Daily Treasure

“But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered” (Jonah 4:7).

God still wasn’t finished with Jonah. The gourd didn’t last long. The worm God prepared for it made it wither. Then God sent a scorching wind, heated by the desert. The sun beat down on Jonah so much he nearly fainted. Once again Jonah cried out to God for Him to end his life. He was upset with God for making the gourd to wither.

God had to speak up and point out a few things to Jonah. First of all, God asked him why he was so upset that the gourd died when he had wanted Him to destroy all of Nineveh. Those people were worth far more than any gourd plant. God reminded Jonah of how He forgave him when he tried to run away. He told Jonah how much He loved him and the repentant people of Nineveh. Jonah finally came to the realization of God’s love which is extended to all who will come to Him asking for forgiveness.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Be in much prayer about designating a day to regularly pray and fast.

“So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city” (Jonah 4:5).

Being angry and pouting tend to go hand in hand. Jonah did take his self-pity out of the city. He was hoping God would change His mind and he could view the city from where he sat, go up in flames. Jonah really had some issues to deal with. How could he, a prophet of a loving God, think and feel the way he did? Did he really think the way he was acting would change the outcome for Nineveh? They repented and God spared them. Jonah needed to feel better not bitter.

The booth where Jonah had placed himself didn’t stay shady. The sun beat down and the sweat Jonah was encountering was stinging his eyes. God was mindful of this and prepared something called a gourd which was like a hard shelled plant to shade Jonah from the sun. Even when we are in deep despair or drift away from God, He is never far from us. We are the ones that move away from Him. No doubt, Jonah appreciated the shade and comfort of that gourd but the story doesn’t end here. Jonah didn’t deserve God’s compassion and neither do we when we act like Jonah. Aren’t you glad He loves us in spite of ourselves?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC Executive Committee member Jan Clay as she prepares to lead worship at the WNAC National Retreat at Ridgecrest, September 11-13.

“Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech Thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3).

One could gather from this verse that Jonah was having a pity party. If Jonah had to be angry, it should have been with himself, not God or the people of Nineveh. To wish God would just take his life was foolish and immature on Jonah’s part. This was no way a prophet of God should act. Just because things didn’t turn out the way he thought they should, didn’t give Jonah the right to talk to God the way he did. God wasn’t finished with Jonah. Jonah was going to be made to understand the compassion of a loving God.

There will be times in your life when you may feel life just isn’t fair. Don’t blame God. Things happen for a purpose. Sometimes God allows circumstances to happen to draw you closer to Him. If you react the way Jonah did, you will see what your faith is made of. Don’t allow yourself to give in to anger, you may end up making foolish requests like the one Jonah made.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the many summer church camps and VBS’s sponsored by FWB churches worldwide.

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry” (Jonah 4:1).

Obviously Jonah was a work in progress. Why should he be so angry? You would have thought he would have been rejoicing with the people of Nineveh. Instead, he was mad that Nineveh didn’t get what was coming to them. They had sinned greatly, straying far from God. I think Jonah had a lot of nerve to wish God would have punished them for their evil deeds. Jonah even complained to God about His compassion and other attributes. He felt God was too easy on Nineveh, more or less letting them off the hook. How quickly Jonah forgot that God had shown compassion on Him and let him off the hook, too.

There should be joy in the camp when sinners repent or backsliders are reclaimed. We should never wish the worst on sinners but do what we can to be a witness and testimony to them. Then when they are saved, rejoice with them because God has saved their lives from eternal destruction.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Sarah Malone, Friday evening speaker at the WNAC National Retreat as she travels and prepares to share concerning her work as a teacher in Asia.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

It will soon be time for the Olympic Games and the years of training will be set into action. Imagine a race track marked off with a ribbon at the finish line. As the runners approach their positions you notice something very strange. One has large power tools strapped around her waist and another runner with a TV hoisted on his shoulders. Each carrying a weight he/she does not have to. Yet one runner approaches the track free from extra burdens to slow him down. Now who indeed will win the race?

God has given us every advantage to get rid of the weights and burdens that so easily beset us. We can run this race of life so much easier if we lay our weights, whatever they are, at the feet of Jesus and leave them there.

LaCrecia McFaddin
Tennessee

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Ohio WAC State meeting in Columbus on June 26.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I am living in a very stressful situation right now and occasionally throw up my hands and say; “I have had enough.” Then I feel the strength I need to get through another day. Have I indeed had enough? No! Never in my life have I ever had enough. The Lord has promised not to suffer us with more than we are able to handle, and there is always that way to bear our burdens. When we find ourselves amid trials or conflicts let’s not throw our hands up and give up, rather let us raise our hands to our Lord and Savior for the help He has promised.

LaCrecia McFaddin
Tennessee

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray as you make plans to attend the WNAC National Retreat at Ridgecrest, NC, September 11-13.

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them, and He did it not” (Jonah 3:10).

At the beginning of the book of Jonah we find Jonah had some misgivings about Nineveh. He didn’t want to go to that evil city and ran from God. By the time God was finished with Jonah, the hearts of the people of Nineveh were ready to hear Jonah’s message. Jonah never dreamed his obedience to God would result in Revival.

God saw the sincerity of the people and knew what they were doing wasn’t just talk. God had compassion on Nineveh and decided not to destroy the city. What rejoicing there must have been to know God had saved their lives!

America is in dire need of revival, one like Nineveh experienced. We must pray for our once Christian nation that they will heed the words found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC National Retreat speaker Joanne Wallace as she prepares.