6.THE BOOK OF JONAH!

JONAH’S ENCOUNTER WITH GOD.

Chapter four gives us the supreme message of the book.

It can be expressed in a few words; it is one of,          

Affecting tenderness.

So passionate was Jonah’s religious patriotism that his self interests were sunk in his deep concern for lsrael.

Jonah loved Israel more than his own life.

Why is he trying to manipulate God?

I think he could not see God’s ultimate plan for Israel in the future. He made up his mind to deliver them himself, right then and there!

Do you and I try to make things happen, even good things, without any instruction from God?    

We believe that we are in partnership with Him, and we think He needs our assistance.

Hey!! He works ‘through us!’ Not ‘for’ us.” We cannot dictate how He should work, nor can we manipulate Him.

We cannot do a wrong to make a right! 

We must do right till the stars fall. Do right to the last call, and do right when no one stands by you; the Lord is ever with you.

JUST DO RIGHT! 👍

The Lord tenderly reproved him with a question.

“JONAH! ARE YOU DOING RIGHT TO BE ANGRY?”      

We need to know that God does nothing wrong. He is just and totally without error! We cannot do wrong to make a right! Don’t even tell a lie to protect yourself.

Jonah left Nineveh and sat under a booth (a temporary wood structure) to see what would become of the city. Verse 5.

Jonah was so upset that Nineveh would be spared. He just wanted to die.

Yes, he obeyed the Lord, but reluctantly.

Do you do this?              

GOD THEN PREPARED THREE THINGS.

He prepared a “Gourd” which was a trailing, climbing, large leaf plant that brought lots of shade over Jonah.

God is so beautiful, He shows compassion for repenting sinners and also His own, who still struggle with sin.

“HIS COMPASSIONS THEY FAIL NOT.”

Some scholars say the Gourd was a Caster oil plant. The miracle was not the type of plant, but the acceleration of it’s growth. See verse ten.

“It grew up in a night and made Jonah exceedingly glad of the Gourd.” Due to excessive heat of the weather.

I keep thinking about the Grace of God. He is so patient and willing that not anyone should perish but that all men should come to repentance. He is holding back the return of Christ because so many people still have the time to repent, believe and receive the Gospel.

He has already given us the instructions on how to share the Gospel for it is indeed …

“THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.”

ARE YOU SHARING THE GOSPEL?

Do you need to be saved?

You can pray this prayer of Salvation, and the Lord Jesus will save you, and the Holy Spirit will live inside you. God will accept you into Heaven when you die, and you will thrive on this earth as you will in Heaven.

THE PRAYER.

“God, Creator of all Heaven and 🌎 earth. Thank you for the plan of Salvation. (God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself) I believe He died and rose again and is at your right hand in Glory. Please forgive me for all my sins, come into my life now, fill me Holy Spirit with your presence and power to follow Jesus in this world and the next.”

Amen.

As quickly the Gourd grew it withered and died. God sent a worm to devour it.

Jonah was not a happy camper! Left in the boiling sun, he wanted to die. He had not let go of his desire to see the enemy of Israel destroyed. He waited in the midday heat of the sun to see if God would change his mind.

God, our loving merciful God reminded Jonah that it would not only mean the death of the wicked but also little children, infants and all their livestock, pets and animals.

Those who don’t know the right hand from the left would be babies and little children.

The account finished abruptly, and no more was recorded.

Sadly, after God’s Grace was revealed to Nineveh on this occasion, years later, they disregarded God’s Grace and returned to their wicked ways.                                        Their enemies annihilated  them. How heartbreaking for God and them.

Amen.

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Blessings!

Thank you for those of you who faithfully read, pray and give financially toward this ministry. May the Lord prosper you in every way.

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That He Gave His only Son.

Whosoever believes in Him,

Shall not perish, but have,

ETERNAL LIFE!