Oh, Mercy.

Click on the She Shares Truth link to find other great blog posts!

It's Friday once again, which means its 

She Shares Truth day!

I was truly encouraged last week by the She Reads Truth community and cannot wait to learn through the reflections of other posting sisters this week! (I'm planning to share links from some other bloggers this time!)

This weeks challenge from She Reads Truth was to focus on 

Jonah 3 & 4.

(Last week was Jonah 1 & 2...check out my post here)

Let's get started then...

Oh Jonah, I love your story. But, I can't help but getting so frustrated with you each time I study it. Especially in these two chapters. 

Fresh out of the belly of the fish (well, probably not that fresh), Jonah submits to The Lord's command and goes to Nineveh. He called out against the city just as God had told him to do. And the Ninevites did the unthinkable: they repented. 

I mean, the Ninevites were known to be some of the most brutal, immoral, terrifying people (Hence Jonah saying "heck no" to going there at first). Yet, God was able to change their hearts. From the greatest to the least, everyone repented. This was a huge deal. 

Everyone, including the king, fasted and put on sackcloth to show a tangible repentance for their sin. (Read chapter 3 here) 

I loved this part of the King's proclamation of Nineveh:

"...Let everyone turn away from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."

Jonah 3:8b-9

Notice that the king is not 100% confident that God is going to keep them from perishing because of their repentance. After all, they had already been promised punishment for their sin. But, they chose obedience anyway. 

Oh, what an example to follow. To be obedient, while being so unsure of what would happen to them. 
Would I still choose to be obedient to God, even if I thought I was going to experience His wrath anyway?
Sometimes, I chose to be disobedient even though I know that Jesus has already rescued me from the punishment I deserve. I am just so stunned by their repentant, obedient hearts.     

Thankfully, however, the Ninevites indeed learned that God is a loving and merciful God:

"When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it."

Jonah 3:10

This was a fantastic day to be from Nineveh! 
They heard the word they were given from The Lord, repented, and worshiped God. He in turn showed them mercy, not giving them what they deserved.  Can you imagine how much rejoicing and worship there must have been?!?

Praise God! This is the same thing that He does for us! We deserve the worst. But those of us who are in Christ receive mercy and grace instead. 

I wish I could say that Jonah was in the middle of the excitement; worshiping with his new brothers and sisters. However, when we reach chapter 4 we see that he is off to the corner, sulking in his anger. 

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry."

Jonah 4:1

Jonah was mad that the God who had shown mercy to him, did the same for a group of people that he didn't really like. Jonah goes on to have a bit of a sass mouth (I couldn't think of a more eloquent way to say it) towards God in the next two verses.

Jonah was angry because his own will and desires did not prevail. 

Instead, God's will did.

Jonah would have rather seen the Ninevites suffer for their sin, than repent and receive salvation. Oh, I get so frustrated with Jonah's stubbornness. 

But, I have to stop and think: Do I ever do the same thing that Jonah did? Do I ever find myself having a hissy fit when I things don't go the way that I think that they should? (Hint: the answer is yes.)

It's so easy for me to read these chapters and find myself more focused on Jonah's sin and selfishness than the greater picture it's trying to convey: God's mercy.

Even after Jonah get's angry with God for showing the people of Nineveh for forgiveness, God still continues to show Jonah mercy though he continued in his selfishness. Instead of giving him the punishment he deserves. 

God does the same for me. 
And I am so thankful, and so dependent on that truth. Even when I behave like Jonah He is willing to forgive me. 
I'm thankful that Jesus took the punishment that I deserve, so that I can experience this same mercy that God shows throughout the book of Jonah. 

As I said earlier, I wanted to share some of my favorite blog posts that other She Reads Truth bloggers have written this week!
Here are some great one to check out:

• Our Yellow Door//Ridiculous Grace||Thoughts on Jonah 
• Graces Rays//Who Knows? (<<<<Best friend alert!)
• Frankly My Dear//Wednesday In The Word {Jonah Part 2}