Enduring mercy love and compassion

 Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Jonah 3:4-5

The People of Nineveh Repent 

let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:8-10

Jonah’s Anger and the LORD’S Compassion

​1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4

You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:10-11

We finish off our journey through the book of Joban. He was rebellious and didn't want to do what the Father called him to do. But when he was about to die the Father rescues Him.

Jonah finally does what he was asked to do but the mercy and compassion of God when it's poured on others Jonah is jealous. Still the Fathers  mercy and compassion ensures Jonah’s comfort. We also like Jonah are ;privileged to have the enduring steadfast love of the Father poured daily into our lives.

The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love him,

 Psalms 145:13-20

Alive because of Him

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

This week we have read chapter 1 and 2 of the book of Jonah.

Our Father has demonstrated His power, mercy and loving kindness.

Jonah was rebelling and running away, but God came for him and helped him. 

The belly of the fish was rather strong and not so gentle, But Jonah was turned around and brought to a reckoning.

Jonah knew without the Father helping him to the belly of the fish he would have perished. He also knew it was only the Father’s kindness that kept him alive for 3 days in the belly.

He turned and declared Salvation belongs to our God.

We are also assured of His love and kindness for He sent His Son for us that we too would not perish but through Him live.

Our Father is moved by arepentant heart

 17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, 

O LORD my God. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Jonah 2:5-10

The people in the ship repented and asked God to save them. They then threw Jonah into the sea and the Lord kept him in the belly of the fish for 3 days. I can't help being reminded of our Saviour who was in the grave for 3 days.

We are like Jonah going our own way, often not willing to do the will of the Father. But our Father is always waiting for a repentant heart and willing to give us another chance. Truly only He can save and continue to save because of His steadfast love for us.

We can never flee His presence

 Jonah Flees the Presence of the LORD

​1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. Jonah 1:4-5

So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” Jonah 1:6

We cannot flee the presence of the Lord.even when we attempt our Father pursues us. How foolish to try and run away from the one who is the beginning as we read in John 1. 

The people in the ship after having exhausted all avenues remember Jonah and His God. Jonah is reminded of who He belongs and how powerful He is.

Just like Jonah our Father  pursues us  even when we are doing all to reject Him.

Our Father sacrificed His Son in pursuit of us and through His Spirit He continues and is always present to remind us and point back to the Father.