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Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Jonah (WATCH HERE)

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Few chapters in the Bible expose the human heart quite like Jonah 4. It’s one thing to run from God’s will; it’s another to be angry when God’s mercy wins. Jonah’s story doesn’t end with the great fish or the great city. It ends with a great confrontation between God’s compassion and Jonah’s pride.

After Jonah finally preached in Nineveh, the city repented. One would think that Jonah would be celebrating!  Instead, Jonah “was greatly displeased and became angry” (v. 1). Imagine that: a prophet furious that his sermon actually worked!

Why? Because Jonah wanted justice on his own terms. Nineveh was Israel’s enemy. Jonah feared that if he warned them, they might repent and God would forgive them. In his mind, grace for Nineveh meant injustice for Israel.

He even admits it: “That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God…” (v. 2). Jonah’s theology was right, but his heart was wrong. He loved God’s mercy for himself, but not for others.

Jonah shows how easily we can twist grace into something self-serving.
We love grace when it rescues us, but we resist it when it reaches whoever “they” are in our world: people who’ve wronged us, those who think differently, those we feel don’t deserve another chance.

Jonah’s prayer in verse 2 sounds like a complaint:

“I knew You are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love…”

Those words echo God’s self-description in Exodus 34. The very attributes that once saved Jonah in the belly of the fish now offend him when applied to someone else.

Grace feels wonderful when it flows toward us; it can feel scandalous when it flows past us.

But, God doesn’t scold Jonah; He teaches him.
He appoints a plant to grow overnight and shade Jonah from the sun. Jonah is “very happy” about the plant. The next day, God appoints a worm that destroys it, and Jonah becomes angry enough to die.

Then God asks, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” (v. 9). Jonah answers, “It is.”

Through that small illustration, God exposes the contrast: Jonah cared deeply for his comfort but not for people. He grieved a dying plant but not a perishing city.
“You have been concerned about this plant… Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city?” (v. 10–11).

The book ends with that question.  There is no resolution, no recorded repentance from Jonah. The question isn’t just for him; it’s for us.

Centuries later, Jesus would echo the same compassion.
He wept over Jerusalem, the city that would reject Him (Luke 19:41). He prayed for His enemies even as they crucified Him: “Father, forgive them.”

At the cross, we see the full measure of God’s mercy: justice satisfied and grace extended.
Jesus is the greater Jonah:

• Jonah ran from his enemies; Jesus ran toward them.
• Jonah sat outside the city hoping for judgment; Jesus hung outside the city to bear it.
• Jonah wanted wrath to fall; Jesus took wrath upon Himself so mercy could fall.

Jonah 4 asks every believer: Do I celebrate God’s compassion, or do I control who deserves it?
If God’s grace offends our sense of fairness, we’ve misunderstood grace.

True grace transforms our hearts to mirror God’s heart: slow to anger, rich in mercy, eager to forgive.
It softens us toward the Ninevehs in our lives: the people who frustrate us, oppose us, or seem beyond hope.

When we remember how much mercy we’ve received, it becomes impossible to withhold it from others.

God’s question still stands: Should I not be concerned for that great city?
The answer—written across the cross—is yes. God’s compassion is greater than our comfort, and His mercy reaches further than we think.

 

Apply: Where do you want to control who receives God’s grace?  Repent!  Rejoice God’s grace is for you!  Rejoice God’s grace is for all the Ninevites in your life!

 

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for loving grace for myself more than for others. Teach me to rejoice when Your mercy triumphs, even when it surprises me. Shape my heart to reflect Yours—gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Amen.

Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Jonah (WATCH HERE)

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“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented…” Jonah 3:10a

The story of Jonah is often remembered for the storm and the great fish. But Jonah 3 is where we witness something far more powerful than miraculous deliverance. Jonah 3 communicates  the transforming power of repentance. A whole city turns from evil, and God responds with mercy. It’s one of the most profound moments of spiritual awakening in Scripture, yet it came from one of the most unlikely places.

After Jonah’s rebellion and rescue, God gives him a second chance:
“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.’” (v.1-2)

This time, Jonah obeys. He enters the massive, wicked city of Nineveh, a city notorious for its violence and idolatry, and delivers a startling message:
“Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (v.4)

There’s no sugarcoating. No lengthy sermon. Just a simple warning of judgment. But what happens next is nothing short of miraculous.

“The Ninevites believed God.” (v.5)

These brutal, pagan people responded with humble faith. From the greatest to the least, they fasted, put on sackcloth, and turned from their evil ways. Even the king rose from his throne, removed his royal robes, and sat in ashes, an outward sign of inward repentance. He issued a decree urging everyone to cry out to God and abandon their violence, hoping that God might show mercy.

And He did.

“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.” (v.10)

This is the power of repentance. True repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin, it’s turning away from it. Repentance is not about empty words but about a change of heart that leads to a change in behavior. And when we turn to God in sincerity and humility, He meets us with grace.

