Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
Commentary:
4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.
Questions:
Jonah wanted mercy for himself but justice for Nineveh. Yet God's heart was different. He looked at an entire city filled with broken people and responded with compassion when they repented.
Scripture repeatedly teaches that God is merciful and that His people are called to reflect that mercy. Mercy is not excusing sin or pretending wrongdoing doesn't matter. Mercy is choosing compassion over condemnation and trusting God with the final judgment. Jesus even commanded His followers to love their enemies and be merciful just as the Father is merciful. When we refuse mercy, we begin looking less like Christ and more like Jonah.
Scripture repeatedly teaches that God is merciful and that His people are called to reflect that mercy. Mercy is not excusing sin or pretending wrongdoing doesn't matter. Mercy is choosing compassion over condemnation and trusting God with the final judgment. Jesus even commanded His followers to love their enemies and be merciful just as the Father is merciful. When we refuse mercy, we begin looking less like Christ and more like Jonah.
- When people fail, hurt you, or make poor decisions, how do you respond? Do you tend to be critical, impatient, and judgmental, or compassionate and understanding? What does that response reveal about what is happening in your heart?
- Jonah struggled to understand how God's mercy and justice could exist together. How does the cross of Christ demonstrate both God's perfect justice against sin and His incredible mercy toward sinners? Why is it important to hold both truths together?
- Is there someone in your life whom you secretly want God to punish, expose, or bring down instead of restore and redeem? How might God be calling you to pray for that person, show compassion toward them, or trust Him with the outcome instead of holding onto resentment?
Prayer Topics:
- Ask God to soften any harshness that has developed in your heart.
- Praise Him for showing mercy to you when you needed it most.
- Pray that people who seem far from God would encounter His mercy and repent.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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