Jonah is a satirical book. Jonah first refuses God’s calling, then repents in the fish’s stomach, and later preaches a slapdash sermon with only a few words to the evil Assyrians in Nineveh. As people respond in repentance, Jonah whines about God’s grace for Israel’s inimical enemy. Reading Jonah’s story will confront us with this provocative question: Do you know that God’s compassion is also meant for non-believers?
ICA
Day 1
Scripture: Jonah 1
Blessed Forgiveness
The storm was getting worse…Jonah said, “Throw me overboard into the sea…it’s all my fault…I’m the cause of the storm.”
Jonah 1:12 (MSG)
Here Jonah is confessing his sin of disobeying the Lord and taking a step in the opposite direction. His honesty resulted in God acting on his behalf. The storm died down – “He [God] assigned a huge fish to swallow Jonah” and this miracle preserved his life.
God requires sincerity, honesty and openness. We dare not cover up or excuse. Simply, we acknowledge that we have sinned and deserve God’s judgement. We turn from our sin, confess it and God forgives! We will be free then to make a new start, just as though we had never committed a single sin.
Prayer
How can we thank You Lord, for Your great mercy! Lord, I open up my whole heart and life. I cover nothing. I offer no excuse. I simply trust You to forgive. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Day 2
Scripture: Jonah 2
God Listens and Redeems You
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice
Jonah 2:1-2 (ESV)
And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Jonah 2:10 (ESV)
Jonah was on the run from God. He refused to obey God and was tossed into the sea. The raging sea grew calm after Jonah was thrown overboard. Jonah realized he must submit to God. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God for deliverance. Even though Jonah was disobedient towards God, as soon as he repented and prayed, God heard and responded. God heard Jonah’s repentant cry, answered, and saved him.
You might be in the same situation as Jonah, seeking to hide your secrets and turning away from God until you face a problem that you cannot fix. As God listened and redeemed Jonah, God wants to do the same for you! God wants you to rely on Him, and to trust Him. Accept God’s offer of grace today by placing your faith in Him and submitting to His will for your life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your unfailing love. Please help us to spend time with You, to learn from You, and to understand You, so that we can continue to grow closer to You. Lord, show us how to be humble of heart like You. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.
Day 3
Scriptures: Jonah 3, Jonah 4
A Tale of Two Unwritten Repentances
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:40-41 (ESV)
And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Jonah 3:5 (ESV)
The book of Jonah began with a calling and ended with a question of motives. After Jonah’s rebirth through repentance and baptism from the depths of the sea, he received a second chance to testify to Gentiles who were considered his enemies. His old self died hard. The sign of his “resurrection” was so striking that the unbelieving Gentiles believed, repented, fasted and prayed; their downfall was spared.
This short book contains a number of “great” experiences, but the focus is on God’s great compassion. If God rescued the disobedient Jonah from the depths of the sea for the sake of the Ninevites, how much more should we consider Jesus’ obedience on the cross and His resurrection from the depths of the earth for the sake of all mankind. Or that He commissioned His disciples to preach the Good News to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8)?
Prayer
Abba, sorry for our pride and prejudice towards people, for our caring more for matters of this life that hinder the sharing of Your goodness and Gospel. We earnestly pray for those still in need of salvation, for them to experience the Power of Your Resurrection. Thank You, Abba.