MERCY OVERFLOWING
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, I praise you for your power that created and sustains the universe—and that the same power is at work in and for me.
Read JONAH 3
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
We are able to come boldly before God because Jesus has opened up for us a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20). Draw near to him today, however you may feel.It was a chastened Jonah who arrived on the outskirts of the great city of Nineveh. Nervously he passed through the city gates and proclaimed: ‘Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown’ (3:4). Not exactly a message guaranteed to increase his popularity, yet he faithfully delivered the words God had given him.
Then, the first surprise. King and people repented of their wickedness with a genuine show of contrition (vv. 5–9). Then the second surprise. God saw their genuine sorrow and how they turned from their evil ways, and in his mercy turned from his anger and forgave them.
Jonah was angry because it seemed so unfair that, after all their wickedness, the Ninevites should be forgiven. He was now obedient, but his heart was still lagging behind. He was confounded by the generosity of God, confused by the mercy shown to such un- deserving people. This is the scandal of grace. It contradicts human ideas of justice.
Jonah reminds me of the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). He too was affronted by the father’s generous love. Grace is always so totally undeserved.
Apply
Does it upset you that people who have done truly wicked deeds might be forgiven? How might the story of Jonah help you with this?
Closing prayer
Father, your love never lets go, no matter how undeserved. Thank you for loving me; help me to love others as you do.
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