Is it right for you to be angry?

Is it right for you to be angry?

Scripture: But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4

But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:10-11

Observation: In this last chapter of Jonah, we see the prophet becoming very angry that the Lord had spared Nineveh. Taking it personally, he literally threw a temper in front of God, asking God to take away his life. Then, as Jonah sulked away some distance from the city, the Lord used a practical example to teach him a lesson, bringing Jonah a plant to comfort him and taking it away overnight. When Jonah again voiced his anger, the Lord explained to him that if he cared for a simple plant, how much more would God care for a city of more than 120,000 people and also many animals.

There are quite a few lessons we can learn from this chapter. Firstly, God’s ways are higher than our ways. Jonah couldn’t understand how he could spare Nineveh. He was looking from a human perspective, and could not understand why the Ninevites should deserve any mercy. However, from God’s perspective, they too are his children, although they had gone far astray. It is not for us to decide who deserves mercy and who doesn’t.  The Lord decides what is right to do in His sight.

Secondly, as Jonah rightly mentioned, our God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, who relents from sending calamity. Because of the righteousness of God’s nature, He will bring judgment upon sin and rebellion. However, at the same time, because of His great love, He opens the avenue for mercy if men would humble themselves and come to Him in repentance.

Thirdly, it is not for us to judge others. As Jesus said “Do not judge or you too will be judged”. Jonah did not have a right to judge the Ninevites and decided whether or not they should receive mercy. We are all sinners saved by grace. It is for us to walk humbly before the Lord.

Fourth, God is also concerned about animals. Jesus later mentioned that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God the Father. Just as God treasures His creation, we too should treasure and respect the animals that God has made. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t kill mosquitoes and pests or eat meat. However, we should not torture or hurt animals or insects for fun.

Application: Remember that God’s ways are always higher than our ways. His wisdom is always greater than ours. Praise God that He is loving and merciful although He is just and righteous. Remember not to judge others but leave all judgment to God. Remember that animals are God’s precious creation. Therefore we should not treat animal’s lives lightly.

Prayer: O Lord, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Help me always submit to Your wisdom O Lord. Praise You Heavenly Father for Your great love and mercy to us on earth. Let me not judge others, but learn to love others as You have loved me. Give me also a fresh appreciation of Your beautiful creation, even the animals that roam the earth. Bless Your Heavenly name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

God may yet relent

God may yet relent

Scripture:

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah 3:1-2

But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:8-10

Observation:- In Jonah 3, we see the call of God coming to Jonah a second time and this time he obeys. Amazingly, the people of Nineveh, and even the king believe Jonah, and repented before God. Scholars speculate that in the belly of the large fish or whale, the acidic juices would have made Jonah’s skin and hair a ghastly white as he walked through the city. Terrified at his appearance, the Ninevites could have been convinced God’s judgment was coming to them.

There are three main things we can learn from this chapter. Firstly, God is a God of second chances. Although Jonah failed the first time, God did not give up on him, but drew him back and restored him to his commission. Some of us may have served God for a time but then due to various reasons walked away from our calling. The Lord calls us to return to His service. Just like He restored Jonah and restored Peter, He can restore us too if we only we come back to Him.

Secondly, the actions of a leader has great impact over those under him. The actions of the king of Nineveh in calling for city-wide repentance and calling urgently on God averted judgment on the great city. Similarly, for those us in authority, over our family, over a church or cell group, over a company on business, over a district or state or nation, we have a special responsibility before God that has great impact on those under us.

Thirdly, God forgives when people repent and turn back to Him. Even when a king as evil as Manasseh repented, God relented from judgment upon him. Likewise, even though the Ninevites were so cruel and violent in their ways, God responded to their repentance. The Scripture is true that God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Application: If we have walked away from a particular calling of God, turn back, come back to God that He may restore us. Recognize the authority of leadership and the impact we have on those below us. Ask God for wisdom to use this ability well to be a blessing to others. Thank God that the Lord’s compassion is great and He does not want anyone to perish.  If we have fallen away, turn back and return to Him. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for the times I forsook my calling. Bring me back that I may serve You again in full passion and by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord for those in authority over me, and those I have authority over. Give me wisdom and peace to lead them well and grant my superiors with wisdom and righteousness too. Praise You O Lord, for You do not want anyone to perish but to come to repentance. Help me return to You O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Yet you have brought my life up from the pit

Yet you have brought my life up from the pit

Scripture:-

“ I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. “ Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.  For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.

“ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:2-9

Observation: From inside the fish, Jonah called out to God for help. From his words, it appears that Jonah actually died and descended into hell before being brought back to the land of the living again. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Sheol in Jewish culture is known as the land of the dead. We know it as hell today. From Jonah’s words, we get some information about how hell is like. Firstly, hell is deep below the earth, where the mountains have its roots. Secondly, hell is like a prison, with bars separating the dead from the land of the living. Thirdly, hell is a pit. It is a hole where those who fall in cannot get out. Time and again, there have been individuals who have somehow been thrown into the pits of hell for a very short time and then allowed to come back to give a warning to the world. The Scripture in other places speak of it as a place of fire, of judgment, of darkness, of sorrow, of maggots and worms, of torture. It is a place with no water, a place where there are demons and evil angels. Just thinking of the horrors of hell, we are reminded of the great need to walk humbly before the Lord, in close relationship with our Lord Jesus who saves us.

In Jonah’s prayer here, there are three things we can learn in particular. Firstly, God is a God who hears us.  Just as Jonah cried out to God in his affliction and received God’s answer, so too have millions throughout the ages who have called out to God for help and found salvation in Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that God is our strength and our refuge, an ever present help in times of trouble.

Secondly, we must remember the Lord. In times of severe crisis, we may become so overcome by the problem at hand that we forget about the Lord. Move your eyes away from the problem and remember Jesus who is with you. Ask Him for help. God will deliver us when we depend on Him.

Thirdly, we are to sacrifice with voice of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and praise to God is an important part of our ongoing relationship with God. As the Psalmist says “He who sacrifices thanks offering prepares the way for me to show him the salvation of God”. It is important to be thankful in all circumstances, and give glory to God easily. Beware of ungratefulness and complaining that cost the Israelites entry into the promised land.

Application: Praise God that He is the Lord who hears us. Remember the Lord even in terrible times of crisis. Seek His face for help. He is an ever present help in times of trouble. Be thankful and sing praises easily to the mighty God who is with us. Beware of the ungrateful and complaining spirit which can lead to great loss indeed.

Prayer: Praise You, O Heavenly Father for You hear our prayers in Jesus name. Help me always remember You and seek You, even in our darkest hours for You are our strength. Let a heart of thanksgiving and praise always be with me. Forgive my complaining and ungratefulness. Change my heart I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

But Jonah ran away from the Lord

But Jonah ran away from the Lord

Scripture:

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. Joshua 1:1-3a

Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him Joshua 1:14-16

Observation: In this well known story of the Bible, we begin with Jonah, the prophet of the Lord given a most unsavory assignment – to preach to the great city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. At that time, it was said to be the largest city of the known world, and the gardens of Nineveh were considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Nineveh was also renown for its terrible sinfulness. Assyria was a constant threat to Israel and later would carry off the Israelites into exile.

At first sight, it seems that Jonah ran away from this assignment because of cowardice, perhaps afraid at the terrible things the Ninevites might do to him when he proclaimed this message. However, when we see his angry response later when Nineveh surprisingly repented, we see that his motive was not cowardice but rather not wanting Nineveh to be saved.

However, when Jonah tried to flee by ship to Tarshish, the Lord sent a great storm and the sailors were forced to throw Jonah overboard to save themselves.

This study we want to focus on 3 main things we can learn from the first chapter. Firstly, we can’t fight against God’s will. Jonah tried to fight against God’s will by human means but failed. God is all seeing and all knowing. We can try to run away from God, we can try to hide but He always finds us. We cannot have true peace and purpose until we surrender to His will. Saul in his zealousness went all out to make war against the Christians, when the Lord appeared to Him and said “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It’s hard for you to kick against the goads” Acts 26:14.  (A goad is a stick with a pointed piece of iron fastened to the end of it. This instrument is used to prod the oxen on when they are plowing. When a stubborn ox attempted to kick back against the goads (pricks), he would actually wound himself.) In other words, Jesus was telling Saul that it was useless to fight against His will.

Secondly, God loves even the most unlovable. The Assyrians in Nineveh must have been the most detested people in the whole world at that time because of their cruelty and wickedness. Still, despite their sins, the book of Jonah shows that God loves even the worse sinners and wants them to come back to repentance.

Thirdly, God can turns bad situations to good ones. By sending the storm for Jonah and stilling it after Jonah was thrown overboard, He displayed His awesome power in front of the sailors, who developed a new found respect and awe of the God of the Hebrews, the Lord who made the sea and the dry land.

Application: Some of us may have received a particular calling from God that we may be fighting against for various reasons. Some of us might be trying to run away, to try and ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit. However, in time, we need to realize that we are just kicking against the goads, and it is our destiny and purpose to come back to God’s will. There may be some people in our lives that we cannot quite help but detest or dislike. However, we need to remind ourselves that God still loves them, and that we need to learn to love them too. No matter how bad a situation, remember that God can still make it something special and useful for His glory. Trust in Him and wait for His purposes to be revealed.

Prayer: Father God, help me to understand what it means to pray “Not my will, but yours be done”. Curb the rebelliousness of my heart O Lord, help me to submit to Your will. Help me love everyone O Lord, even those who hurt me most. I cannot do it on my own, but in You O Lord, I am able to love. Thank You, Lord, that even in my worst situations, You are there with me, and You are always able to make the ugly beautiful. Bless You O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.