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My Poor Gourd! by Brian Carlisle

God caused a gourd and its vine to grow up over the top of Jonah, to 
give Jonah shade from the hot sun

Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian

A Story About Jonah



falling off a bike How would you feel if you were riding your brand new bicycle down your street and suddenly a garbage can blew into your path and caused you to wreck? And not only did you destroy your brand new bicycle, but you broke your arm and both legs! Then if that wasn't enough, the wreck knocked out all your front teeth. Wouldn't that anger you?

Now imagine that while you are lying there bleeding and in extreme pain, your father runs up to the garbage can and begins crying aloud because you had dented his garbage can. How would you feel if your father fell on his face in the dirt and began screaming and kicking the ground and crying, “Oh, my poor garbage can is dented! What ever shall I do? I wish that I were dead!”

“Unbelievable!” you might declare. “This would never happen. My father would never do that!”

How about if I told you a different story about an older man, very dignified and proper, who fell on his face and cried because a worm had eaten and killed a weed? Still won't believe my second story?

Supposing I told you that the man was more concerned about his dead weed than about the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and cattle. No way? You think that there is a better chance that your father would cry over the garbage can before someone would cry over a dead weed?

Believe it or not, the story about the man and the weed is true. The story is about a prophet of God named Jonah.

God sent a great storm upon the board and everyone on board feared the ship was going to sink Jonah informed the Captain that he was to be thrown overboard into the sea

Perhaps you've heard the story about Jonah, a prophet of God, and how he was called by God to go to the wicked city of Nineveh. God had instructed Jonah to proclaim to the people of Nineveh to repent or face God's judgment. As the story goes, Jonah fled from God's face and tried to escape to Tarshish in a boat, but God sent a great storm upon the boat and everyone on board feared the ship was going to sink. The Captain could do no more to save his ship so he called upon all the men on the ship to call on their God for mercy.

Just as the boat was about to be destroyed, Jonah confessed his sins to the Captain. Jonah informed the Captain that he was to be thrown overboard, into the sea. Reluctantly the Captain obeyed Jonah, and immediately after Jonah landed in the water, he was swallowed by a whale.

The big fish took Jonah to dry land Jonah proclaimed Gods message and urged the people to repent

It took Jonah three days for him to repent and for the whale to spit Jonah out, onto the shore. Sad, and looking like he had been through the worst three days of his life, Jonah proceeded to Nineveh. After some time, Jonah, smelling like half-digested seaweed, entered the city of Ninevah. Reluctantly, Jonah proclaimed God's message and urged the people to repent.

The King was moved by the message and made a decree that all his people should repent and turn from their wicked ways. The King prayed to God for mercy and compassion.

God caused a gourd and its vine to grow up over the top of Jonah, to 
give Jonah shade from the hot sun Here's where I want to start today's story.

Silently and angrily, Jonah stomped his way to the east side of the city and built himself a booth. Even though the people of Nineveh had repented of their sins, Jonah felt that the people had committed so many sins that God would not forgive them nor spare them the wrath of his judgment.

How long Jonah waited for God to send down judgment upon the city, the Bible doesn't say. However, the Bible does say that God caused a gourd (similar to a squash or type of vegetable) and its vine to grow up over the top of Jonah, to give Jonah shade from the hot sun. This made Jonah very happy.

Then God allowed a worm to eat the gourd and the vine 
withered and died But the next morning, God allowed a worm to infest the gourd, and the vine withered and died. Next, God prepared a strong, east wind to arise and allowed the sun to beat down upon Jonah's head so that Jonah fainted from the heat. This is when Jonah threw his little tantrum. He pouted and cried and even wished that he were dead. “It is better for me to die than to live,” wailed Jonah.

The Bible goes on to say that God finally spoke to Jonah and asked Jonah why he was so angry, even unto death. How do you think Jonah responded?

A. “I'm mad because I lost a lot of money.”
B. “I'm mad because there are still wicked people in Ninevah.”
C. “I'm mad because I smell worse than half-digested seaweed. Phew!!!!”
D. “I'm terribly angry because my weed died.”

God rebuked Jonah for having more pity on the gourd than on the great city 
that God spared because they repented If you guessed “D,” you were right. Jonah was more concerned about the weed that gave him shade than he was about all the people who had repented and been spared from God's wrath!

God rebuked Jonah for having more pity on the gourd than on the great city that God spared because they repented. The Bible says that there were more than six-score thousand (120,000 people) that were too young to tell their right hand from their left. This number didn't even include the teenagers and adults! God wanted Jonah to have mercy and compassion on the people of Nineveh.

Now we may never cry over a garbage can or a weed, but so many times we put little, unimportant things ahead of telling others about God's saving grace. We would rather play a game or watch a movie instead of telling others about God. Or maybe we are more concerned with how our hair looks than about whether or not our best friend is going to heaven.

No matter what the weed or item that we love so much, we must remember that God wants to save everyone from their sins, no matter how bad they've been. We must also remember that God also wants us to care more for the sinner and his salvation than for the little things that have no eternal value at all. We are to have mercy and compassion on all people.

gourds


THINK!

1. What vegetable grew up and gave Jonah shade?
2. What ate and killed the vine?
3. Why was Jonah angry?


REMEMBER!

People are more important than things.



A VERSE TO LEARN

“The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b).


PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Is there someone you know who doesn't know Jesus
and does bad things? Do you think you have the
courage to tell them about Jesus or do you want to
run away like Jonah? Why did Jonah run away from
telling people about God?

Think of reasons you don't tell people about
Jesus? Can you think of ways to tell people about
Jesus?

