God Is Gracious & Compassionate
God calls Jonah to warn Assyrian
city of Nineveh of impending
destruction. However the brutal
Assyrians are Israel’s bitter enemies
and Jonah fears & despises them.
Instead of heading to Nineveh
Jonah sets sail in the opposite
direction. A storm ensues, Jonah
is tossed overboard and swallowed
by a great fish. After three days,
the fish deposits Jonah on dry land.
Jonah then goes to Nineveh and
preaches as God had instructed.
When the people repent, Jonah’s
resentment grows until God must
teach him a lesson in compassion.
Lord, we will Deliver Your Message:
The Lord spoke to Jonah a 2nd time.
Go to the great city of Nineveh and
deliver the message of judgment…
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s
comd. He shouted to the crowds:
Forty days from now Nineveh
will be destroyed! The people of
Nineveh believed God’s message
and from the greatest to the least,
they decided to go without food and
wear sackcloth in sorrow (Jon 3:1-5)
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly
and he became angry. So he prayed.
I know that You are a gracious
and merciful God, slow to anger
and abundant in lovingkindness…
It is better for me to die (Jon 4:1-3).
Then God said: Is it right for you
to be angry because the plant died?
You feel sorry about the plant,
though you did nothing to put it
there… But Nineveh has more than
120,000 people living in spiritual
darkness…Shouldn’t I feel sorry
for such a great city? (v9-11).
Lord, we learn from passage that
Jonah was to preach only what
You told him: a message of doom.
We realise those who bring God’s
Word to others should not let
fear of people dictate their words.
For we are called to follow the
Spirit’s leading and share God’s
message and His truth, even
though it may be unpopular. Amen.
Lord, there are people around who
need to hear Your message of hope;
people whom I might not even
notice, but whom You love deeply.
Reveal them to me so that I can
pray for them and perhaps speak
an encouraging word to them.
Prepare their hearts to receive
word from You through me. Amen.
Dear Lord, we acknowledge Your
Sovereignty & You are In Control.
Help us not run from doing Your
purpose but Deliver Your Message.
Help us Lord to Be Compassionate,
to those who are different from us.
Help us not be inward looking but
be Your witnesses wherever we are.
Help us to share the Good News for
people truly Need the Lord. Amen.