Jonah 4:2 “… I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness …”
The book of Jonah told the story of the prophet’s disobedience to God’s
call to preach to Nineveh
of God’s judgment. God had wanted to give the city of Nineveh a chance to repent of their sins so
they would understand why the judgment had to come.
When Jonah finally obeyed God and he went to the city of Nineveh to preach
repentance. The history told of the one of the most remarkable city-wide
spiritual awakenings in all of history. The king called the entire city to
fasting and repentance. Jonah knew that God was a gracious God. God forgave the
city of Nineveh
when they had repented of their sins.
Jonah was angry because in the past years, Nineveh
had been “cruel” to Israel
and they had done terrible things. So Jonah felt Nineveh deserved to have God’s judgment
rather than to spare them if and when they repented of their sins. Jonah did
not want God to cancel His plans of judgment against Nineveh
who was the enemy of Israel.
God taught his angry prophet that He delighted in making His grace
available to everyone, not just to Israel
and Judah.
Jonah knew that God was a gracious God who was slow to anger and the God of
great kindness. God delighted in canceling His plans of judgment when people
repented of their sins.
Doesn’t this make you want to love God even more? When you read this
story of Jonah of how much God cares to find someone like Jonah to go to the
worst city of Nineveh
because God was more interested in “saving the souls.” How much more does God
loves you and gives you another chance to know how gracious God is to you right
now.
So let us trust our gracious God today!
Song: Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
(Julia Harriette Johnston, Sing His Praise)
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