Let’s return to Jonah for one more week …
After the fish spits Jonah out, God speaks to Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh. This time Jonah is obedient and their response is repentance.
Jonah finds himself mad for they have now avoided calamity coming upon them. While Jonah was grateful for the mercy of God upon his own life, he wasn’t wanting it so much for them.
“Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city.” (Jonah 4:5, NASB)
Rather than rejoicing in the salvation of the Ninevites, Jonah is stewing. He is watching and waiting to see what God will do to them. In his heart, he was hoping for their destruction. Jonah finds himself mad for they have now avoided calamity coming upon them. While Jonah was grateful for the mercy of God upon his own life, he wasn’t wanting it so much for others.
“True love for God results in love for others.”
(from Mercy in the Storm by The Daily Grace Co., page 100)
The way we love others reveals our love for God.
Oh that the Lord would fill us with such depth of compassion that we would instead fall to our knees and pray for His grace, mercy, and goodness to be poured out on others.
This reading of the Book of Jonah proved to be much more than the well known fish story. It was a reminder of the love of God poured out upon each of us.
“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40, NASB)
Jonah ran as hard as he could to avoid bringing the message of God to sinners. Our Lord drew near and sacrificed all to bring salvation to each one of us.
“Jonah points our hearts to Jesus.”
“Something better than Jonah is here.”
(from Mercy in the Storm by The Daily Grace Co., page 108)
Jesus did not turn away from us but pursued after us. And He is still pursuing us each day!
Jesus, the Living Word,
comes alive for us and in us,
each time we open the pages of our Bible.
“Weapons serve us best when we already have tested them and practiced with them before we ever arrive at the battle.” In her post, Don’t Forget HERE, Pam Ecrement encourages us to know the strength and power we have been given in and through our Lord.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
Those minor prophets! I think we’re afraid of them, but they have so much to offer! I’m thinking of a trip through Habakkuk with my Sunday school class…
Habakkuk is my favorite book of the Bible 🙂 Having spent time this summer in both Habakkuk and now Jonah, I so agree – the minor prophets have so much to offer and fill me with encouragement and hope!
I’m so glad for God’s mercy to His reluctant prophets as well as the lost. I’m thankful God doesn’t deal with us out of duty but out of love.
Amen!
I’m so thankful for the pursuing love of Jesus! And that He offers fresh mercy for each day.
Thank you, Joanne, for sharing this simple truth from Jonah-how we love others DOES demonstrate our love for God. It’s 1 John 4:20 lived out. We can’t say we love God whom we can’t see if we are not loving our brother or sister whom we can see. But alas, easier said than done!
How good to be reminded of a specific example of God’s mercy! He doesn’t give up on us when others may have and each day He offers fresh new mercies.
I love the contrast you draw: “Jonah ran as hard as he could to avoid bringing the message of God to sinners. Our Lord drew near and sacrificed all to bring salvation to each one of us.”
“The way we love others reveals our love for God.” Simple truth. Tremendous challenge. Thank you.
Love is the standard, isn’t it, Joanne? Whether we rejoice over others’ good fortune or are distressed is a magnifying glass of our heart condition.
Isn’t it amazing Joanne how much we can learn from one account in the Bible?
I’m so glad Jesus keeps pursuing us through His Spirit.
Blessings to you sweet friend, Jennifer
Sadly, too many of us are rubbing our hands with anticipation for the worst consequences to arrive rather than raising our hands for the ones who need Jesus.