And The Lord God Prepared A Gourd
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA few years ago, my wife and I had to put our Boston Terrier bulldog, Heidi to sleep because of old age. Heidi had been a part of our household for over 15 years — a prodigious life span, as dogs go. In her own small way, Heidi was like the gourd vine under which the prophet Jonah sat as he awaited the judgment of God against the city of Nineveh (Jonah 4:5).
The weather was hot, and the Assyrian sun glared down upon Jonah’s head until God miraculously raised up a “plant” (the King James renders the word “gourd” – Jonah 4:6 – KJV) to provide Jonah cooling shade. The shadow of the plant was a welcome respite from the burning heat, and Jonah was grateful for it. But then another day dawned, and God caused a worm to infest the plant, causing it to wither and die (Jonah 4:7). With the plant no longer providing its shelter, Jonah sat exposed to the hot sirocco that blew in over the Persian desert to the east, and to the pitiless rays of the sun (Jonah 4:8).
Jonah was incensed, “It is better for me to die than to live,” he complained (Jonah 4:8), furious because the wonderful plant that had given him such comfort was now gone. In essence, Jonah was saying, “I have a right to be angry, even to death!” Then God reminded Jonah of something the impetuous prophet had forgotten. Jonah had done nothing to create the plant; God willed it into existence, and there it was. In the same way, when God willed the plant to die, it died — again, without Jonah being in any way responsible. The lesson for Jonah (and each of us) is that “God rules” (cf. Acts 17:24-25; Job 12:9-10; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 57:16; Daniel 4:17; Zechariah 12:1). If it pleased God to give Jonah a gourd vine for shelter, God be praised! If it pleased God to take the vine away, God still be praised! And, extending the metaphor even further, if it pleased God to relent and spare the city whose destruction Jonah had foretold, because its people repented (Jonah 3:1-10), who was Jonah to argue?
My wife and I have enjoyed many precious moments in life, one of them being our little dog, Heidi. For us, having known the joys that our little bulldog brought us were among those precious moments. Our son, Brian, can hardly remember a time when Heidi was not there to be held and cuddled, told secrets to, and cried on. Through good times and not so good times, Heidi was always available for a consoling hug. That little bulldog was, like Jonah’s vine, our temporary shelter from the heat of life’s harsh realities and a wonderful refuge in desperate and sometimes perilous hours. And now, like Jonah’s vine, she is gone. But Job provides us the right attitude, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
This writer wonders, how often do we take delight in the blessings of life, and pat ourselves on the back as though we somehow were responsible for them, rather than glorifying the Father of lights, from whose hand comes every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)? And how often, when the pleasures of this material existence fail, i.e., loosing a job, a loved one, or even a beloved dog — do we rail in anger against God, rather than acknowledging that what is His to give is His to take again? Should we not praise Him and give Him thanks for the time we enjoyed the blessing, instead of being wrathful because the blessing had finished His purpose?
My wife and I thank God that we enjoyed the “shade” Heidi provided us all the years God allowed her to live. Let us always remember to be grateful for God’s gifts, in their moment and after (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Timothy 4:4-5). Through the gourd vine God provided Jonah, as well as our little bulldog, Heidi, isn’t it amazing how God teaches us life lessons in the most subtle of ways?