Of all the Bible stories that we hear about today, The strangest of the lot of them is all about the way, |
A prophet of the Israelites was sent to Nineveh,
| To tell them their ungodliness had gone a bit too far. The people of Assyria were exceptionally cruel. The masters of the Middle East is where they had their rule. They attacked and murdered those who tried to tell them “No!” They seemed to have no pity wherever they did go. Any who resisted them were killed a special way. Impaled upon a stake until their life had drained away. They treated victims dreadfully with hooks pushed through their jaws, And many other cruelties, the Word of God deplores. The nation was a bully. They did just as they chose. And very few survivors remained when they arose. Then God spoke to His prophet. To Jonah and He said. Go and warn the Ninevites that soon they will be dead. In forty days I’m planning to tear the place apart. They’d better start repenting for judgement soon will start. Now Jonah was reluctant. He didn’t want to go. “If God destroys the Ninevites, that’s what I want to know. So if I go and warn them and they turn their lives around. The Lord God will forgive them and in safety they’ll be found. We know about the story of just what happened next. He took a boat to Tarshish which made Jehovah vexed. God thus made an arrangement with a big fish in the sea, To take the prophet Jonah to the place he aught to be. The story is a strange one but God got His prophet there. He walked into the city and they listened to his prayer. God would not bring judgement if the people would repent. They’d better all get on with it for God said what He meant. We know that Jonah stood aside so he could get a view Of what the God of heaven to Nineveh would do. He really couldn’t wait to see the city torn apart. For that is what he wanted way deep down in his heart. Then when it didn’t happen he was madder than a snake. The Ninevites deserved it for all their victim’s sake. So Jonah was disgusted. His word from God had failed. They all had been forgiven and their prayers had prevailed. Jonah wasn’t happy. He wanted them to die. He couldn’t wait to see them individually fry. His journey had been fruitless. The Lord had let them go. And in his intercession he even told God so. For they had been forgiven Just as he thought that day. He thought it was the proper thing for God to do His way. But Jonah was reminded of God’s mercy and His grace. And those who have repented, God’s judgement will not face. |
