Anglican Daily Fountain 12 October 2023 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
TOPIC: GOD IS EVER MERCIFUL
TEXT: Jonah 4:1-11(KJV)
4:1. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
4:2. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
4:3. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4:4. Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
4:5. So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
4:6. And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
4:7. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
4:8. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
4:9. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
4:10. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
4:11. And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Anglican Daily Fountain 12th October 2023 STUDY:
The story of Jonah and his experiences with God concerning the city of Nineveh teaches us as Christians that despite our unfaithfulness, God is ever faithful to His Word and whatever He says concerning any matter must surely come to pass (Isa. 55:11). Jonah exhibited human sinful thoughts by his disobedience to God, which was signs of wickedness because Jonah did not want God to forgive the gentle nation-Nineveh. He maintained that they deserved to be punished by God for their sins (vs 1; Isa.55:7-8).
On the contrary, our God is compassionate over the plight of sinners and readily forgives those repent of their sins, just as the people of Nineveh did when they heard the message of God. Jonah was very happy when God saved him, but angry when Nineveh was saved. This is a lesson for all Christians about God’s mercy and forgiveness. If we obey God’s Word, He will gently lead us. His harsh judgment is reserved for those who persist in rebellion (1 Sam. 15:22-23). What is your attitude towards the wicked? Do you want them destroyed, as Jonah wanted the people of Nineveh destroyed by God? Or do you wish they could experience God’s mercy and forgiveness? God will always work His Will, and He desires that all come to Him, trust in Him and be saved.
PRAYER: God of all mercy and grace, look mercifully unto us your children when we call on You for the forgiveness of our sins in Jesus name. Amen.
