Read -- Jonah 3:1-10 and Jonah 4:1-11

READ -- Jonah 3:1-10; 4:1-11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I was encouraged one evening while visiting with Audrey, a good Christian friend of mine. She began to tell me a story about this guy named Jonah who was pouting and running away from God. He got on a boat, some guys threw him overboard, and he was swallowed by a big fish. Audrey told me Jonah rode inside the fish for three days and then the fish spit him out. She then had the nerve to ask me if I could imagine how bad Jonah must have smelled and looked. At this point, I almost could not believe my ears and it was difficult to control my laughter.

Audrey continued her story by saying, "All of the people in Nineveh wore potato sacks including the King." She said, "He took off his royal, pretty robe, put on a potato sack, and then he sat down in the dirt." Audrey told me her story was true and then she said, "They also put potato sacks on the animals and none of the people or animals were allowed to eat or drink anything."

"Jonah now got mad after he spoke to the people in Nineveh and so he went out east of the city and sat down and pouted," Audrey said. She continued, "But then Jonah got hot and God felt sorry for him and caused a big plant to grow so Jonah could enjoy the shade." Audrey loves plants and recently acquired a mother-in-law's tongue or a snake plant. We do not know what kind of plant Jonah had, but it was a B-I-G plant.

Jonah did not water and take care of his plant, so God had this worm come by and bite the plant and the plant died. Audrey said this made Jonah mad again and he still pouted and God asked Jonah if he had a right to be angry and Jonah said, "Yes, I'm so mad that I could just die." Audrey kept reassuring me her story was true. She said God decided to save the people and said, "God told Jonah there were over 120,000 people in Nineveh who did not know their right hands from their left and all Jonah cared about was a dead plant."

After much laughter we took time to read the book of Jonah. Believe it or not, Audrey's story is true down to the last detail including the potato sacks; i.e. sackcloth. God has a sense of humor, read the book of Jonah for yourself and feel free to laugh. However, watch out for the seaweed in Jonah 2:5.

Dear Lord, God of Jonah and the people of Nineveh. You have created us, are gracious and compassionate, and desire for all of us to repent from our wicked ways. Thank you Lord, for caring for us and for providing plants to enjoy.

Send comments/feedback to author.