When I read these two verses in the Book of Jonah, I learned two important lessons:
1. That some of the unusual ways that God uses in order for us to see our sins is the use of other people. He did this because most of the time we don't bother ourselves on the sins that we did against Him. Also, God uses people to show us our sins because He wants to give us a chance to repent. According to Psalm 86:15, the Lord is slow to anger, compassionate, abounding in love, and faithful. Numbers 14:8 adds to this list, forgiving sins and rebellion. This is who God is!
Unfortunately, people don't bother about this. Rather, they continue to ignore God, and continue to follow their selfish desires. Galatians 5:19-21 enumerate the fleshly desires of every man who is controlled by sinfulness.
Yet despite of this, God helps us see what we've done against Him by sending people to our lives. They show us where we sinned against God; they reveal to us our weaknesses that need to be surrendered to God; they unravel the deep secrets of our sinfulness. Aside from Jonah, God also did this in King David's life through the Prophet Nathan. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and ordered the death of Uria, Bathsheba's husband. King David kept this as a secret; but nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. Thus, He sent Prophet Nathan to rebuke King David, and that, he might turn away from his sins, and come to God in repentance. And this happened.
In the same way, we too experienced this blessing from God. Since He does not want us to suffer from His wrath, He sent forth people to show us our sinfulness so that we might come to Him in repentance, and accept His forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. He did this to give us life since the payment for sins is death (Romans 6:23).
2. That our wealth, power, fame, or successes cannot save us from God's wrath because of sins. If we try to look at the verses in Jonah, you see that regardless of the richness of the city of Nineveh, God's wrath is still upon them. The city of Nineveh is a flourishing city of the Assyrian Empire (Wikipedia). But despite their wealth, fame and power, they were still subject to God's wrath because of their sinfulness. You may click on this link,http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/3403.htm, to learn the greatness of Nineveh's sinfulness, However, if you try to look at the entire book of Jonah, you will see God's mercy towards its inhabitants. In fact, this is the very theme of Jonah's book, i.e. God's plan to save Nineveh from His wrath. Likewise, you will also see how God's heart was changed when Nineveh repented from their sins. This is what God will do for those who will come to Him in repentance. Repentance means "turning away from sins."
Regardless of who you are or what you are, God will forgive you from your sins when you come to Him in repentance. However, regardless of who you are or what you are, God will judge you and destroy you in His perfect time because of your sins.
Useful Links:
1. That some of the unusual ways that God uses in order for us to see our sins is the use of other people. He did this because most of the time we don't bother ourselves on the sins that we did against Him. Also, God uses people to show us our sins because He wants to give us a chance to repent. According to Psalm 86:15, the Lord is slow to anger, compassionate, abounding in love, and faithful. Numbers 14:8 adds to this list, forgiving sins and rebellion. This is who God is!
Unfortunately, people don't bother about this. Rather, they continue to ignore God, and continue to follow their selfish desires. Galatians 5:19-21 enumerate the fleshly desires of every man who is controlled by sinfulness.
Yet despite of this, God helps us see what we've done against Him by sending people to our lives. They show us where we sinned against God; they reveal to us our weaknesses that need to be surrendered to God; they unravel the deep secrets of our sinfulness. Aside from Jonah, God also did this in King David's life through the Prophet Nathan. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and ordered the death of Uria, Bathsheba's husband. King David kept this as a secret; but nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. Thus, He sent Prophet Nathan to rebuke King David, and that, he might turn away from his sins, and come to God in repentance. And this happened.
In the same way, we too experienced this blessing from God. Since He does not want us to suffer from His wrath, He sent forth people to show us our sinfulness so that we might come to Him in repentance, and accept His forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. He did this to give us life since the payment for sins is death (Romans 6:23).
2. That our wealth, power, fame, or successes cannot save us from God's wrath because of sins. If we try to look at the verses in Jonah, you see that regardless of the richness of the city of Nineveh, God's wrath is still upon them. The city of Nineveh is a flourishing city of the Assyrian Empire (Wikipedia). But despite their wealth, fame and power, they were still subject to God's wrath because of their sinfulness. You may click on this link,http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/3403.htm, to learn the greatness of Nineveh's sinfulness, However, if you try to look at the entire book of Jonah, you will see God's mercy towards its inhabitants. In fact, this is the very theme of Jonah's book, i.e. God's plan to save Nineveh from His wrath. Likewise, you will also see how God's heart was changed when Nineveh repented from their sins. This is what God will do for those who will come to Him in repentance. Repentance means "turning away from sins."
Regardless of who you are or what you are, God will forgive you from your sins when you come to Him in repentance. However, regardless of who you are or what you are, God will judge you and destroy you in His perfect time because of your sins.
Useful Links:
- Justified Sinners by Pastor Carmelo Caparros
- The Sovereignty of God and the Sin of the Believer by Pastor John Piper
- When Mercy Obliterates Unrighteousness by John Calvin
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