1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and should not I spare Nineveh, that 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: great city wherein are more than six score thousand persons 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 1: and also much cattle Jonah four eleven. Lord, protect my 5 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: heart from casting judgment on others who may not be 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: where I am in life. Lead my thoughts and my 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: heart in the direction of your grace. When I feel 8 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: angry and upset because others seem to be receiving blessings 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: and grace even though they may be living counter culture 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: to your word, help me to realize that even in 11 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: our brokenness, you still have a plan of redemption. As 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: I listen to Jonah expose his prideful heart, I have 13 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: decided to continue to live in humility, understanding that I 14 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: am only one bad decision away from needing the same 15 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: grace that Nineveh received. Because of this, I declare that 16 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: I will not allow the worm of sin and despair 17 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: to eat away at the shaded protection of God's grace 18 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: for those who are in need of it. Thank you 19 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: for second chances, Lord in Jesus name, Amen, Thank you 20 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 21 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: Com Jonah and the Withered Tree. In our last story, 23 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: Jonah was appointed to preach to the great and wicked 24 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: city of Nineveh. However, Jonah's hatred was deep. He would 25 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: not help the people of Nineveh. He wanted them to perish. 26 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: So Jonah ran from the will of God and bordered 27 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: a ship towards Tarsish. God sent a storm to catch 28 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: up to Jonah, and Jonah was taken by the sea 29 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: in the deep. He was then swallowed up by a 30 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: large fish and remained in its belly for three days. 31 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: After crying out to God, Jonah was spat out onto shore. 32 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: Now Jonah reluctantly completes his mission to go and preach 33 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: repentance to Nineveh. Jonah expects them to continue in their 34 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: wicked ways, but instead comes face to face with true humility. 35 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 2: The wicked nation of Nineveh is about to display more 36 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: holiness than the prophet of God himself. Inspired by the 37 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: book of Jonah. 38 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 39 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our previous episode, we heard 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 3: how Jonah ran from God's call to preach repentance to Nineveh. 41 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 3: He first ran away from God, but then he ran 42 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 3: to God as God reached out and saved him. Though 43 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 3: Jonah's heart was not merciful toward the Ninevites, God's grace 44 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 3: to Jonah in the form of a fish who swallowed 45 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: him and kept him from drowning in the sea, was 46 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 3: truly amazing and supernatural. Jonah cried out in praise and 47 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: adoration of God, acknowledging that salvation comes only from the Lord. 48 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 3: After three days, the fish vomited, the prophet out safely 49 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 3: onto the land. Today, we'll discover how Nineveh responded to 50 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 3: God's word and see if Jonah's heart towards these wicked 51 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: people had indeed changed. Let's now hear this remarkable story. 52 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: Jonah lay on the beach, exhausted and unable to move. 53 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: He lay with his face towards the sun. He never 54 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: thought he would see it again. For three days, he 55 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: was trapped in the belly of an underwater beast. His 56 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: garments still smelt of rotten fish, and his skin was 57 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: scarred from soaking in stomach acid. Although Jonah was thankful 58 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 2: to be alive, he was not excited for the journey 59 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: ahead there. As Jonah lay on the sand, feeling the 60 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 2: water caress his bare feet. The Lord spoke to him again. 61 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: Rise up, Jonah, go to Ninevah, the massive city inland, 62 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: and tell them that judgment is coming if they do 63 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 2: not turn from their wicked ways. Jonah was still filled 64 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: with hatred for Nineveh, but he would not run from 65 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: the will of God again, so he picked himself up 66 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: and traveled towards Nineveh. He traveled for three days, huffing 67 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: and puffing his way to the great city. Ninevah represented 68 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: many great nations of Jonah's day. It was hundreds of 69 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: miles long and had massive towers looming over the people below. 70 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: Jonah entered the city's gates. Walking the street, he could 71 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: see traders bartering in the alleys. He saw soldiers roughing 72 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: up thieves, and women beckoning young men into their brothels. 73 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,239 Speaker 2: Jonah hated them. He could not fathom such a wicked 74 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: and debased people turning from their ways. 75 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 3: They would always be the. 76 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: Same, they would never change. Jonah huffed his way through 77 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: the city streets for an entire day, making his way 78 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 2: towards the main part of the city. Jonah glared at 79 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: everyone he saw. He would make his message brief, and 80 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 2: then leave to watch the city burn. Nineveh has forty days, 81 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: and forty days only the city shall be overthrown. He 82 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: yelled for all to hear. He yelled it for word 83 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: to spread, and spread it did. Word immediately reached the 84 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 2: king of Nineveh. What followed was beyond Jonah's comprehension. Jonah 85 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 2: watched as the entire city began to weep. Those short 86 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: words struck a collective chord in the heart of Nineveh. 