A Snapshot of the Heart of God

Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4; 2 Timothy 2
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Scripture

Jonah 4

1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
10 Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”


Observation

God provided the shade, God provided the sun, and God provided the worm, all to teach Jonah and us a valuable lesson. Jonah hated the people that lived in Nineveh, but God loved both Jonah and those that lived in Ninevah. God went to great lengths and used tremendous patience in dealing with Jonah and in dealing with the evil people of Ninevah. Jonah wanted them destroyed and God wanted to save them.

Some things never change do they … prejudice … is still with us today. Just look at our world or just look in your city or neighborhood. If people are different either by their race or in that they speak a different language we have a tendency to not like them. It is a serious heart condition that causes this … a sinful heart condition!

Application

I will show attention today to someone that might normally get slighted.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to have a hard heart like Jonah had. Give me love for people that maybe aren’t too easy to love. Help me have compassion for people that are in need. Give me a bigger heart!

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