“And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery…  But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered.  And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind, and the sun beat on Jonah’s head… Then God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?  And he said, ‘It is right for me to be angry, even to death!’ But the LORD said, ‘You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made to grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.  And should I not pity Ninevah…?’” (Jonah 4:6-11).   

Jonah was extremely displeased and angry with God (Jonah 4:1, 4, 9).  There are two reasons for this.  (1) Jonah wanted God to destroy the city of Nineveh.  However, God was gracious and merciful to Ninevah, when the inhabitants repented (Jonah 3:5-10; 4:1-2). Jonah said in prayer, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country?  Therefore, I fled previous to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, one who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2).  Jonah does not like these qualities of God when such is applied to his nation’s enemies.  Do you think that he had this attitude when God’s mercy was extended to him?  (Jonah 2:1-10).  (2) He was also angry over the plant.  Jonah sat outside of Nineveh waiting, hoping that God would change His mind and destroy the city.  While he waited, God prepared a plant to shade Jonah (Jonah 4:6).  It came up in a night (Jonah 4:10). Then, God prepared a worm to destroy the plant in a night (Jonah 4:7-10). [What type of plant was this? We don’t know with certainty. God prepared it. God prepared four things for Jonah (Jonah 1:17; 4:6; 4:7; 4:8). The Hebrew word is kikayon. Some think this was a gourd (see King James Verson). Others suggest the castor oil plant. It is possible that this was a plant miraculously provided on this occasion.]

God was teaching at least two lessons by preparing and destroying this plant.  (1) Some people lack proper compassion and concern for other people.  Jonah care more for a plant than he did for these people.  He cared more for his own personal comfort than he did for these people.  Some, even today, care more about their possessions than they do people.  This should not be.  (2) God cares about people, all people, and not about Israelites alone.  If Jonah could so care for a plant which he had not planted or cultivated and nurtured, then should not it be understandable that God would care for the people whom he created? 

Consider the following passages: (1) God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  (2) He is “not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  (3) Jesus came “to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10).