Reading for September 27th

Read Jonah 4.1-11 God's lesson to Jonah.
In the final episode of Jonah's story, the prophet's self-interest is contrasted with God's
compassion for others, even for those people considered enemies of Israel and Judah.
In verse 2 when Jonah says "You are a gracious God and merciful," he is quoting an ancient
Israelite creedal statement affirming God's compassion for the repentant and judgment of the unrepentant (Ex 34.6-7; Joel 2.13).
In verse 6 the castor bean, the best suggestion for the Hebrew "qiqayon" (rendered here bush),
is a perennial herb whose oil was used in antiquity for medicine and as fuel for oil lamps.
Its large leaves could provide a modest amount of shade.
In verse 11 the final phrase of the story, many animals, recalls the repentance of the animals in
3.7-8 and, not without a bit of humor and irony, emphasizes again the extent of God's compassion.
Comments or Questions...