God’s Hide-and-Seek

In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don’t you think I should be concerned about that big city?

Jonah 4:11 (CEV)

Have you ever wondered why we need to care about foolish people? After all, they made poor choices and should suffer the consequences. Why do we need to show them God’s love?

Jonah was one of God’s prophets, and God sent him to preach to his enemies—the Ninevites. Jonah didn’t want to give them God’s message. He wanted them to be punished for the bad things they did. He certainly didn’t want God to forgive them. So, Jonah ran the opposite way to a boat heading far away from Nineveh. God sent a storm that terrified the sailors. Jonah decided it would be better to die so he told them to throw him overboard. But God caused a large fish to swallow him. Once Jonah was released from the fish, he repented and preached to the Ninevites, who changed their ways.

Even then, Jonah was still upset that this all seemed unfair. Why did God care so much about such foolish people? God spoke to Jonah again, trying to get him to understand his concern for all people, including the Ninevites. The book closes with this hanging question, “Don’t you think I should be concerned?”

Whether we are looking for God or trying to run, God continues to have compassion for us and wants us to repent. So, what do you need to release to God today?

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Spiritual gut-check time! Pray and think through these questions to see if you are running from God or running toward him.

• Is there anything you know is wrong that you refuse to stop doing?
• Are there people God has asked you to tell about him, but you haven’t done it?
• Is there anyone you refuse to forgive?

PRAY

God, thank you that I have never gone beyond the reach of your love. Please forgive me.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Please read...

Exodus 34:6–7

Psalm 145:8–9

Luke 6:36

Ephesians 2:4–5

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This devotional was written by Tonia Gutting for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website:www.myherosquad.org.