Audacity versus Appreciation, part 2

In Jonah 4, Jonah starts out by telling God that the reason he didn't want to work for God in the first place was because God was compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and slow to send calamity. Jonah needs to say that aloud and listen to himself! He just described the God I would WANT to follow. He doesn't make sense.

God gives Jonah a tiny demonstration on entitlement. God gave the vine. God could take it back. Jonah didn't "deserve" it. He wasn't entitled to it. Jonah did appreciate the vine while he had it -- well, he was happy about it. I don't know if he thanked God.

What all has God given us that we are happy about? What all has he given us that we take for granted?! These are all blessings we need to be thankful for and give thanks for. When they are gone, how gracious can we be? How can we translate this attitude to kids?

Audacity versus Appreciation, Jonah 4

Jonah was not pleased with the way God was doing things. Jonah was angry with God! Jonah had a temper tantrum saying, "I'd rather die than live." Jonah went east of the city, made himself a little shelter, and sat back to watch and see what would happen to the city. God was compassionate toward Jonah and provided a vine for Jonah to have better shade. Jonah loved that vine.

The next morning God had a worm kill the vine and caused a scorching wind and the sun to blaze down on Jonah. Jonah was angry enough to die -- again.

God explained a few things to Jonah. 1) Jonah didn't do anything to deserve the vine. God provided it. God could take it away too. 2) Jonah didn't have his priorities straight. He was more concerned about "his" vine and personal comfort than the 120,000 people in Ninevah. Even their cows were more important than that vine!