87 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 2: It was almost as if the words of God had 88 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: been speaking to them for years, and now all they 89 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 2: needed was a little push. Jonah was amazed as the 90 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: culture of Nineveh switched in a matter of hours. People 91 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: began to worship God and cover themselves in ash as 92 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: a sign of mourning. People fasted and prayed to the 93 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 2: Lord for forgiveness. Brothers who fought reconciled, and past wrongs 94 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 2: were forgiven. The most powerful and the poorest of the 95 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 2: city were repenting, and Jonah could hardly believe it. The 96 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: king himself arose from his throne, removed his robe, and 97 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: clothed himself in sackcloth as a sign of repentance. He 98 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: stood in front of his city and said, by my decree, 99 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: let no man or animal eat or drink during this time, 100 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: and let us cry out to the Mighty God for forgiveness. 101 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 2: Jonah watched among the crowd as the king spoke. The 102 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 2: once wicked tyrant of NINEVHS seemed to be broken and humble. 103 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: He was a new man, preaching to his people a 104 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: message of faith and humility. Let us all turn from 105 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,239 Speaker 2: violence and hatred. Perhaps then God may relent and turn 106 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: his anger away from us. The King's words filled God 107 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: with joy and gladness, yet they filled Jonah with rage 108 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: and displeasure. Jonah's blood boiled, and he set his gaze 109 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: towards a hill overlooking the city. He climbed in and 110 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: sat on a rock with his arms crossed. There he 111 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: waited to see if God would destroy the city. He 112 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: did not. Jonah threw a stone towards the city. In anger. 113 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: He beat his chest and looked up to God. Do 114 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: you know why I fled from you on that boat 115 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 2: to Tarshish, Jonah asked, accusingly. Because I knew you were 116 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: loving and patient and willing to forgive, and I did 117 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: not want to see you spare such a wicked people. 118 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: Jonah raged in front of God. Is it right for 119 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: you to have this anger? God asked gently. A deep 120 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: anger infected Jonah's heart. He tired himself out, yelling at God, 121 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: and then fell beside a tree. He rested his back 122 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: against its trunk and looked up to see it produced 123 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: wonderful shade to escape the heat. The tree provided covering 124 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: in peace for Jonah's raging mind. He breathed in deeply 125 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: and closed his eyes. In that moment, he loved that 126 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: tree more than anything else on earth. He let his 127 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: mind wander, dreaming over simpler times. The tree enveloped him 128 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: in shade, shielding him from the scorching sun above. As 129 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: Jonah rested in its arms, he fell into a deep 130 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 2: and peaceful sleep. That night, the Lord appointed a little 131 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: servant to visit Jonah and the tree. A tiny worm 132 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 2: was sent by God to gnaw the tree's roots under ground. 133 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: It infected the tree and caused its leaves to wither 134 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: and fall. The once beautiful tree crumbled into itself while 135 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: Jonah was asleep. Morning came and Jonah was awakened by 136 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 2: a scorching east wind. It blew hot air, churning up 137 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: dust and leaves to choke Jonah's breath. Jonah stumbled to 138 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: his feet and looked up at the tree. His beautiful 139 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 2: safe haven was destroyed. The sun beat down on Jonah's 140 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 2: head and his neck began to burn. The hot wind 141 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 2: made his lips crack, and the sun was growing more 142 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: and more hot. Jonah yelled to the sky and fell 143 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 2: to his knees. He beat his fists at the dusty 144 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: earth and wept. It would be better for me to 145 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: just die, Jonah screamed. The sun was still beating down 146 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 2: on Jonah and he missed the tree shade by the second. 147 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 2: Are you justified in your anger about the plant? God 148 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: asked Jonah. Jonah glared up at God. Yes, he screeched. 149 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: Jonah's eyes were deep red and his breath ow furrowed 150 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 2: as he spoke. I am angry enough to desire death. 151 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 2: God replied to Jonah, this time with more force behind 152 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 2: his words. You pity this plant for which you did 153 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: not plant. You did not help it grow, You did 154 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: not water it or care for it. Yet you loved 155 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: it and wanted it to live. Should I not care 156 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: more for Nineveh? It is not a plant, but a 157 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: city with more than one hundred and twenty thousand people 158 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: who do not know what is right or wrong? Shouldn't 159 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: I care more for them than your precious tree. 160 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 3: In this incredible passage of scripture, Jonah now is back 161 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 3: on dry land. After three days of the belly of 162 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 3: the great fish, Jonah was restored by God so that 163 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 3: he could accomplish the mission the Lord had given him. 164 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 3: But though he was grateful for the Lord's protection of him, 165 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 3: Jonah was still not ready to take a message of 166 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: repentance to the Ninovites. He could not understand or see 167 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 3: and why God would want to rescue these terrible, gentile people, 168 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 3: these evil people, or how God could deliver salvation to 169 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 3: these people. Jonah was indeed a reluctant prophet, but finally 170 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 3: he began his journey to Ninevah. It was not a 171 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 3: small village. It was a major metropolis for the time, 172 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 3: a huge city filled with many people, and the wickedness 173 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 3: was so great that one could only imagine. It was 174 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 3: disgusting to Jonah as he walked from one side of 175 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 3: the city to the other. Giving voice to God's warning, 176 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 3: you have forty days, then Ninevah will fail. He said 177 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 3: it again and again, you have forty days then Ninevah 178 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 3: will fall. These were dangerous words for a Hebrew prophet 179 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 3: to shout out for all to hear in a very 180 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 3: pagan city, a city known for their evil against their enemies. 