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 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: Com Jonah and the Withered Tree. In our last. 23 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 3: Story, Jonah was appointed to preach to the great and 24 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 3: wicked city of Nineveh. However, Jonah's hatred was deep. He 25 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 3: would not help the people of Nineveh. He wanted them 26 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 3: to perish. So Jonah ran from the will of God 27 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 3: and bordered a ship towards Tarsish. God sent a storm 28 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 3: to catch up to Jonah, and Jonah was taken by 29 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 3: the sea in the deep. He was then swallowed up 30 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 3: by a large fish and remained in its belly for 31 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 3: three days. After crying out to God, Jonah was spat 32 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 3: out onto shore. Now Jonah reluctantly completes his mission to 33 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 3: go and preach repentance to Nineveh. Jonah expects them to 34 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: continue in their wicked ways, but instead comes face to 35 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 3: face with true humility. The wicked nation of Nineveh is 36 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 3: about to display more holiness than the prophet of God himself. 37 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: Inspired by the book of Jonah. 38 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 4: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 39 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year. In our previous episode, we heard 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 4: how Jonah ran from God's call to preach repentance to Nineveh. 41 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 4: He first ran away from God, but then he ran 42 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 4: to God as God reached out and saved him. Though 43 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 4: Jonah's heart was not merciful toward the Ninevites, God's grace 44 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 4: to Jonah in the form of a fish who swallowed 45 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 4: him and kept him from drowning in the sea, was 46 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 4: truly amazing and supernatural. Jonah cried out in praise and 47 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 4: adoration of God, acknowledging that salvation comes only from the Lord. 48 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 4: After three days, the fish vomited, the prophet out safely 49 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 4: onto the land. Today we'll discover how Nineveh responded to 50 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 4: God's word and see if Jonah's heart towards these wicked 51 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 4: people had indeed changed. Let us now hear this remarkable story. 52 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 3: Jonah lay on the beach, exhausted and unable to move. 53 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: He lay with his face towards the sun. He never 54 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 3: thought he would see it again. For three days, he 55 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: was trapped in the belly of an underwater beast. His 56 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 3: garments still smelt of rotten fish, and his skin was 57 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 3: scarred from soaking in stomach acid. Although Jonah was thankful 58 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: to be alive, he was not excited for the journey 59 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 3: ahead there. As Jonah lay on the sand, feeling the 60 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 3: water caress his bare feet. The Lord spoke to him again. 61 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: Rise up, Jonah, go to Ninevah, the massive city inland, 62 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: and tell them that judgment is coming if they do 63 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 3: not turn from their wicked ways. Jonah was still filled 64 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 3: with hatred for Nineveh, but he would not run from 65 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 3: the will of God again, so he picked himself up 66 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 3: and traveled towards Nineveh. He traveled for three days, huffing 67 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 3: and puffing his way to the great city. Ninevah represented 68 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 3: many great nations of Jonah's day. It was hundreds of 69 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: miles long and had massive towers looming over the people below. 70 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 3: Jonah entered the city's gates. Walking the street, he could 71 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: see traders bartering in the alleys. He saw soldiers roughing 72 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: up thieves, and women beckoning young men into their brothels. 73 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,239 Speaker 3: Jonah hated them. He could not fathom such a wicked 74 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 3: and debased people turning from their ways. 75 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 4: They would always be the. 76 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: Same, they would never change. Jonah huffed his way through 77 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: the city streets for an entire day, making his way 78 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 3: towards the main part of the city. Jonah glared at 79 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 3: everyone he saw. He would make his message brief, and 80 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 3: then leave to watch the city burn. Nineveh has forty days, 81 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 3: and forty days only the city shall be overthrown. He 82 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 3: yelled for all to hear. He yelled it for word 83 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 3: to spread, and spread it did. Word immediately reached the 84 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 3: king of Nineveh. What followed was beyond Jonah's comprehension. Jonah 85 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 3: watched as the entire city began to weep. Those short 86 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 3: words struck a collective chord in the heart of Nineveh. 87 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 3: It was almost as if the words of God had 88 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 3: been speaking to them for years, and now all they 89 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 3: needed was a little push. Jonah was amazed as the 90 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 3: culture of Nineveh switched in a matter of hours. People 91 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 3: began to worship God and cover themselves in ash as 92 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 3: a sign of mourning. People fasted and prayed to the 93 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 3: Lord for forgiveness. Brothers who fought reconciled, and past wrongs 94 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 3: were forgiven. The most powerful and the poorest of the 95 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 3: city were repenting, and Jonah could hardly believe it. The 96 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 3: king himself arose from his throne, removed his robe, and 97 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 3: clothed himself in sackcloth as a sign of repentance. He 98 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 3: stood in front of his city and said, by my decree, 99 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 3: let no man or animal eat or drink during this time, 100 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 3: and let us cry out to the Mighty God for forgiveness. 101 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 3: Jonah watched among the crowd as the king spoke. The 102 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: once wicked tyrant of NINEVHS seemed to be broken and humble. 