#213- Our Compassionate GOD
November 16, 2012 (Fri)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)
Jonah 1-4
Glory to our Amazing God!
November 16, 2012 (Fri)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)
Jonah 1-4
New International Version (NIV)
Jonah Flees From the Lord
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish...
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
4... But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
New International Version (NIV)
Jonah Flees From the Lord
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish...
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
4... But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”Before I rest myself to sleep, I believe I am being prompted by the Holy Spirit to share to everyone what I have shared awhile ago with my son in his bed--- the story of Jonah :)
Have you heard the whole story of Jonah?
Have you opened the Bible and savor the beautiful story of the most compassionate God that we have?
Yes, this sharing is all about God and His most compassionate heart.
If we knew the story, it's about Jonah running away from God because God commanded him to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. However, Jonah did not readily obeyed, rather, he fled from God. But who can really flee from God? So Jonah, after being in the belly of a big fish, he prayed, repented and God heard his prayers. After which, Jonah then obeyed God, went to Nineveh and preached repentance.
The next verses I believe are the most beautiful part.....the people of Nineveh repented, even their king, and our God, our Loving and Compassionate God, forgave them all :)
How about Jonah? Jonah was in a way I believe so furious, he is angry at God because he want the Ninevites to be punished for their wickedness and not to let them be forgiven.
Jonah's reaction is usually and generally our reaction; that there should be no forgiveness to the wicked; that these evil people deserves severe punishment and not forgiveness; but in this beautiful book (Jonah), God reveals how compassionate He truly is....." (the LORD said...) why are you angry Jonah? Should I not have concern for the city of Nineveh, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left..."
Yes, from the Old Testament times 'til the New Testament, and up to now, God is preaching repentance--- that we turn away from all our sins and wickedness, acknowledge Him as our God, and live our life for Him, because that is the greatest gift He is offering us all. It isn't time is up for all of us yet and we need to grab the opportunity of His offer of eternal life..........but never ever make it an opportunity cost--- to be sorry for eternity is costly.
Praise to you dear JESUS!
Have a blessed day :)
Bible in a Year:
Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)
Today is the day :)
Today is the day :)
If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)
"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen."
(ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)
Why am I doing this? "Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen."
(ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."
