Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons … as well as many animals? [Jonah 4:11 NASB]
Jonah is an interesting prophet. His story in brief is one of a man who hears the voice of God yet does not really like what he hears. He is a conundrum of sorts. In this verse God calls him to account for his lack of compassion and feeling for the people, and even the animals, of Nineveh.
In some sense we are like Jonah. We proclaim John 3:16. We speak of a God who loves the world. Then we show so little compassion for those who are not like us. In this sense Nineveh represents the Muslim person. The gay neighbor. The coworker of a different race. Ones who God loves.
Nineveh turned to God as Jonah preached to them. Despite the prophets bad attitude God worked in that city. Jonah is us. We are Jonah. God sometimes works in our neighbors even when we reek of bad attitudes and behaviors. Would that we, like God, respond with compassion toward the world.
Like Nineveh, we repent Lord. Help us to see the world with eyes of compassion.
... this devotion is part of the z2a bible words series.
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