103 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 3: He was a new man, preaching to his people a 104 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 3: message of faith and humility. Let us all turn from 105 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,239 Speaker 3: violence and hatred. Perhaps then God may relent and turn 106 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: his anger away from us. The King's words filled God 107 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: with joy and gladness, yet they filled Jonah with rage 108 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 3: and displeasure. Jonah's blood boiled, and he set his gaze 109 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: towards a hill overlooking the city. He climbed in and 110 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 3: sat on a rock with his arms crossed. There he 111 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 3: waited to see if God would destroy the city. 112 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 4: He did not. 113 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: Jonah threw a stone towards the city. In anger. He 114 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: beat his chest and looked up to God. Do you 115 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 3: know why I fled from you on that boat to Tarshish, 116 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: Jonah asked, accusingly. Because I knew you were loving and 117 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 3: patient and willing to forgive, and I did not want 118 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 3: to see you spare such a wicked people. Jonah raged 119 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 3: in front of God. Is it right for you to 120 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 3: have this anger? God asked gently. A deep anger infected 121 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 3: Jonah's heart. He tired himself out, yelling at God, and 122 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 3: then fell beside a tree. He rested his back against 123 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 3: its trunk and looked up to see it produced wonderful 124 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 3: shade to escape the heat. The tree provided covering in 125 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 3: peace for Jonah's raging mind. He breathed in deeply and 126 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 3: closed his eyes. In that moment, he loved that tree 127 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 3: more than anything else on earth. He let his mind wander, 128 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 3: dreaming over simpler times. The tree enveloped him in shade, 129 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 3: shielding him from the scorching sun above. As Jonah rested 130 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 3: in its arms, he fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. 131 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: That night, the Lord appointed a little servant to visit 132 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 3: Jonah and the tree. A tiny worm was sent by 133 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,479 Speaker 3: God to gnaw the tree's roots under ground. It infected 134 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 3: the tree and caused its leaves to wither and fall. 135 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 3: The once beautiful tree crumbled into itself while Jonah was asleep. 136 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: Morning came and Jonah was awakened by a scorching east wind. 137 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 3: It blew hot air, churning up dust and leaves to 138 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 3: choke Jonah's breath. Jonah stumbled to his feet and looked 139 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 3: up at the tree. His beautiful safe haven was destroyed. 140 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 3: The sun beat down on Jonah's head and his neck 141 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,839 Speaker 3: began to burn. The hot wind made his lips crack, 142 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 3: and the sun was growing more and more hot. Jonah 143 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 3: yelled to the sky and fell to his knees. He 144 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 3: beat his fists at the dusty earth and wept. It 145 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 3: would be better for me to just die, Jonah screamed. 146 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 3: The sun was still beating down on Jonah and he 147 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: missed the tree shade by the second. Are you justified 148 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 3: in your anger about the plant? God asked Jonah. Jonah 149 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 3: glared up at God. Yes, he screeched. Jonah's eyes were 150 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 3: deep red and his breath ow furrowed as he spoke. 151 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 3: I am angry enough to desire death. God replied to Jonah, 152 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 3: this time with more force behind his words. You pity 153 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,719 Speaker 3: this plant for which you did not plant. You did 154 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 3: not help it grow, You did not water it or 155 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 3: care for it. Yet you loved it and wanted it 156 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 3: to live. Should I not care more for Nineveh? It 157 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,719 Speaker 3: is not a plant, but a city with more than 158 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 3: one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know 159 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 3: what is right or wrong? Shouldn't I care more for 160 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 3: them than your precious tree. 161 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 4: In this incredible passage of scripture, Jonah now is back 162 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 4: on dry land. After three days of the belly of 163 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 4: the great fish, Jonah was restored by God so that 164 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 4: he could accomplish the mission the Lord had given him. 165 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 4: But though he was grateful for the Lord's protection of him, 166 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 4: Jonah was still not ready to take a message of 167 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 4: repentance to the Ninovites. He could not understand or see 168 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 4: why God would want to rescue these terrible, gentile people, 169 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 4: these evil people, or how God could deliver salvation to 170 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 4: these people. Jonah was indeed a reluctant prophet, but finally 171 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 4: he began his journey to Nineva. It was not a 172 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 4: small village. It was a major metropolis for the time, 173 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 4: a huge city filled with many people, and the wickedness 174 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 4: was so great that one could only imagine. It was 175 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 4: disgusting to Jonah as he walked from one side of 176 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 4: the city to the other. Giving voice to God's warning, 177 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 4: you have forty days, then Nineveh will fail. He said 178 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 4: it again and again, you have forty days, then Nineveh 179 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 4: will fall. These were dangerous words for a Hebrew prophet 180 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 4: to shout out for all to hear in a very 181 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 4: pagan city, a city known for their evil against their enemies. 