The Creator could immediately prepare that gourd for Jonah, but if you were to plant gourd seeds it would take much longer to have a gourd. Perhaps you are acquainted with this unusual “fruit” that is ready for picking in early fall. Some are covered with warts and some come with pretty colors and designs and different shapes. They can either be raised in your home garden or purchased at a store.
Growing on the ground like squash or pumpkins, gourds have been popular around the world for centuries. However, they are seldom used for food as the taste is far too bitter. We use them mostly for decoration. After ripening, a curing period is required before the outer skin is peeled off. Then they can be decorated, perhaps by carving beautiful designs on them before painting. Some prepared by skilled carvers and painters make beautiful ornaments for various parts of a house, or perhaps to hang from a porch ceiling.
Musicians sometimes make large gourds into drums, rattles or use them for the sound chamber of guitar-like instruments. Women in some southern countries make them into hats, cutting large ones in two and painting them in brilliant colors and designs. Other women in Asian countries cut large ones the same way, but use them as containers on their heads for carrying articles or even for carrying water. These women can balance loads on their heads so well that they often walk long distances and never use their hands to hold them in place.
Other common uses for gourds are as floats for fishermen’s nets and as dippers, spoons and bowls for the kitchen. Some have even used them for wheelbarrow wheels. Others are made into bird houses. These are hung from a tree branch or mounted on a pole near a house or barn after boring a hole for the bird to enter.
Gourds, with their many varieties and uses, represent just one kind of plant among an endless variety the Creator has put on the earth for food or to give service and pleasure to mankind. Yet few people pay attention to the Bible verse that says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:2020Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20)).
How thankful we should be for all His wonderful provisions, but most of all for God’s love in sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to give His life on Calvary’s cross where He bore the sins of all who will acknowledge they are sinners and accept Him as their Saviour. If you have not yet accepted this great love, will you today? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).
AUGUST 30, 1998
ML-08/30/1998