Jonah learns about forgiveness

PART 4 - GOD LOVES SINNERS

So far in this saga we have seen danger, intrigue, escape, storm and miscommunication.  We've seen rebellion and repentance by man and restoration by God.  Now comes the turning point.  Jonah has repented and God has restored him.  Now Jonah has learned that it's just best to do what God says to do.  He has also learned that God's plans will not be cancelled by man.  You see, if God sends you to do something, He has already made a way.  He already knows what will happen.  
     So God gave Jonah a second chance.  Again God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim His word to them.  It took him three days walking to get there.  Jonah completes his task and the entire city repents.  This is great! right?  Jonah disagrees.  He is furious.

In chapter 4 We find Jonah looking for a front row seat so that he can cheer the destruction of Nineveh.  He's sure that God is going to lay it on them pretty soon.  Well, pretty soon being in 40 days.  Symbolic, you say?  Hmmm, I think you're catching on.  Jonah is still waiting for the Lord's vengeance.  He can't imagine that the ENTIRE city would repent.  After all, they were like barbarians.  Jonah knew the nature of God, and so he knew that if God sent him to warn the people, then He was giving them a chance and He would forgive the people of Nineveh if they repented because He is a forgiving kind of God.  After Jonah made the call for repentance, he asked God to let him die.  We are guessing that it was because he felt like a traitor to his own people.  He didn't realize that we are ALL God's people.
     The number 40, which is used in the call for Nineveh to repent, is pretty significant if you remember.  There were big changes associated with that number.  40 days of fasting for Jesus, 40 years in the desert for Moses, 40 days and nights of rain for Noah.  It looks like a representation of change from an ending of one thing to a beginning of another.  (I'm just saying)  40 days is more than a month, so God had a plant to grow by Jonah, which gave him shade. Soon God allowed a worm to eat the plant which caused the plant to die, and Jonah became angrier.  A strong scorching wind came up to top it off, and it became unbearably hot.  Once again Jonah asks for death, but he did not die.  God used the plant both to get Jonah's attention and to teach him a lesson.   God pointed out to Jonah that he had no concern for a great number of people, but he cared about one little plant that he had nothing to do with.  God was teaching Jonah that He cares so much more for people, including gentiles than Jonah cared about the plant and the sadness that Jonah felt over the death of the plant could not compare to the feeling that God has at losing one person. He does not desire that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9)

So what have we learned?
1.  God loves sinners.  He loves us unconditionally.  He may not like our behavior, but he loves us.
2.  God loves Jews and Gentiles.
3.  He considers all of us to be HIS people.
4.  God doesn't want us to perish without knowing Him.
5.  God was so pleased that everyone repented that he withdrew the punishment

God will forgive us, no matter what we have done.  "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) and don't forget, "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but will have eternal life."  (John 3:16)

If you would like to have Jesus as your personal savior and if you would like to know a God who will forgive you and who will love you through your wretchedness and pain, say the sinners prayer with me.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner.  I ask that you would please wash my sins away and come to live in my heart.  Dear Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins.  I believe that  you rose again on the third day and that you now sit on the right hand of God the Father almighty.  Thank you that my eternity is in your hands.  Please walk with me, lead me, help me.  Teach me how to be the person you created me to be, in Jesus name.  Amen.