Concerned with Repentance

In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don’t you think I should be concerned about that big city?

Jonah 4:11 (CEV)

When pop culture portrays God, we often see two stereotypes: a harsh, angry God that can never be satisfied, or a soft, loving one who forgives everything.

Who is the real God?

In the book of Jonah, we get a clearer picture. God speaks to Jonah, a prophet in Israel living among God’s chosen people, and tells him to give the people of Nineveh a message. But Jonah disobeyed. The problem in Jonah’s eyes was that they were Israel’s enemies—wicked people whom Jonah would rather see punished for their many sins.

Jonah tries to run away from the task, but God convinces him to do it. (Think boat in a big storm, Jonah tossed overboard, swallowed by a huge fish.) Jonah obediently preaches about God’s coming wrath. The people of Nineveh repent and God forgives. But then, rather than rejoicing over God’s grace, Jonah gets angry.

We’re left with God’s haunting question to Jonah, “Don’t you think I should be concerned about them?” It hangs there still for us to consider.

So, we see here a very involved God: one who sees the sins of many, and the heart of one. We see a just God who will not let evil continue forever. He wants everyone to repent. And we see a compassionate God who sends a storm, a big fish, and a preacher to save a city and to pursue the stubborn, unrepentant heart.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Although the book of Jonah deals with serious themes, it’s written in a humorous way, dripping with irony. Try reading it aloud this week! Jot down what stands out to you.

INSPIRATION

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

—C.S. Lewis, British professor in the mid-1900s and author of the Narnia series

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Exodus 34:6–7

Psalm 145:8–9

Luke 6:36

Ephesians 2:4–5

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This devotional was written by Tonia Gutting for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.