What’s incredible here is how quickly things change. In just a few verses, an entire city moves from wickedness to worship, from impending judgment to divine mercy. That’s how powerful repentance is. It stops judgment in its tracks. It moves the heart of God.

But notice something else: repentance doesn’t start with perfection. The king of Nineveh didn’t pretend they had everything figured out. He simply said, “Who knows? God may yet relent…” (v.9). They didn’t repent because they knew it would work; they repented because it was the only right thing to do. And God honored it.

So often, we avoid repentance because we fear it’s too late, or we’ve gone too far, or God won’t accept us. But Jonah 3 tells us otherwise. No one is beyond God’s mercy, not even Nineveh. Not even us.

God doesn’t delight in punishment. He delights in hearts that turn to Him. The same God who forgave Nineveh is ready to forgive you. No matter how far you’ve wandered, how deep the sin, or how many times you’ve failed, when you turn to God, He will meet you with mercy.

Repentance is powerful not because of what we do, but because of who God is.

Apply: Is there an area in your life where you’ve been resisting God’s call to repent? What might true repentance look like in your heart and actions today? How can you share the hope of God’s mercy with someone who feels beyond saving?

 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You that even when I’ve gone my own way, You call me back with patience and love. Help me to turn from anything that grieves You. Teach me to walk in humility, repentance, and obedience. May my life reflect Your grace and the transforming power of Your forgiveness. Amen.

Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Jonah (WATCH HERE)

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“Salvation comes from the Lord.” — Jonah 2:9b

Have you ever hit rock bottom? That place where all your strength is gone, your plans have crumbled, and you have nothing left to cling to? Jonah knew that place well. In Jonah 2, we find him in the belly of a great fish, a dark, isolated, and suffocating place. Jonah hit bottom. But spiritually, it became a turning point. It was there, in the depths of despair, that Jonah cried out to God. And it’s there we begin to understand that sometimes God allows the pit so He can bring us back to Himself.

Jonah wasn’t just running from Nineveh. He was running from God. The Lord had given him a command, and Jonah chose disobedience. But God loved Jonah too much to let him continue down that path. So He pursued him not with wrath, but with mercy.

That mercy came in the form of a storm and a fish.

Jonah 2 is a prayer offered from the belly of the fish. It is a cry of desperation, a confession of weakness, and, most importantly, a declaration of truth: “Salvation comes from the LORD” (v. 9). In other words, Jonah realized he could not save himself. He had no way out. His intellect, his effort, his escape plan—none of it worked. Only God could rescue him.

This is often how God works. He brings us to the end of ourselves so that we might find the beginning of His grace. The “pit” may not be a fish’s belly for us, but it might be a season of failure, broken relationships, financial ruin, or emotional exhaustion. These dark valleys are not signs that God has abandoned us, rather they are often signs that He is drawing us back.

In verse 2, Jonah says, “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.” Isn’t that amazing? Even in rebellion, God listens. Even when we’ve run far, His ear is not closed to our cries. Jonah was disobedient, but he wasn’t beyond God’s reach. That is good news for all of us.

What’s more, Jonah acknowledges God’s sovereignty over his situation. In verse 3, he says, “You hurled me into the depths… all Your waves and breakers swept over me.” Jonah sees that this wasn’t random. God was at work through discipline to bring Jonah to repentance.

The most pivotal moment comes in verse 6:
“To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.”

Jonah’s rescue wasn’t just physical, it was spiritual. He didn’t just need to be pulled out of the fish; he needed to be pulled out of his pride, his self-righteousness, and his self-reliance. And when he confessed, “Salvation comes from the Lord,” he was finally where God wanted him: humble, surrendered, and dependent.

Wherever you are today, whether in a storm, in a pit, or on solid ground, remember this truth: God’s mercy reaches deeper than your lowest point. He may allow the pit, but He doesn’t abandon you in it. Instead, He uses it to draw you back to Himself.

Remember salvation, deliverance, comes from the LORD!

 

Apply: Have you ever experienced a “pit” moment in life? How did God meet you there?

 

 

Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your mercy meets me even in the deepest places. Thank You for not abandoning me in the pit, but using it to bring me back to You. I confess that I need You. I cannot save myself. Help me to turn from my own way and trust fully in Your salvation. Amen.

Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Jonah (WATCH HERE)

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“But the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.” — Jonah 1:4, NIV

Most of us know what it feels like to run from something we don’t want to do. Maybe it’s a hard conversation, a call to forgiveness, a step of obedience we’d rather avoid. Jonah knew that feeling all too well. God called him to go to Nineveh, a violent, idolatrous city, and preach repentance. Instead, Jonah bought a ticket to Tarshish, the opposite direction.

At first, everything seemed fine. The sea was calm, the ship sturdy, and Jonah was sleeping peacefully below deck. But God wasn’t done with Jonah. He loved Jonah too much to let him run unchecked. So “the Lord sent a great wind” (v. 4). The Lord was going to work for the benefit of Jonah through the storm.

