Who are your Enemies? Jonah 4:1-11 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 (Israel)? 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. ...... Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, because he did not want God to show mercy to them, since they were enemies of Israel. In Jonahs mind, it would be better for Israel and him if they just died. 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? 5 Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city.(after he preached to them) 6 So the LORD God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant. ....... It seems that Jonah is like a lot of Born Again Believers in this day and age. As long as our life is comfortable, then we rejoice and are happy, even if others, we consider evil, are going to Hell. 7 But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered. 8 When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonahs head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, Death is better to me than life......... So God made Jonah uncomfortable to make a point to him, about all the people and animals, in Nineveh. 9 Then God said to Jonah, Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant? And he said, I have good reason to be angry, even to death. 10 Then the LORD said, You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 11 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?........ God wanted Jonah to realize that we battle not against people, even those we think are wicked! Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. God is showing Jonah, that His Compassion and Love is for all people, even those that we might consider our enemies, even those we think are evil. And even though we might not admit it, we would not mind seeing our enemies die unsaved, and get what we think is a just punishment, for all of what they have done. But Gods Love is so much more perfect than ours, His Compassion so much greater than ours, His Mercy so much deeper than ours. And He wants none to perish! 2 Peter 3:7-9 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Jesus is coming soon for His Body/Bride, I believe that God, Out of His Great Love, is waiting and giving people around the world more time, more time and more chances to get Saved. But do not wait too long, because One Day, the door will close on the Body of Christ and Tribulation will begin. **** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, tells you the Pure Gospel of Grace for Your Salvation **** https://youtube/watch?v=KFTE2iLqS-o
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:34:56 +0000
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