I am going to relate to a man who ran from God’s command to
go to a certain people and give them a message from God. These people were very ruthless people and
enemies of Israel and Judea, and Jonah didn’t want anything good to happen to
them. Jonah was told to go to Nineveh and
tell them they would be overthrown in 40 days. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. Assyria was the largest nation in the east at
the time and Assyria was a real and present danger.
Instead of obeying God, Jonah rebelled and took a ship that
was going to Tarshish. Then God caused a
heavy wind and a great storm took place, and while Jonah was sleeping in the
bottom of the boat, the ship was about to tear apart. When the captain and crew found out that it
was because of Jonah this was taking place, they felt they had no other option
but to do what Jonah told them to do, and that was to throw Jonah overboard,
even though they were against it.
Then God provided a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the big fish’s belly for three
days and three nights. Jonah was in
great distress, I don’t know if Jonah repented for sure, but this would have
been a great time to repent. Jonah
prayed inside of the big fish a prayer of distress and God heard him and had
the fish throw him up on the shore.
Then Jonah went into Nineveh and proclaimed the Word that
God told him to; another 40 days and Nineveh would be overthrown. Upon hearing these words, the whole city
repents; calls for a fast and put on sackcloth. When the word reached the King, he took of his
robe and put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. The King and his nobles made a proclamation,
and this was his decree, please read Jonah 3:7-9, “ And he caused it
to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and
his nobles, saying, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything;
do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with
sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way
and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and
relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?”
Now please read God’s response in the next verse of that
same chapter verse 10, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from
their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would
bring upon them, and He did not do it.”
What a super fantastic revival that broke out there in
Nineveh, this is what I would call a Holy Ghost revival!! It seems like Jonah would have been so ecstatic,
but he was angry because God relented. Jonah knew that God would, because he knew
God’s mercy and forgiveness and compassion. Just prior to this he had experienced it in
his own life so you’d think he would have been rejoicing and happy, but he was
very sad. Jonah didn’t want the
Ninevites forgiven, he wanted them all destroyed.
I wonder, do you pray for your enemies that they would be
saved, or do you wish them harm also? Think about it, maybe you need to repent.
The difference between Jonah’s situation
and ours is that he lived under the Old Covenant where it was an eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth. We live
under the New Covenant where Jesus said this about this subject in
Matthew 5:38-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever
slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to
sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever
compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from
him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was
said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be
sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the
good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who
love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And
if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even
the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father
in heaven is perfect.”
Kind of a sobering thought if you hate your enemy today. It is so easy to get caught up in this trap,
but with the Lord’s help you can overcome this hatred and instead love your
enemies and pray for those who mistreat you and hate you!! Here is a prayer you might use, “Lord please
help me to be an overcomer in this situation and help me to love (add their
name or names) like You love them and always be faithful to pray for their
relationship with You. And that You will
draw them to Jesus and that You will convict them through your precious Holy
Spirit over their sins. And that You
will open their eyes and ears and their hearts and remove the veil from their
minds so that they may receive the truth, and that knowing the truth, the truth
will set them free. Thank you, Lord and
help me to always forgive my enemies also and please forgive me for the times
that haven’t acted kind and gracious and loving towards them, in Jesus’ precious,
precious name Amen and Amen!!”
Always repent and ask for forgiveness when you sin and turn
away from your sin and turn in the total opposite direction toward God and
don’t forget to thank Him for His forgiveness, grace and mercy and love!! Give Him praise every day for He is worthy!! May the good Lord bless you and yours with His
perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness and my you and yours have
a super, super great day!!
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