Gourds and Worms
Jonah 4:6-7
I. THE GIFT OF GRACE: GOD’S PROVISION
A. PREPARATION OF THE GOURD
1. Divine Design: “And the Lord God prepared a gourd…”
2. Purposeful Provision: “…that it might be a shadow over his head…”
B. JONAH'S JOY
1. Exceeding Gladness: “So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.”
II. THE PAIN OF PROVIDENCE: GOD’S DISRUPTION
A. THE ARRIVAL OF THE WORM
1. Divine Intervention: “But God prepared a worm…”
B. JONAH'S REACTION
1. Bitter Response: The withering of the gourd led Jonah into a pit of discontent.
2. A Call for Reflection: Take time to reflect on the grieving process and the lessons hidden in our
loss of comforts.
III. THE LESSONS IN LOSS: GOD’S INTENT
A. CHARACTER FORMATION
1. Growth Through Grief: The loss of the gourd was an opportunity to mature Jonah’s character.
2. Understanding His Heart: God’s lessons often emphasize compassion and grace, reminding us
of His bigger picture.
B. A BROADER PERSPECTIVE
1. God’s Greater Plan: This story transcends Jonah—it unveils God's heart for Nineveh and all
humanity.
IV. THE INVITATION OF HOPE: GOD’S ONGOING WORK
A. GLIMPSES OF GLORY
1. Beauty in Brokenness: Even within loss, God weaves a tapestry of grace and hopeful
beginnings.faith.
B. A CALL TO TRUST
1. Trust in Transition: Trust in God’s wisdom when He removes our "gourds," leading us on paths
unknown.
2. Hope in His Plan: Embrace the truth that God’s plans are ultimately good, even when the road
seems rocky and uneven.