Luba and I were talking about the war in Ukraine last night. We come across or are sent such evil reports, but both came to the same conclusion: Why spend time checking its validity or even bother sharing?
Shock and horror are emotional triggers. We need to sift through the dross and find and share the testimonies of God’s greatness. Of God working through people. #SpeakLife, bring light, uplift, and build.
Which got us talking about Jonah and Nineveh. I could never really understand the connection… I mean, Nineveh was at least 3 days by fish away from where Jonah resided… but for context, Nineveh featured more than a few times in the old testament. It was considered by many as the greatest city of the time period. It had massive temples to Ishtar, and its debauchery was well documented by historians. It was a city with roots over 5,000 years old (and still exists in modern-day Mosul, Iraq)
But why was Jonah so negative? What was the connection to Nineveh?
I’ll tell you… the Israelites knew how to keep a grudge! About three hundred years prior Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem because Hezekiah refused to submit to him.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”
(2 Chronicles 32:7,8, NIV)
Long story short, God sent an angel that annihilated the fighting men after the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah cried out to God in prayer (v20)
So back to Jonah…
Nineveh… it was literally the symbol for all that was wrong with the world. And after literally A THOUSAND YEARS of evil, God said: Ok, I’ve had enough. But fair chance, I will send Jonah with one last warning.
And we all know how that ended. The King heard, the people heard, all repented and went into mourning and fasting and prostrating themselves before God. and Jonah was MIFFED!
That boy was not happy!
“…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…”
(Jonah 4:2, NIV)
And this is the crux of it all.
No matter what I have done…
No matter what my story is or the dark places my history wandered through,
God is not just willing, but eager to forgive.
To open his arms and welcome me back. Ready to rebuild the relationship. Ready to wipe the slate clean and start again…
…and that is the story… that is what is important.
