On Jonah

Dear all,

I spent an afternoon pondering on Jonah during church camp. Since I have not shared anything for a long time, I would like to share this with you.

I wanted to know more about Nineveh because it was the place that God wanted Jonah to go to and preach to them about His love. So, I read Nahum, and boy, was I frightened by their atrocities. The Assyrians of Nineveh were known for their cruelty. They were powerful, defeating many around them. Everyone was afraid of them because they were ruthless. Their city was also thought to be impenetrable. I think everyone would naturally think that the empire would never fall. It means that they would get stronger and stronger, and they will terrorize everyone. Ultimately, all countries would be theirs, and people would live in oppression and darkness. Their power could have served as a reminder to Israel to repent and turn back to God.

At the end of the day, the city fell (famine, series of losing battles). God showed that even the strongest fail, even the victors lose, but God has never lost, and has never lost control. He has been there to witness empires rise and fall, and He still stands in control. Awesome!

What might seem like a victory noe can be a defeat in future, and vice versa. Nothing stands forever, but God.

With this knowledge in mind, as I think about Jonah, I learnt 5 things.
1. God is merciful, even to sinners that, in our eyes, are bad and lousy to the core (ie the Ninevites). To God, these sinners are confused and lost, and they need God (4:11)

2. God will change His mind to save His children no matter how much He has been disappointed/ angry with them for sinning.

3. God is compassionate (3:10). He forgave the Ninevites despite what they had donem because they turned from their ways. ==> a) God is a God of chances. (b) He will respond when we repend and ask for Him, desire Him

4. In great adversity do we find God and know who He is in our lives. eg Jonah's beautiful prayer when he was in the big fish.

5. God used Jonah even though He tried to run away. Our God is a God of chances.

And then I started thanking God. He is really marvellous :)

Love, YT