181 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 3: Jonah was sure his warnings would fall on deaf ears. 182 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 3: More than that, it seems like he was counting on 183 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: it and wanted it. Unlike God, who desired true repentance 184 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 3: and revival among these people, Jonah wished only to do 185 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 3: his job, sit back and watch God destroy the city. 186 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 3: This is a good time for us to all reflect 187 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 3: upon our heart towards people that are far from God. 188 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 3: Do we have the heart of God to share the 189 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 3: good news of salvation and repentance? Are we willing to 190 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 3: take the message of Jesus Christ to the world, even 191 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 3: though none of us deserve it? As Christians? May we 192 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 3: never be content to keep this good news to ourselves, 193 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 3: But may we always bring the message that God has 194 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 3: given us. God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ. 195 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 3: May we be faithful ambassadors for him. This was the 196 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 3: condition of Jonah's heart as he went through Nineveh declaring 197 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 3: God's impending judgment. But to his amazement, the Ninevites heard 198 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 3: the warning, and they were convicted, and the king ordered 199 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 3: the people to fast and mourn. He then called all 200 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 3: the citizens to turn from evil and violence, in hopes 201 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 3: that God would relent and not bring judgment to the city. 202 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 3: God saw the condition and contrition of the Ninavites, He 203 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: had mercy on them and spared the city from his wrath. 204 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,719 Speaker 3: God did what he always does when people cry out 205 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:23,119 Speaker 3: in repentance in faith. He has mercy and forgiveness available. 206 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 3: But Jonah didn't like it. He was bitter and angry. 207 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 3: He prayed to God, telling him that this was why 208 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 3: I didn't want to come in the first place. In 209 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: Jonah four to two, we hear the words from this 210 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 3: pouting prophet, Jonah, for I knew that you are a 211 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 3: gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in 212 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 3: steadfast love and relenting from danger. Rather than praising God 213 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: for his greatness and his grace, Jonah spoke these words 214 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,719 Speaker 3: as an accusation. He was angry, he was bitter, but 215 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 3: he even went further. Rather than rejoice in hearts changed 216 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 3: by the power of God and lives spared from destruction, 217 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 3: Jonah asked God to take his life rather than leave 218 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 3: him to see what was happening in Nineveh. It appears 219 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 3: that too often we want justice for others, but mercy 220 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 3: for ourselves. This is, in essence, what Jonah wanted. He 221 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 3: wanted God's mercy, but was unwilling to share God's forgiveness 222 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 3: to others. We must always make sure in our own lives, 223 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 3: who have received God's grace and goodness, that we are 224 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 3: open to sharing the Gospel with anyone and everyone. There 225 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 3: is no person too far gone for God to save 226 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 3: when that person repents and receives the Lord Jesus Christ. 227 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 3: God confronted Jonah for his attitude, asking if he felt 228 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 3: justified in his anger. Jonah was too exhausted to respond 229 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 3: or fight, and he fell under a plant to rest. 230 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: The plant's leaves gave him shade from the brutal sun, 231 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: and he slept. But early in the morning hours, God 232 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 3: sent a worm to eat away at the plant, exposing 233 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 3: Jonah to the sun and wind that beat down upon him. 234 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 3: Once again, Jonah cried out to God, asking to die. 235 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 3: God asked if it was right for him to be angry, 236 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 3: and Jonah said yes, he felt completely justified, and again 237 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 3: he pled to die. But rather than give Jonah his 238 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 3: wish God mercifully but firmly, like a loving parent who 239 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 3: corrects a spoiled child, used this to show Jonah why he, 240 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: the God that created both the plant and every person 241 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 3: living in Nineveh, cared so much for the one hundred 242 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 3: and twenty thousand souls who needed to be turned to 243 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 3: the Lord. Think about it, an entire city of one 244 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: hundred and twenty thousand people revived, repentant, and changed. At 245 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 3: this point, we don't hear Jonah's response or really know 246 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 3: where he went from there. This is no accident. God 247 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 3: shows us in Jonah that we're to care for those 248 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 3: for whom He cares, that we're to love the people 249 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 3: that He loves. That we should always pray. God, give 250 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 3: me a broken heart for broken people. If we are 251 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: to follow the heart of God and to share the 252 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,239 Speaker 3: good news of Jesus Christ, his death and burial and resurrection, 253 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 3: we should have a great desire to see people saved. 254 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 3: Dear God, give us a heart like yours to love people. 255 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 3: May we be willing to extend your love and grace 256 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 3: to those who so desperately need you. We ask this 257 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 3: in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 258 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 259 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 3: Download thepray dot com app and make Bible study and 260 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 3: prayer the priority of your life. And if you enjoyed 261 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love because by 262 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 3: sharing the Word of God, you can make a huge 263 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 3: difference in someone's life. And let me encourage you to 264 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 3: go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham dot 265 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 3: org to find multiple resources as many resources for your 266 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 3: Christian walk and life. God bless you and have a 267 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 3: great day.