A story of God’s loving concern for all people.

Jonah knows that God’s love and forgiveness runs deep But when God directs him to go the the cruel enemies Assyria an tell them repent from their sins, so God will not destroy them, Jonah heads in the opposite direction.

Jonah doesn’t want them to repent, because he knows God will forgive them. Jonah assignment is a tough one. The Assyrians are known for committing gruesome crimes against their enemies. Only a man with a death wish, or radical trust in God would obey.

Jonah goes far away from Nineveh at first, but God makes it obvious, what Jonah should do, by a fierce storm and allowing Jonah to be swallowed by a giant fish. After or these event Jonah goes to Nineveh.

Once inside Assyrian’s great and powerful capital, Jonah preaches the message God gave him. A massive revival results, from the king and his noble men to the commissioners, the Assyrians repent. God sees their repentance and relents from his anger.

Jonah is angry, he wanted God to destroy them and not save them. While Jonah is sitting on a hill overlooking the city, God tenderly gives Jonah an object lesson about His deep love and unceasing mercy. God is the God whose heart bends towards all people. The God of all creation takes time to explain His goodness to Jonah, to show him how deep his love is.

If God was tell tell us, to do something we do not want to do, it would better to do it and have complete trust Him.

God Bless

OFJ.