00a0Lord\u00a0sent a great wind on the sea\u201d (Jonah 1:4).<\/p>\n
Then when lots were cast, it was found that Jonah was the cause of it. At that time, God caused a great \u201cstorm\u201d to break out before Jonah. That storm stood in the way of him getting to where he wanted to be.<\/p>\n
There are storms like this in our lives. When such things happen, we get frustrated and murmur to God. But let us take heart this morning. Sometimes God creates storms that stand in our way, and through them He shows us His will.<\/p>\n
When I look back on my past, there have been many times when the path I wished for was closed to me. I must be honest with you, I have been unfaithful like Jonah. I was angry at times. But now I look back on those times and think. \u201cWe thank you, Lord. That storm kept me from going down the wrong path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is there anyone who is now facing a storm that is blocking the way to go? Blessed are those who seek to know the will of God behind it.<\/p>\n
Jonah is thrown into the sea, and the Lord does a certain thing again.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow the\u00a0Lord\u00a0provided\u00a0a huge fish to swallow Jonah\u201d (Jonah 1:17).<\/p>\n
At that time, the Lord provided a huge fish. Jonah wondered why he was in the darkness of the fish\u2019s belly, a completely unexpected place.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think anyone in life expects to be swallowed by a fish. However, there are times when one is placed in a situation in life that one does not wish for.<\/p>\n
At that time, Jonah had a sense in regard to being swallowed by a fish. I was about to head to Tarshish. But God caused a storm, and I am now in the dark belly of a fish. At that moment, alone in that darkness, he reflected on himself and repented.<\/p>\n
God gave Jonah a chance in the belly of the fish. People in the Lord, when you are put in a situation where you, alone, have to reflect on yourselves, let us take that moment as a time to look at the Lord.<\/p>\n
God leads us to unexpected places and gives us the chance to question our own hearts there. Blessed is the person who realizes this, looks up to the face of God, changes the way they have lived, changes direction, and begins to walk toward God in life.<\/p>\n
Spit out by the fish, Jonah turns to Nineveh, which he once turned his back on. And when he pressed the people of Nineveh to repent, to his surprise they fasted, they all repented, and they were spared from destruction. Jonah was very displeased to see this conversion of the people of Nineveh.<\/p>\n
The human mind is complex. They cry out \u201crepent with their mouths,\u201d but inwardly they do not wish for that. Dear people, do we not have the heart of Jonah? Do you ever speak words of comfort with your mouth, but inwardly think, \u201cCool your head a little more\u201d?<\/p>\n
Jonah was displeased that Nineveh had escaped destruction and built a shelter to see what will happen in the future. Again, the Lord acts against Jonah. At that time, the Lord made a leafy plant grow for Jonah.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:6<\/p>\n
Then the\u00a0Lord\u00a0God provided\u00a0a leafy plant\u00a0and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.<\/strong><\/p>\nJonah delights in it like a child. Jonah was swearing at God, but a single leafy plant lifts his spirits. Sometimes God gives us \u201cleafy plants\u201d in our lives. It is a small joy, a pleasure, a hope.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it is the pleasant evening breeze at dusk after a busy day. It might be a cup of delicious tea given to you as a gift from a friend. It may be a hand-drawn picture of you that your child gives you.<\/p>\n
God encouraged Jonah with the \u201cleafy plant\u201d and sustained his heart. God is also giving us modern day \u201cleafy plants\u201d on a daily basis. We are sustained by the countless daily \u201cleafy plants\u201d that the Lord gives us. Let us enjoy the \u201cleafy plants\u201d that God has given to us. The person who realizes that the Lord has given that to them, and thanks the Lord for it is truly blessed. However, after the \u201cleafy plant\u201d, God does something unexpected.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:7-8<\/p>\n
7\u00a0<\/sup>But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.\u00a08\u00a0<\/sup>When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah\u2019s head so that he grew faint.<\/strong><\/p>\nIt was the Lord who made the leafy plant grow, which Jonah rejoiced in. It was also the Lord who provided the worm before dawn, and made the leafy plant wither overnight. And it was the Lord who made the hot east wind blow and the scorching sun to shine on Jonah.<\/p>\n
