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Compassion on an Assyrian Superpower
God told Jonah to preach to “the great city of Nineveh,” but Jonah ran (and sailed) away in the opposite direction. No doubt he felt justified in avoiding the Assyrians. Assyria reveled in its reputation as a superpower and the terror of its time. Later, Sennacherib would enjoy reminding King Hezekiah that the Assyrians were known as destroyers of nations. Nahum, prophesying against Assyria long after Jonah, described the devastation of Assyria’s conquests as, “Many casualties, piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over the corpses.” Jonah wanted nothing to do with them.
But God chose to show compassion for a city that had plagued His chosen people. Compassion, in fact, seemed to appear everywhere except in Jonah’s heart. Sailors struggling against a violent storm felt responsible for Jonah even after they’d learned that his running from “the God of heaven” was the cause of their trouble. Reluctantly, and with seemingly more fear of God than Jonah the prophet, they threw Jonah overboard to his supposed doom.
One might consider being swallowed by a swimming monster as God’s judgment, but again God’s compassion showed. He provided a miraculous alternative to drowning. Rather than select a new missionary, God gave Jonah a second chance and sent him to help the Assyrians.
What would you do with a second chance from God to reach out beyond your own comfort zone?
Konsènan Plan sa a
What drives you to live beyond yourself, to embrace Jesus’ commission to make disciples of all nations? Jesus reached beyond His own people and calls His followers to do the same. These Bible stories will engage you in God’s vision and reveal what Michael Jordan, an Israelite servant girl, a Samaritan leper and others teach us about our own mission—and being compelled by Christ’s love.
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