Grace: God's Grace to Ninevah

[bcbsr]

God's Grace to Ninevah

The book of Jonah is a story of God's grace which extends to the world. Jonah hated the Assyrians, the capital being Ninevah. They were idolators and wicked people and oppressed Israel. In fact God commanded Jonah, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Jonah 1:2

But Jonah knew how gracious God was. And he didn't want God to be gracious to them. He was afraid that they would repent and God would forgive them. So he ran away. Later when God strongly influenced him (shall we say?) to go back and preach to the city, indeed they repented and God forgave them. At this Jonah said, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."Jonah 4:2

If people repent it seems there's no limit to God's graciousness. So let us be of the same spirit.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

If people repent it seems there's no limit to God's graciousness. So let us be of the same spirit.

HalleluYAH !

As also written: Yahweh, the Sovereign Almighty Who Alone Creates Life and is Eternally Present,
Yahweh GIVES (freely, yet at the cost of His Son Crucified) , so Precious,
GRACE to the humble, help in time of need.

 

[splish- splash]

God's Grace to Ninevah

The book of Jonah is a story of God's grace which extends to the world. Jonah hated the Assyrians, the capital being Ninevah. They were idolators and wicked people and oppressed Israel. In fact God commanded Jonah, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Jonah 1:2

But Jonah knew how gracious God was. And he didn't want God to be gracious to them. He was afraid that they would repent and God would forgive them. So he ran away. Later when God strongly influenced him (shall we say?) to go back and preach to the city, indeed they repented and God forgave them. At this Jonah said, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."Jonah 4:2

If people repent it seems there's no limit to God's graciousness. So let us be of the same spirit.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

Jonah was quite a character. How could he even think like that? Anyways this shows The Lord loves us all equally.

 

[royal priest]

So he ran away. Later when God strongly influenced him (shall we say?)

Are you suggesting God violated Jonah's free will?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

The grace of God was shown toward the Ninevites was in sending Jonah to warn them of the destruction of their city in 40 days. Jonah knew God well enough to know that if the Ninevites took God's warning seriously and repented of their wickedness, God would spare the city, and Jonah didn't want that, and that was his motive for running away. God's intention of warning the Ninevites was to give them the opportunity to repent.

Some say that God went back on His word by not bringing the prophecy to pass. But it was more of a warning than a hard and fast prophecy, and when the Ninevites repented, God's purpose in giving the warning was fulfilled.

God gives some pretty scary warnings at times, and this shows His grace, because when all else fails, a good scare is likely to do the trick and to shock the person into repentance. That's what happened to me when I was first introduced to the gospel. The prospect of millions of people disappearing in the Rapture and me being left behind spooked me enough to listen carefully to what I was being told, and to seriously consider receiving Jesus as my Saviour.

Some people oppose the idea of being brought into the Kingdom of God through fear; but if a fearful warning is the only thing that might succeed, then why not? When the person is converted and realises that God is a God of grace and mercy, fear gives way to wonder, adoration, worship, and praise.

 

[bcbsr]

Are you suggesting God violated Jonah's free will?

Are you suggested that God punishing the disobedient violates the free will?

 

[royal priest]

Are you suggested that God punishing the disobedient violates the free will?

I was being facetious, bit since you asked, I would say yes. No one wants to be punished. More often than not, a parent needs to drag or carry their child to the powder room against the child's will.
In Jonah's case, we see that we can do only what the Lord has determined for us to do. Jonah planned his way, but the Lord directed his steps. Proverbs 16:9
As you rightly pointed out, the Lord made Jonah willing to follow Him.