God is Compassion

Verses: Jonah 3 : 1 - 10

My thoughts about the verses:

I like to compare the event that occurred in Nineveh with what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. There is a big difference between Nineveh and Sodom.  In both situations God had made a determination that the towns both need to be destroyed due to their evil ways.  God wanted to show compassion to both towns by sending someone to deliver the message.  Yet, one decided to heed the warning and the other attacked the messengers.

Lets start with Sodom and what happened.  The angels arrive at Abraham's encampment and they foretell what will happen in Sodom.  They tell him the people have turned wicked and that the city will be destroyed.  It is at that point that Abraham starts negotiating that if only a few people were found not to be wicked that the city would not be destroyed.  The Angels say that they will judge them when they arrive.  They immediately meet Lot who takes them in and shows them hospitality.

Now look at what happens in Nineveh.  The entire city hears the warning that Jonah brings to them.  From the richest to the poorest the city takes the warning.  Even the King turns from his evil ways.  He orders that everyone show God respect by fasting.  They turn from their evil ways and commit themselves to God.

Both were given an opportunity to turn from their ways.  Both were sent messengers that were delivering the word straight from God.  Yet, the difference is that Nineveh heard the warning a changed their ways.  While Sodom lived up to their reputation and showed the strangers no hospitality at all.  They did not change from their wicked ways.

Yet, God showed compassion in both situations.  In Sodom he lived up to his promise to
Abraham and saved those that showed that they were not wicked.  Because Lot had showed the strangers hospitality his family was saved from destruction.  In Nineveh because the whole community accepted the truth presented by Jonah the entire city was saved.

God is Love.  God is not vengeance.  God shows us in both stories that he would rather save the people that destroy the city.  Yet, it is up to us the people to choose God.  When we decide to follow God we receive the compassion and love that God freely offers.  God loves us so much that Jesus was sent to be the last sacrifice.  The compassion of God shows through this.

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for being compassionate. Thank you so much that you have given us the ultimate opportunity to be forgiven by you.  Thank you for loving each one of us.  Dear God we ask that you walk with us each and every day.  Help us understand that you Love us know matter what we have done.  Help us accept you into our life.  In your Holy name we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Have you accepted God into your life?  Are you more like the citizens of Nineveh or Sodom?  Have you realized that you need God?  Are you willing to listen to the messengers that God sends your way? What choice will you make today?