Jonah ran not because he doubted God’s existence, but because he didn’t like God’s plan. Deep down, Jonah knew God was “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Jonah 4:2). He didn’t want mercy for Nineveh.  He wanted to see justice. So he ran.

How could Jonah do that?  How can WE do that?  The Lord directs us to spend time in his Word…we find other things to do.  God calls us to forgive one who harmed us…we avoid them like the plague.  God calls us to obey him and we make excuses.  However, here’s the reality of God.  When we run, He pursues us, not to destroy us, but to restore us. Psalm 139:7 asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” The answer: nowhere. And that’s good news.

Jonah’s storm wasn’t random. It was divine intervention, a wake-up call to remind him that God’s purposes cannot be outrun. The storm was an act of grace, steering Jonah back to the very God he was fleeing.

When the storm hit, the sailors cried out to their gods, throwing cargo overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah slept. While others prayed in panic, Jonah was spiritually numb. The captain shook him awake and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!” (v. 6).

God sometimes uses unexpected circumstances to awaken us. They reveal what we trust in and where our hearts are drifting.

The storm brought Jonah face-to-face with his disobedience. When the sailors cast lots and discovered he was the cause, Jonah didn’t blame anyone else. He admitted, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land” (v. 9). It was as if the storm reminded him who he truly was and whom he truly served.

Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the sea, not as an act of despair, but of surrender. The moment he stopped running, the storm ceased. God wasn’t trying to destroy Jonah; He was preparing his heart to return to him. Even the sailors came to faith, offering sacrifices to the Lord (v. 16).

God often allows storms in life, not out of anger, but love. He uses discomfort to disrupt our disobedience, hardship to awaken our hearts, and consequences to lead us to confession. Like Jonah, we find mercy not by running from God but by returning to Him.

Jonah thought the sea would be his end, but it became his rescue. The great fish wasn’t punishment—it was provision. The same God who sent the storm also sent the salvation.  More on that tomorrow.

Apply: Where might God be calling you to wake up? Maybe it’s in a relationship, an area of pride, a pet sin, or an angry heart. The storm you’re in might not be a sign of God’s anger—it might be His mercy in motion, calling you back.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me enough to interrupt my running.
When I go the wrong direction, send whatever storm it takes to wake me up.
Help me see Your mercy even in the waves, and give me courage to turn back toward You.
Thank You that even in my rebellion, Your grace pursues me and restores me. Amen.

Devotion based on Week 4 of “The Prophets” – Jonah (WATCH HERE)

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Jonah 1:-2 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 

There are very few occupations that run into danger instead of away from it.  For all the men and women of our armed forces, police force, firemen and paramedics, we salute you.  The normal reaction to danger is to move away from it.  The normal reaction to places of crime and nefarious activity is to avoid it.  We are evil averse.  We don’t want to be affected by it or in the middle of it (or at least I don’t.)

So God’s direction to Jonah says a lot about our God.

Where wickedness abounds, he wants his word to be proclaimed.

The LORD wasn’t ready to abandon the wicked city of Nineveh, but give them an opportunity to turn from their wickedness.  We might have given up on them and written them off as “no hope,” but God didn’t.

He wanted his Word to enter the stronghold of wickedness.

So he called Jonah, son of Amittai to do it.

How would you respond to this assignment?  Would you see it as a promotion?  A privilege? A burden or wasted effort?

Jonah…how did he respond?

3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. 

Moving about 2500 miles in the opposite direction, Jonah wanted nothing to do with Nineveh and being the spokesperson for the LORD.

Like receiving a calendar invite from the LORD to go to Nineveh, Jonah quickly clicked “Declined” and created an excuse why he couldn’t do it…he would be 2500 miles away!

I find it easy to look at Jonah and shake my head and say, “Why didn’t you just go?”

What is interesting is Jonah tells us why.

Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee 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

The problem for Jonah wasn’t fear of personal harm.  It wasn’t imposition of time.  It was the power of the grace of God.  He KNEW God would relent from punishing Nineveh if they repented.  He knew the power of the Word.  He knew God wanted to change their hearts.

Yet his heart remained without concern or compassion for the people of Nineveh.

The LORD saw Nineveh as a people he loved and desired to turn from their wickedness and live.  Jonah…just wanted a Sodom and Gomorrah light show destroying Nineveh.

When God tells you to “Go!”, what leads you to say “No!”?

Sure it can be fear, uncertainty, or different priorities, but sometimes it can be because we selfishly don’t want that person or group to hear about grace, forgiveness and the love of God.

Forgive us LORD!

As we have experienced your grace, your love and your forgiveness, let us always be ready to bring that message of repentance and forgiveness to whomever you send us…in our homes, workplaces, school classrooms, or sports field.  Let us not run from your call, but run with your call!

Apply: When have you felt the “nudge” of the Lord to share your faith?  Have you embraced the opportunity or “fled to Tarshish”?  What was going on in your heart that led to your response?

Prayer: Lord, when you say “Go” lead me to take the message of grace and share it with whomever you put in front of me.  AMEN!