God relented. The people repented and turned from their wicked ways to God. And God relented upon the city of Nineveh. He chose to show mercy. He had compassion on them and forgave them!
This is the character of a loving father, this is the character of our Father in Heaven who waits for us to turn around, turn from our wickedness, and come to Him finding His love, graciousness, forgiveness and mercy. Then it is we who allow this same character, God's nature, to shape our character accordingly that we go to other cities - people in cities - begining with our city, our family, or neighbors - and proclaim the word of the Lord so that they find Him and are saved as well.
But there was Jonah. Did Jonah have or show compassion and forgiveness to the people of Nineveh? After all, he was there, he saw it with his own eyes. He was used of God for a great and mighty blessing that all in Nineveh were saved!
"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry." - Jonah 4:1
Jonah is angry that God should even conceive of sparing Nineveh. These who are noncovenant people. These who are the enemy of Israel.
What is God going to do about Jonah and his bad attitude? Or is it more than a bad attitude? Is it a heart attitude?
Read Jonah 4:2-4
God let's Jonah see for himself. God let's Jonah decide.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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