God’s Matchless Grace
Feb 18, 2020 13:57:29 GMT -6
Post by Gene Whitehurst on Feb 18, 2020 13:57:29 GMT -6
As the verses unfold in the book of Jonah, you discover very soon that Jonah hated the Ninevites. And with good reason. The Ninevites hated the Jews – Jonah’s people and God’s people. Jonah wanted nothing to do with them. But God called him to go and preach the gospel to them so that they would repent and be saved. And as soon as Jonah got the call from God, he got on a boat going west – instead of east toward Nineveh. God sent treacherous weather to that boat. Soon, those on board heard from Jonah that this storm was due to his disobedience to God’s call. But rather than asking to be set ashore, Jonah asked to be thrown overboard and into the raging sea – surely to drown. Jonah would rather die by drowning than go and preach the good news of grace to the Ninevites. Wow! What hatred. So those on board threw him over into the deep. This prophet of the true God did not want the Ninevites to be saved!
God prepared a great fish – notice that God prepared this fish. It was a prison cell where Jonah could reconsider. After nearly dying and then being rescued by that fish, Jonah agreed to go and preach to the Ninevites. He will obey the vow he had taken as a prophet. He was a prophet and he should go where God sends him.
So this great fish vomited Jonah up on the beach. And the Lord called Jonah a second time to go to the Ninevites. Yes, God is a God of second chances. For hundreds of miles, Jonah traveled to Nineveh…a great and evil city. He preached to those of the city; countless repented and believed – including the king. Then God relented the evil destruction that He had scheduled for Nineveh.
It would almost be good if the book ended there (end of chapter 3). But we discover in chapter 4 just how hateful Jonah remained! He confronts God. To paraphrase, he said, “God, I told you this would happen. You knew that when the Ninevites heard the message of grace, that they would believe and be saved. You knew that I did not want any grace shown to them. Now these people are saved and I am very unhappy about it. I am so distraught – please take my life from me.” Jonah so regretted the salvation of the Ninevites, he wanted now to die! Such a devastating attitude. Yet God continues to show grace and patience with Jonah. God stuck with him.
And then, this brief book ends. Repentance, salvation, and joy in Nineveh; grief, sorrow, regret, and anger in Jonah.
So what can we learn?
Jonah refused to obey the will of God. God sent a storm and a great fish and Jonah agreed to obey, yet with an unwilling heart. Strange! No matter how hateful Jonah behaved, God never left him. God stayed with him and prospered his message even though Jonah hated doing it and hated the results! God is persistent and patient and gracious with His children.
As far as we know, Jonah had been a faithful prophet up until this call to the Ninevites. (I’m personally convinced that Jonah eventually confessed his sin of hatred and returned to a life of being a faithful prophet.) Perhaps Jonah wanted to go somewhere (anywhere) else and continue to prophecy the grace of God…just not go to Nineveh. Perhaps Jonah thought, “God, I’m not going to Nineveh. Send me to another place instead.”
When God gives His call to you – regardless of what it may be - do what He tells you to do – even if you do not want to do it. “Lord, make me willing to be willing to obey You.” Do the right thing – even if you do not like it or the results that it may bring. Do the right thing. Obedience is what God needs and expects from His children.
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph 5:17
“Who desires all people to be saved (including those that you may hate) and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:4
- Gene Whitehurst
God prepared a great fish – notice that God prepared this fish. It was a prison cell where Jonah could reconsider. After nearly dying and then being rescued by that fish, Jonah agreed to go and preach to the Ninevites. He will obey the vow he had taken as a prophet. He was a prophet and he should go where God sends him.
So this great fish vomited Jonah up on the beach. And the Lord called Jonah a second time to go to the Ninevites. Yes, God is a God of second chances. For hundreds of miles, Jonah traveled to Nineveh…a great and evil city. He preached to those of the city; countless repented and believed – including the king. Then God relented the evil destruction that He had scheduled for Nineveh.
It would almost be good if the book ended there (end of chapter 3). But we discover in chapter 4 just how hateful Jonah remained! He confronts God. To paraphrase, he said, “God, I told you this would happen. You knew that when the Ninevites heard the message of grace, that they would believe and be saved. You knew that I did not want any grace shown to them. Now these people are saved and I am very unhappy about it. I am so distraught – please take my life from me.” Jonah so regretted the salvation of the Ninevites, he wanted now to die! Such a devastating attitude. Yet God continues to show grace and patience with Jonah. God stuck with him.
And then, this brief book ends. Repentance, salvation, and joy in Nineveh; grief, sorrow, regret, and anger in Jonah.
So what can we learn?
Jonah refused to obey the will of God. God sent a storm and a great fish and Jonah agreed to obey, yet with an unwilling heart. Strange! No matter how hateful Jonah behaved, God never left him. God stayed with him and prospered his message even though Jonah hated doing it and hated the results! God is persistent and patient and gracious with His children.
As far as we know, Jonah had been a faithful prophet up until this call to the Ninevites. (I’m personally convinced that Jonah eventually confessed his sin of hatred and returned to a life of being a faithful prophet.) Perhaps Jonah wanted to go somewhere (anywhere) else and continue to prophecy the grace of God…just not go to Nineveh. Perhaps Jonah thought, “God, I’m not going to Nineveh. Send me to another place instead.”
When God gives His call to you – regardless of what it may be - do what He tells you to do – even if you do not want to do it. “Lord, make me willing to be willing to obey You.” Do the right thing – even if you do not like it or the results that it may bring. Do the right thing. Obedience is what God needs and expects from His children.
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph 5:17
“Who desires all people to be saved (including those that you may hate) and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:4
- Gene Whitehurst