When
Jonah complained to the LORD in prayer concerning God's decision not
to destroy Nineveh, he went outside the city, made himself a shelter
and watched to see what would happen. While he sat there, the LORD
prepared a “gourd to be a shadow over his head, to deliver him
from his grief”. Jonah was “exceeding glad” because
of the “gourd”, however in chapter four and verse seven of
this prophesy, we see how “God prepared a worm...the next day”
where we read:
But
God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day,
and
it smote the gourd that it withered.
The
verse begins, “But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the
next day,...” The writer began with the word “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “moreover,
nonetheless or nevertheless” “God” which refers to “the
ruler, judge and divine One” “prepared” or “reckoned,
numbered, assigned, told, appointed and prepared” “a worm”
which means “a maggot or worm made of scarlet stuff, crimson or
the dye made from the dried body of the female worm coccus ilicis”
“when the morning rose” or “dawn, early light and
day-spring went up, ascended, climbed and departed” “the next
day” which refers to “the morrow, the next day or the day
after”. As Jonah sat comfortably under the “gourd” which
was fashioned by the LORD, the following morning he awoke to a “worm”
that contained a “crimson dye” which was also “prepared”
by the LORD.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and it smote the gourd that it
withered.” The writer added, “and it smote” which
means “struck, hit, beat, slayed and killed” “the gourd”
or “the castor-oil plant or bottle gourd” “that it withered”
which means “made it dry, dried up and without moisture”. The
worm with “crimson dye” “struck and slayed” the “gourd”
so that it “withered” and died.
When
we think through the words in this verse, we may see the parallel of
this “crimson dye-filled” worm to Jesus Christ's death on the
cross. God's compassion and concern for Jonah was demonstrated by the
“gourd” He “prepared”, and it is like the
“compassion and care” He had for the repenting people of Nineveh.
The LORD also made a “worm” which when crushed would leave
a “crimson dye” after giving birth to new life that is like the
new life Jesus Christ gives to everyone who will “rely upon, cling
to and trust in” Him. Oh how the gospel of Jesus Christ penetrates
the entire Bible as Psalm chapter forty and verse seven says, “in
the volume of the book it is written of me”. Let us rejoice
over the “crimson dye-filled” “worm” that became the
sacrifice for our sins and brought forth the mercy and compassion of
our God and Heavenly Father.
Next
time we see the
LORD prepares a “vehement
wind”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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