Greenpastures313’s Weblog

The word of the Lord came to Jonah saying “go and preach to the wicked city Nineveh.” But Jonah ran from God, at least he tried. Had Jonah decided to go by land instead of by sea, some particular details of his story would be different but the outcome would have been the same. It’s impossible to escape God’s presence, as Jonah shortly realized. The story of Jonah includes a large fish, but his encounter with the fish isn’t the principle part of the story. That creature is merely one of several things at God’s disposal to teach Jonah what he needs to learn, what we need to learn, and that is that people are constantly in the heart of God. He created them, he loves them, even the “bad” ones, and he doesn’t desire that any of them perish. But we, like Jonah, know better, don’t we? We think we do anyway. Jonah fled from God because he knew that if he preached to the wicked city, and the city repented, then God would spare it. Jonah did not want the city to be spared. Fact is, he secretly wished for it’s fiery demise. Would God rain fire upon it, or cause it to crumble into itself in a mighty earthquake? Who knows, but Jonah was ready for the judgment to come, whatever it might be.

But the Lord captured Jonah’s attention didn’t he? Yet even then, Jonah reluctantly journeyed to Nineveh, and “preached” to its inhabitants. He didn’t beg, he didn’t plead, he didn’t wring the heart of Nineveh with tearful pleas and touching stories of God’s love and compassion. In fact, his sermon was only seven words: “Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” That was it. But with that little information, the city repented of its sin and the Lord spared it. Why? Because God loves his creation. He loves you, and no way you’re on a par with the people of Nineveh. Or are you? It doesn’t matter, you see, because God loves you as he loved them. And your repentance will bring the same good mercy from God. He will forgive, even Nineveh, even you.