Year of the Bible: Part Eight of TwelveSample

The Mercy of the LORD will be Extended to the Nations

Culture and context are great tools to have when reading the Bible. Understanding how people lived their lives and the pressures they faced helps us understand a story more clearly. Our perception of the stories we learned in Sunday School can often shift to more relevant applications when we put ourselves in the main character’s shoes.

In Jonah’s case, this prophet had grown up near Nazareth in the northern part of Israel. He was used to international influence on his community. Economically, the north was more prosperous than the southern kingdom, but there were still neighboring people who oppressed the Israelites—the Assyrian Empire was the most prominent in Jonah’s day. These people were ruthless tyrants who impaled people and ruled by terror. Anyone who got in their way had a legitimate reason to be afraid!

Nineveh was located in the Assyrian Empire, so naturally, Jonah likely felt fear at confronting them. But, if we look a little deeper, Jonah probably did not want them to repent. Why? Because if they repented, they would be absolved of any cruelty they had committed against Jonah’s friends and neighbors. God asked Jonah to go tell the Ninevites to repent. Once again, we see His mercy and grace extending to all people. Yet, Jonah did not want mercy for the Assyrians. They were awful and did not deserve mercy.

Mercy is a puzzling concept for humans. We understand it to an extent, but we don’t often extend mercy unless we feel it is deserved. That attitude is in direct conflict with the character of God; He forgives us when we least deserve it. All of us can relate on some level to Jonah’s reluctance to preach mercy to the Assyrians in Nineveh. He wanted justice for them, not mercy. Yet, God used Jonah to extend His mercy to the nations, even the Assyrians!

Question: Do you struggle to extend mercy to those you deem "unworthy?"

Prayer: Ask God to soften your heart so you can offer mercy and forgiveness to those who have mistreated you. Ask the Holy Spirit to equip you to offer mercy.

Special Assignment: Take some time today to pray for the person you find least deserving of mercy.