God’s Mercy: Jonah 1-3
Jonah was a Jewish prophet of God during the days when the City of Nineveh was a great trading center located in the ancient Assyrian empire (modern-day city of Mosul in northern Iraq). It was a very wicked Gentile city (non-Jewish) according to God and Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh. He was to preach to the people about their wickedness and tell them that destruction was coming if they did not turn from their wickedness. Jonah did not want to obey God and fled to the port of Joppa to catch a ship headed to the city of Tarshish, which is in the opposite direction.
A great storm came while the ship was sailing and the mariners had to throw goods overboard to lighten the ship. They each prayed to their own gods for help. As the storm got worse and it looked like the ship would break apart, they found Jonah who was below deck fast asleep. The Captain woke him up and told him to call on his God to help them. They also cast lots (like rolling dice or drawing sticks) to see who was the cause of this distress. The lot fell on Jonah and they asked him what he had done that might have caused the storm. He explained that he was a prophet of God who was running away from his assignment. He told them to throw him overboard and the sea would calm down. They didn’t want to do that and struggled to row to safety. When the storm continued raging, they prayed to Jonah’s God to stop the storm, declared that they were innocent of his blood, and threw him over into the ocean. The sea stopped raging and the men gave thanks to God.
Jonah was on his way down to certain death when a great fish that God had prepared came and swallowed him whole. Jonah was in the belly of this great fish surrounded by seaweed and darkness. During this time he cried out to God, gave Him thanks, and changed his mind about running from his assignment. He was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. The great fish vomited Jonah onto dry land. Once again, God told Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh. This time Jonah obeyed. He entered Nineveh and started preaching that in forty days the city would be overthrown because of their great wickedness that had come up before God.
The leadership and people of Nineveh believed and listened to Jonah. The king published a proclamation that all the people should pray and cry out to the God of Israel, they and their animals should fast and wear sackcloth, and that they were to turn from their evil ways and violence. They were hoping that God would change His mind. God saw their works and that they had turned from their evil ways. God revoked His sentence and spared their city.
The story of Jonah is in the Old Testament of the Bible. It was a story that showed God’s mercy even for those who were not under the old covenant (agreement) with the Jewish people. Under the Old Testament, there were the ten Commandments during Moses’ time and many other laws and rituals that had to be followed (over 600) for forgiveness of sin and moral standards and laws for living.
Under the New Testament, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the fulfillment of God’s mercy for all mankind ( to the Jew first and then to all). When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our punishment for our sins has been paid and His Holy Spirit helps us change our ways starting from our hearts and minds.
Personal Development Tip of the Week:
As this Valentine's weekend comes to an end remember, whether you are in a relationship or not we can all practice self-love more in 2021.
Your relationship with yourself is so important and we can love others, even more, when we love ourselves.
Practice this week looking at yourself in the mirror when you wake up and saying, (I love you, I like myself, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, I’m the best,) or whatever words you would like to remind yourself that you love and respect yourself.
There is power in the words we use each day and although this might sound strange try it every day this week and see if it helps. God loves you so much and reminding yourself that you also love you is important.
Prayer for the week:
Dear Heavenly Father, I am praying right now over this person's week ahead. I pray that they continue to treat themselves with Love and Respect more in 2021. God, you love us so much and I pray that they continue to speak good words over their lives this week. Great things are in store for you and I pray that God’s love fills your heart with Joy this week ahead and Jesus name amen!
-Dayne
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Week 9: God’s Mercy: Jonah 1-3