Our lil man loves the Veggie Tales movie Jonah. If you have a lil one and haven't seen it, it is pretty cute. Since he wants to watch it everyday it seems like, it has been on my mind lately. It tells the story of the prophet Jonah. Now for those of you who don't know. Jonah is a prophet of the Lord. The Lord tells him to go to Ninevah, a city that is wicked, to preach the message the Lord gives him. Now, Jonah doesn't want to go so he runs away from God. The funny thing to me is how can you run away from God? He is everywhere. Anyway, Jonah gets on a boat headed in the opposite direction of Ninevah. As he is going a terrible storm comes on the boat. The sailors end up throwing Jonah overboard and the storm stops. Then a big fish swallows Jonah up and he is in the belly of a fish for 3 days. While he is in the big fish, Jonah calls on the Lord and prays to him. The Lord hears his prayers and has the big fish "vomit" Jonah up. Jonah goes to Ninevah and preaches the message for the Ninevites to turn from their evil ways. The Ninevites turn and God has mercy and compassion on them. Now, you would think Jonah would be happy about them turning from their evil ways, wrong he is angry that God doesn't bring down fire and brimstone on the whole city. Jonah is upset and says "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. "(Jonah 4:2)
So, my question to you do you have a Ninevah? Somewhere or maybe someone who you wish God would bring down His wrath on even if they were to change their ways? As Christians we are called to preach the message to all nations. Sometimes I think it is hard for us to share and honestly want someone to change when we know their past. Especially if they have hurt someone close to us or maybe even us. This challenge is for everyone including myself, to not be Jonah any more. A friend of mine mentioned once that she needs to look at people as souls and not just the physical being. I don't know who or what your Ninevah is and I don't need to but if you have one, please stop being Jonah and show the mercy and compassion of God. I don't know about you but I don't want to end up in a big fish for any amount of time.
I pray that you will meditate with God today on this and if you struggle with a Ninevah give it to the Lord.
1 comment:
One of my favorite aspects of the story is that Jonah doesn't see how *he* is like Ninevah. He had sinned, sought forgiveness, and God granted it to Him. Ninevah had sinned, sought repentance, and God granted to them. Jonah though he deserved forgiveness, but didn't think Ninevah did. How is God's grace sufficient for one but not the other? Are there times we think His grace is good enough for us, but not enough to cover what wrong things others have done?
Great thoughts, md. Forgiveness is so powerful. --alyssa
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