16.
Another miracle of the Lord took place in the life of Jonah. The booth was very likely far from being a pleasant shelter. The LORD prepared a special tree to provide instantaneous shade and protection for him. Jonah 4:6 The precise species of the plant is not known. As always there is much speculation as to what it may have been. The important thing is that we consider that the LORD God, Jehovah Elohim was the one who produced this special plant for the comfort of Jonah. Also to teach him a lesson. The Lord is the great teacher and is always causing situations to develop in the lives of His children to teach them His ways. Not only did the Lord cause it to spring up, but He directed its growth. It became a shelter over the booth which Jonah had built for himself. Jonah is manifesting a stubborn and self willed spirit before the Lord. It is as if he were trying to force the hand of the Lord to carry out the prophecy which he had given in Nineveh.
Jonah’s booth was most definitely not the best accommodation to be had in Nineveh. Jonah had placed himself in a most uncomfortable position. Not only physically but spiritually as well. It was certainly not the will of the Lord for him to be sitting just outside the gates of the city, watching and waiting for some harm or disaster to strike a city which the Lord had pardoned and delivered. Jonah was greatly discomforted for the Lord prepared the plant to deliver him from his grief. Jonah 4:6 In spite of his contrary attitude and actions the Lord was demonstrating His mercy and care for Jonah.
The Hebrew word ra may be translated to be adversity, affliction, calamity, distress and so on. As a noun it may also be translated, evil. (Strong’s). Jonah was in a most miserable place, all of his own making. Had he accepted the will of the Lord in forgiving the people of Nineveh, he could have gone his way rejoicing in a mission accomplished. His mood was foul, his booth deplorable, all because he wanted things his own way.
He is in line for correction and rightly so. The beauty of correction is that it is a sign that the Lord loves the individual being corrected. Heb. 12:6 Jonah was exceedingly glad for the added protection from the weather which was given him of the Lord. However, there is no acknowledgement by him to the fact that this is a miraculous thing and is the blessing of the Lord. The works of the Lord should never be taken for granted. This is a good time to apply the scripture, In every thing give thanks. 1 Thess. 5:18 Jonah should have been in line for the blessing of the Lord and a commendation of a job well done. Likewise the very special thanks of the population of Nineveh for the warning he brought them and their subsequent release and deliverance from the judgment of the Lord. Jonah could have been recognized as a hero had he accepted the workings of the Lord in the whole thing. How close he was to a great blessing, yet missed it, because of a wrong attitude.