Jonah and the Plant That Gave Shade

The people of Nineveh had listened to Jonah’s message. They admitted that they had been hurting others and asked God to forgive them. God saw that they were sorry and had mercy on them.

But Jonah was angry. He had announced that the city would be destroyed, and now he worried about what people would think of him. He found it hard to be happy that God had forgiven them.

Jonah spoke to God:

“I knew that you are kind and very patient. I knew you might forgive them!”

God listened to his prophet and asked him a question:

“Jonah, is it right for you to be so angry?”

Jonah left the city. He walked to a place where he could look out over Nineveh and built a little shelter with branches. There he sat down to wait and see what would happen.

Then God made a gourd plant grow, a plant with big leaves. Its leaves spread out over Jonah and gave him pleasant shade.

What a relief! Jonah was very happy about that plant. Under its leaves, he could rest and stay out of the sun.

But at dawn the next day, God sent a worm that damaged the gourd plant. The plant wilted, and its leaves lost their freshness.

When the sun rose, God also sent a hot wind from the east. The heat beat down on Jonah’s head, and the plant could no longer protect him.

Jonah felt exhausted. He missed the shade and became very angry again.

God asked him:

“Are you so angry about what happened to the plant?”

Jonah answered:

“Yes! I am very angry!”

Then God helped him think about something bigger than his own discomfort:

“You are sad to lose a plant that you did not plant or make grow. It appeared in one night and soon dried up. Now think about Nineveh: it is full of people who need my care. There are many animals there too. How could I not have compassion on them?”

That little plant had given Jonah shade. But inside the city were so many lives that God loved.

The story ends with God’s question. We can stop and think too: are we happy when someone admits a mistake and gets another chance?

Sometimes forgiving is hard. We can ask God to help us listen, be patient, and wish good things for others.

God’s love is very great. There is always more we can learn from him.