Devotionals for June 20, 2023
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READ
Jonah 4:1-10
1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing 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.
3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.
7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.
8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.
11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
REFLECT
This chapter takes place after the well known story of Jonah’s rebellion to God’s direct command followed by a 3 day period of self reflection and repentance in the “belly of a great fish”.
The people of Nineveh, a city state and culture that the Hebrews hated sought genuine repentance at the prophecy of God that Jonah brought to them. God’s depth of mercy knows no bounds and He canceled His judgement on the city. This did not sit well with Jonah so he decided to pout on the beach.
God let Jonah know that he had no right to be angry.
Spending three days in the gastric tract of any animal has to be unimaginably unpleasant. I have heard some theologians speculate that Jonah probably lost all his hair and his skin was bleached because of the exposure to digestive fluids. Jonah’s deposit on the beach by the fish was undoubtedly projectile in nature. Humiliated in appearance, Jonah finally obeyed God when He commanded Jonah to bear witness to the people of Nineveh again. But he hoped God’s judgement would stand and Nineveh would be destroyed.
Rather than experiencing joy in obedience, Jonah chose reluctance and anger. The plant that God provided for shade, He also took away, further humiliating and exposing Jonah to even more pain. Jonah’s reluctance and anger pales his obedience.
We gratefully serve a risen Savior who overcomes us with joy when we live in obedience to Him.
APPLY
Q: Who was God teaching in the book of Jonah? Was it the people of Nineveh, Jonah, or those who read Jonah’s story?
Q: What lessons do we learn about being obedient to God?
Q: When we are obeying God as His witnesses to a fallen world, what does the example of Jonah say to you? Good or bad.
SING
Big Fish - FFH
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Oh Lord, our Redeemer and Friend, we’ve seen the darkness and destructiveness of sin in these present times and embrace the joy, peace, and comfort Your redemption brings. Give us strength, boldness, and desire to bring Your redemption to the world and expand your Kingdom.
READ
Jonah 4:1-10
1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing 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.
3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.
7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.
8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.
11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
REFLECT
This chapter takes place after the well known story of Jonah’s rebellion to God’s direct command followed by a 3 day period of self reflection and repentance in the “belly of a great fish”.
The people of Nineveh, a city state and culture that the Hebrews hated sought genuine repentance at the prophecy of God that Jonah brought to them. God’s depth of mercy knows no bounds and He canceled His judgement on the city. This did not sit well with Jonah so he decided to pout on the beach.
God let Jonah know that he had no right to be angry.
Spending three days in the gastric tract of any animal has to be unimaginably unpleasant. I have heard some theologians speculate that Jonah probably lost all his hair and his skin was bleached because of the exposure to digestive fluids. Jonah’s deposit on the beach by the fish was undoubtedly projectile in nature. Humiliated in appearance, Jonah finally obeyed God when He commanded Jonah to bear witness to the people of Nineveh again. But he hoped God’s judgement would stand and Nineveh would be destroyed.
Rather than experiencing joy in obedience, Jonah chose reluctance and anger. The plant that God provided for shade, He also took away, further humiliating and exposing Jonah to even more pain. Jonah’s reluctance and anger pales his obedience.
We gratefully serve a risen Savior who overcomes us with joy when we live in obedience to Him.
APPLY
Q: Who was God teaching in the book of Jonah? Was it the people of Nineveh, Jonah, or those who read Jonah’s story?
Q: What lessons do we learn about being obedient to God?
Q: When we are obeying God as His witnesses to a fallen world, what does the example of Jonah say to you? Good or bad.
SING
Big Fish - FFH
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Oh Lord, our Redeemer and Friend, we’ve seen the darkness and destructiveness of sin in these present times and embrace the joy, peace, and comfort Your redemption brings. Give us strength, boldness, and desire to bring Your redemption to the world and expand your Kingdom.