[After discussion:] Maybe you can invite them to
go to church or youth group with you. Maybe you
can go out of your way to be kind to them and, if
they ask why, tell them it is because you and
Jesus love them.

The Word of God says that the angels rejoice when
someone repents (Luke 15:10). Will you be glad
with the angels when someone you know comes to
know Jesus, even if you think they don't deserve
it? Let's take a moment and pray for God to
forgive us, help us overcome our weaknesses, and
give us courage to tell people about Jesus and
rejoice with them when they accept Him as their
Savior.



LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Dear God, thank You for the stories in the
Bible that teach us how we should live. Help us
to remember that being concerned about people
is much more important than being concerned
about things. Give us courage to tell others
about Jesus and let our hearts be happy with
them when they accept you as their Savior.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Jonah 4:1-11




crayons

Jonah and His Gourd (online)
Jonah and His Gourd (with memory verse) (online)
Cut and Scramble Memory Activity Page 1 (online)
Cut and Scramble Memory Activity Page 2 (online)
Jonah in the Whale (online)
Jonah and the Great Fish (online)

Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
God Cares for Me Coloring Book by Shirley Dobson

God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation


Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Favorite Bible Stories Coloring Book (reproducible)
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
The Awesome Coloring Book of Bible Comics
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books


activities

Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Jonah Crossword Puzzle (online)
Jonah Word Search (online)
Jonah Maze (online)
Jonah Is Humbled By God (online)
Fill In the Blanks (online)
Jonah - Online Activity (online)
Jonah Word Search (online)
Jonah Crossword Puzzle (online)
Jonah and the Big Fish Tales of Glory Play Set
Jonah and the Great Fish (online)
Jonah & the Big Fish Puzzle, 24 Pieces
Jonah, Go Fish! Game
Object Lesson (online)

Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles Sticker Books



crafts

Friendship Wreath (online)
Jonah and the Big Fish Paper Craft (online)
Jonah and the Whale Craft (online)
Jonah and the Whale Crafts (online)
Jonah Bible Craft (online)
Stuffed Paper Bag Whale (online)

Bible Crafts
Bible Craft Videos (online)
Crafting the Word of God (online)

Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]


Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts
Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)

The Big Picture Bible Crafts:
101 Simple and Amazing Crafts to Help Teach Children the Bible



singing birds

God Had A Job For Jonah (Inside The Whale) [Music Download]
God Said Go (watch online)
Jonah (watch online)
Jonah and the Whale Song (online)
Jonah and the Whale Song (watch online)
Jonah And The Whale [Music Download]
Jonah, Are You Gonna [Music Download]
Jonah, Jonah (watch online)
Jonah Song and Lyrics (watch online)
Listen to My Tale of Jonah and the Whale (watch online)
Silly Scriptures: Jonah (watch online)
Who Did (Swallow Jonah) by Cedarmont Kids [Music Download]

100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
Illustrated Songs
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids

Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
Sunday School Song Medley (online)
The Bible in a Minute (online)

25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music



child reading a book

Arch Books Bible Stories: Jonah and the Very Big Fish
Arch Books Bible Stories: Jonah, The Runaway Prophet
Discover 4 Yourself, Children's Bible Study Series: Wrong Way, Jonah!
HOBC Bible Big Book: Jonah
Jonah and the Whale online story (online)
Jonah Comic Book
Jonah, God's Messenger
Jonah Read online (online)
Read the story in the Bible (online)
Runaway: Jonah and the Whale (online)
Solomon/Jonah Flip-Over Book
The Runaway Prophet or the Chicken of the Sea (online)
The Story of Jonah listen online (online)
Tiny Readers' Jonah
Whale and Jonah (online)

365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories

365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year


100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Early Reader's Bible
Little Pilgrim's Progress
The Comic Book Bible
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible
Children's Books
Spanish Children's Books
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)



Online Fish Matching Game (online)
Print Out Fish Matching Game (online)



CDs and Videos

Adventures in Odyssey ® Bible Eyewitness - Hall of Faith

Bible on the Go Vol. 33: Prophets' Warnings; Jonah
(Hosea 14; Amos 1, 8-9; Jonah 1-3; Micah 6; Nahum 1; Habakkuk 3; Zephaniah 1-2) -
Unabridged Audiobook [Download]


Bugtime Adventures: A Lot to Swallow - The Story of Jonah (watch online)
Gideon Films: Jonah's Anger at the Lord's Compassion (watch online)
Golden Bible Stories: The Story of Jonah (watch online)
Greatest Heroes and Legends: Jonah and the Whale (online)
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, DVD
Jonah Under the Gourd (listen online to audio drama)
Superbook DVD: Jonah
The Bible Comes Alive, Your Story Hour Volume 4, Audiobook on CD
The Story of Jonah (online)
What Does God Want Me To Be When I Grow Up? (online)

All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share Toddler Bible with DVD
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs



Resources for Parents and Teachers

Bible Query From Jonah (online)

Discover 4 Yourself, Children's Bible Study Series:
Wrong Way, Jonah!


Have you felt like giving up lately?
Jonah and the Great Fish Bible story activities (online)
Jonah Is Humbled By God Bible story activities (online)
Jonah Lesson 4 (online)
Jonah Part 2 Bible Art

Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages (online)
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Sermon (online)
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer (online)

FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide
(online)

52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos (online)
God's Servants Teach Me

God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs


Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
KidMin ToolBox: Boxed Book Set
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles

Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings


Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Activities (online)
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons (online)
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry


Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know

Children's resources (online)


gourds


The Children\'s Chapel award-winning site featuring Bible stories from a variety of authors excellent Christian resources for children and over 140 links to other Christian and family-friendly sites for kids

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