Everyone please replace the \u201cleafy plant\u201d and \u201cworm\u201d with recent events that have happened to us. Then recall your feelings associated with it.<\/p>\n
The leafy plant made Jonah feel alive, and he was overjoyed. When the \u201cworm\u201d appeared, Jonah again raged, \u201cTake my life.\u201d Can we laugh at the violent emotional ups and downs of this Jonah? Have you ever rejoiced, \u201cHallelujah!\u201d on a Monday, and then lament, \u201cGod, give me a break!\u201d on a Tuesday?<\/p>\n
Jonah must have had what today would be called an \u201canger problem\u201d. He may have had bipolar disorder. People in the Lord, we all have ups and downs in our hearts like Jonah.<\/p>\n
This morning, we want to learn from him, and begin a new way of life. God used Jonah\u2019s \u201cenvironment\u201d to speak to him. The Lord is the one who speaks to us through the environment in which we live each day.<\/p>\n
And God speaks His Word to the feelings we have in that environment. The Lord expects us to realize His will through it. Let us know that there are times when God will bring us face to face with an event to make us realize something important, just as He did with Jonah. We know God\u2019s presence through it, and at the same time our own hearts are illuminated and we know God\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n
Why did the Lord let the \u201cleafy plant\u201d grow and send a \u201cworm\u201d there? It was in order to tell of the coming human history of salvation that runs through the Bible. The worm eats the leafy plant, which makes Jonah furious, but then the great truth descends.<\/p>\n
Jonah 4:10-11<\/p>\n
10\u00a0<\/sup>But the\u00a0Lord\u00a0said, \u201cYou have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.\u00a011\u00a0<\/sup>And should I not have concern\u00a0for the great city of Nineveh,\u00a0in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left\u2014and also many animals?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nThe book of Jonah closes with these words. This book of Jonah is found in the Old Testament. Therefore, this is an event before the birth of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
The Old Testament describes the history spun by God and the IsraelitesAnd there we find the history of God\u2019s redemption through Israel. In this light, it seems that Gentiles like us, other than Israelites, are completely minor players, enemies, and irrelevant to God\u2019s salvation history.<\/p>\n
However, in an Old Testament that at first glance seems to view the world and other peoples with Israel at its center, the book of Jonah speaks a remarkable message for the future. In other words, the concluding words of the book of Jonah make it clear that God\u2019s grace and mercy are poured out not only on Israel but on all people.<\/p>\n
And in all those people, Americans, Koreans, Mexicans, and Japanese, and all humans are included. In this respect, the book of Jonah is unique in the Old Testamentand an amazing book of hope that points to God\u2019s grace in the New Testament era that will follow. What happened in Jonah\u2019s environment lined up the dots and connected them into a line, leading to the most important divine message in the Bible.<\/p>\n
Today, we may face a storm. Monday, we may be swallowed by a fish. Tuesday, we may be spit out by the fish and stand, once again, on God\u2019s mission. On Wednesday, we may cry out loudly of God\u2019s salvation. On Thursday, we may sulk and lash out at God. On Friday, the Lord may give us a \u201cleafy plant\u201d, and give us joy and encouragement. And Saturday, the Lord may give us a worm, and take away that joy. On Sunday, we will know God\u2019s grand will behind all of this and bow down before Him.<\/p>\n
As our week begins, let us know that the Lord is speaking to us through the environment and events to which we are led. If we take that to heart, then we will gain heavenly wisdom.<\/p>\n
It is different from the knowledge this world gives. Because the heavenly wisdom is our realization that God connects one dot to another and makes it a line that leads to Himself.<\/p>\n
I often pray in the following manner. Would you like to pray with me? \u201cLord, speak Your will to me today through what I see, hear, and feel, through the events that occur in my life.May this make me aware of Your presence and Your greatness, and enable me to praise Your name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let us pray.<\/p>\n
\u672c\u65e5\u306e\u304a\u3082\u3061\u304b\u3048\u308a
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