Finally, Jonah gets to Nineveh ...
In our mind, we can imagine Jonah into the big city, looking fearfully at the sides, expecting at any moment to be recognized and attacked as a Jew.
In our mind, we can imagine Jonah into the big city, looking fearfully at the sides, expecting at any moment to be recognized and attacked as a Jew.
After walking, crossing the great city, he took courage and began to cry, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Jonas continued traversing the great city proclaiming the simple message of repentance and the result was unparalleled in human history! The Word of God says that to the largest (the king) to the least, the people of Nineveh believed the message preached by Jonah, repented of his wickedness and humbled themselves before God! Because of their genuine repentance, God withheld his hand from trial until a later time. History records many years later, the Ninevites went back to their sinful ways and God eventually destroyed the Assyrian empire, but it shows what God can do in the hearts of men. Even in the hands of an individual reluctantly and without enthusiasm, God's message has reached the desired result. On the other hand, the Word of God preached by the most eloquent and dynamic preacher in the world does not achieve anything similar, if the Holy Spirit does not act.
Finally, in Chapter 4, we see Jonah outside Nineveh. Despite having witnessed a tremendous miracle, Jonah's anger by that people continued to overshadow any trace of compassion. Now that his worst fears were realized and God really spared the people, Jonah is angry! However, this preacher is to God like a petulant child. The hatred of the Ninevites Jonah felt was understandable, considering all the evil they have perpetrated, but what about 120,000 people, not to mention the animals that would suffer if God destroyed the city? Our old, fallen and depraved human nature rarely see the "big picture" because we are selfish and want everything to be done our way.
Finally, in Chapter 4, we see Jonah outside Nineveh. Despite having witnessed a tremendous miracle, Jonah's anger by that people continued to overshadow any trace of compassion. Now that his worst fears were realized and God really spared the people, Jonah is angry! However, this preacher is to God like a petulant child. The hatred of the Ninevites Jonah felt was understandable, considering all the evil they have perpetrated, but what about 120,000 people, not to mention the animals that would suffer if God destroyed the city? Our old, fallen and depraved human nature rarely see the "big picture" because we are selfish and want everything to be done our way.
To meditate:
- God is a specialist in amazing things as happened in Nineveh! "Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." (Psalm 40:5)
- God was not to explain to Jonah, but graciously and patiently explained to him his sovereign will. Nowadays, He reveals His plans to you too. It´s possible! Cry out to Jesus! "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
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