Definition: But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jonah 4:7. It's a really interesting story about obedience and God’s plan! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: God sent Jonah to a big barrel of fish to tempt him. But Jonah disobeyed Him – he swam away, refusing to obey God’s command. When the sun came up, something terrible happened – a worm appeared inside the barrel! It was destroying the gourd. Let's unpack it: “But God prepared a worm…” - This is a bit of a strange image. It doesn’t mean a literal worm like we see in cartoons. It symbolizes a punishment or something unpleasant that was meant to happen because Jonah disobeyed. “…when the morning rose the next day…” – This tells us it happened right after Jonah had left God's command. “and it smote the gourd” - The gourd is symbolic of Jonah himself, and the worm represents a consequence or punishment for his disobedience. It’s like a little reminder of what he did wrong. The Meaning – A Lesson About Obedience: This verse is a powerful lesson about obeying God, even when it's difficult. God wants us to follow His instructions and be obedient. Jonah’s disobedience led to this unpleasant consequence. In short, it’s a reminder that God can punish those who stray from His path, but He also has a plan for them to come back to Him. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the context of Jonah 4? Connect this story to a larger theme in the Bible (like faith or repentance)?