From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, May 11, 2023 at 6:03 AM
Subject: 5-11-23 THOUGHTS
5-11-23 THOUGHTS
Our Wednesday evening study has caused much thought on the book of Jonah. Jonah is a difficult character to make sense of. He acknowledges below, that his reason for fleeing from God was because he knew God was compassionate and that He would forgive Nineveh and not pursue wrath and judgment if they repented. He allowed his anger to consume him. Jonah demanded his personal pity party. He seemed bent on judgment rather than mercy, even though his God was a merciful God. Jonah asked God to let him die! There’s something wrong here. Twice in the 4th chapter of Jonah, God asked the question, "Do you have good reason to be angry?" I’m reminded of Baalam who prophesied for God, against his own desires to do otherwise. The age old lesson “Hate the sin but love the sinner” seems lost on Jonah.
Jas 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Jas 2:13 For judgment [will be] merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jonah 3:5-10 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7 He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9 "Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Jonah 4:1-4 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 3 "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life." 4 The LORD said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?"
My Prayer:
Father, give us a proper balance in our lives in our attitude toward sin and those who sin. We are all weak and sinful. Teach us to value every soul that we meet. Help us shun sin and teach Jesus and him crucified to remove our sin. May we see as You see, O God. Help us to apply compassion and mercy and love to our world of hate and greed and self-centeredness. We need your help so much dear God. Give us passion to save souls, and compassion as we deal with sin. Sin so easily assails us. Give us the strength and the power of Your word and Spirit as we seek to save our souls and the souls of others. Keep us from foolish anger. In Jesus' blessed name, Amen.