182 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 4: Jonah was sure his warnings would fall on deaf ears. 183 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 4: More than that, it seems like he was counting on 184 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 4: it and even wanted it. Unlike God, who desired true 185 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 4: repentance and revival among these people, Jonah wished only to 186 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 4: do his job, sit back and watch God destroy the city. 187 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 4: This is a good time for us to all reflect 188 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 4: upon our heart towards people that are far from God. 189 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 4: Do we have the heart of God to share the 190 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 4: good news of salvation and repentance? Are we willing to 191 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 4: take the message of Jesus Christ to the world, even 192 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 4: though none of us deserve it? As Christians? May we 193 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 4: never be content to keep this good news to ourselves, 194 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 4: But may we always bring the message that God has 195 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 4: given us. God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ. 196 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 4: May we be faithful ambassadors for him. This was the 197 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 4: condition of Jonah's heart as he went through Nineveh declaring 198 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 4: God's impending judgment. But to his amazement, the Ninavites heard 199 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 4: the warning, and they were convicted and the king ordered 200 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:00,080 Speaker 4: the people to fast and mourn. He then called all 201 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 4: the citizens to turn from evil and violence, in hopes 202 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 4: that God would relent and not bring judgment to the city. 203 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 4: God saw the condition and contrition of the Ninavites, he 204 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 4: had mercy on them and spared the city from his wrath. 205 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 4: God did what he always does when people cry out 206 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:23,119 Speaker 4: in repentance and faith. He has mercy and forgiveness available. 207 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 4: But Jonah didn't like it. He was bitter and angry. 208 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 4: He prayed to God, telling him that this was why 209 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 4: I didn't want to come in the first place. In 210 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: Jonah four to two, we hear the words from this 211 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 4: pouting prophet, Jonah, for I knew that you are a 212 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 4: gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in 213 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 4: steadfast love and relenting from danger. Rather than praising God 214 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 4: for his greatness and his grace, Jonah spoke these words 215 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 4: as an accusation. He was angry, he was bitter, but 216 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 4: he even went further. Rather than rejoice in hearts changed 217 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 4: by the power of God and lives spared from destruction, 218 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 4: Jonah asked God to take his life rather than leave 219 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 4: him to see what was happening in Nineveh. It appears 220 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 4: that too often we want justice for others, but mercy 221 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 4: for ourselves. This is, in essence what Jonah wanted. He 222 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 4: wanted God's mercy, but was unwilling to share God's forgiveness 223 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 4: to others. We must always make sure in our own lives, 224 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 4: who have received God's grace and goodness, that we are 225 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 4: open to sharing the Gospel with anyone and everyone. There 226 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 4: is no person too far gone for God to save 227 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 4: when that person repents and receives the Lord Jesus Christ. 228 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 4: God confronted Jonah for his attitude, asking if he felt 229 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 4: justified in his anger. Jonah was too exhausted to respond 230 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 4: or fight, and he fell under a plant to rest. 231 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 4: The plant's leaves gave him shade from the brutal sun, 232 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 4: and he slept. But early in the morning hours, God 233 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 4: sent a worm to eat away at the plant, exposing 234 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 4: Jonah to the sun and wind that beat down upon him. 235 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 4: Once again, Jonah cried out to God, asking to die. 236 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 4: God asked if it was right for him to be angry, 237 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 4: and Jonah said yes, he felt completely justified, and again 238 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 4: he pled to die. But rather than give Jonah his wish, 239 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 4: God mercifully but firmly, like a loving parent who corrects 240 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 4: a spoiled child. Used this to show Jonah why he, 241 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 4: the god that created both the plant and every person 242 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 4: living in Nineveh, cared so much for the one hundred 243 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 4: and twenty thousand souls who needed to be turned to 244 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 4: the Lord. Think about it, an entire city of one 245 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 4: hundred and twenty thousand people revived, repentant, and changed. At 246 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 4: this point, we don't hear Jonah's response or really know 247 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 4: where he went from there. This is no accident. God 248 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 4: shows us in Jonah that we're to care for those 249 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 4: for whom he cares, That we're to love the people 250 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 4: that He loves. That we should always pray, God, give 251 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 4: me a broken heart for broken people. If we are 252 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 4: to follow the heart of God and to share the 253 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,239 Speaker 4: good news of Jesus Christ, his death and burial and resurrection, 254 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 4: we should have a great desire to see people saved. 255 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 4: Dear God, give us a heart like yours to love people. 256 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 4: May we be willing to extend your love and grace 257 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 4: to those who so desperately need you. We ask this 258 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 4: in Jesus's name. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 259 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 4: Bible in a year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 260 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 4: Download thepray dot com app and make Bible study and 261 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 4: prayer the priority of your life. And if you enjoyed 262 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 4: this podcast, share it with someone you love because by 263 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 4: sharing the Word of God, you can make a huge 264 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 4: difference in someone's life. And let me encourage you to 265 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 4: go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham dot 266 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 4: org to find multiple resources, many resources for your Christian 267 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,120 Speaker 4: walk and life. God bless you and have a great day. 268 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative health 269 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 2: care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.