Today’s Reading: Isaiah 7-8; Psalm 39

King Ahaz and the people were trembling with fear and the Lord sent Isaiah to them. He had this message for the king: Stop worrying. Stand firm. You do not need to fear the fierce anger of other nations. But unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm (Isaiah 7:2-9).

God said: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want – as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”

But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.” – Isaiah 7:11-16

DO YOU NEED A SIGN FROM GOD?

Do you need confirmation that your God is trustworthy and wants to restore you? Are you trembling with fear and in need of faith so that God can help you stand firm against what you are facing? Look – the sign you are seeking is in His Son, Jesus Christ. Place your faith in the firm foundation of Jesus; make Christ the cornerstone of your faith and you will experience the hope you are looking for!

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” – Isaiah 2:3b

Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
He is the One you should fear.
He is the One who should make you tremble.
He will keep you safe…
I will wait for the Lord…I will put my hope in him. – Isaiah 8:13-14a,17

May that be our testimony today, no matter what we are facing — that we will wait for the Lord and place our hope fully in Him. May our actions reflect the gift of faith from God.

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion… – Psalm 39:4-8a

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 6

In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!” – Isaiah 3:6-7

I have chosen to repeat this passage again this morning because it gives a stark contrast to Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s call in Isaiah chapter six. You see, no one wanted to lead the people of Judah because the nation was in such a mess. So many of the Judeans had already been taken captive and escorted to foreign lands, with the threat of exile for those who remained. Who would want to be the leader of this “sinking ship”? Who could possibly desire responsibility over a nation that had turned their backs away from the God of their ancestors? Who wanted to share the fate of those who were now suffering the consequence of their generational sin.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.” – Isaiah 6:8-10

ISAIAH HAD A WILLING HEART AND GOD CHOSE HIM FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

I love the heart of Isaiah as revealed in his quick response to the call of God. The moment God called, Isaiah responded. Without details, without questions, Isaiah responded in submissive obedience to whatever God was asking him to do. It would not be an easy assignment, but Isaiah knew that sometimes God calls us to do hard things.

God saw the heart of Isaiah and chose to reveal himself for the purpose of pulling Isaiah up to a higher calling. Not many people could say, “I saw the Lord,” but Isaiah lived to tell about the glory revealed to him the day he saw the Lord sitting on the throne, the train of His robe filling the Temple.

Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 6:2-5

ISAIAH HAD A HEART OF REPENTANCE, HUMBLED BY BOTH HIS OWN SIN AND THE SIN OF THE NATION.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” – Isaiah 6:6-7

Do you remember that moment when the realization of God’s unmerited favor washed over you? Do you remember the heart of regret with which you prayed for salvation? Do you remember the hope of salvation you received when your guilt was removed and your sins were forgiven?

After saying “yes” to the Lord, Isaiah began asking questions and seeking clarity. Perhaps Isaiah wondered when God’s people would experience this same hope of salvation. Was there a promise of restoration or an end to the suffering in sight? Isaiah was willing to do what God had called him to do but he had questions.

Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.” – Isaiah 6:11-13

ARE YOU WEARY OF THE WORK THE LORD HAS CALLED YOU TO?

Perhaps you long for an end date to the hard thing God has assigned to you. Like Isaiah, our hearts must remain willing until God releases us from the work to which we have been called. We must remain a humble servant to the Sovereign Lord, never forgetting our own moment of salvation and staying available to be a part of someone else’s.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 3-5; Romans 1:18-32

The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything they depend on:
every bit of bread and every drop of water,…
I will make boys their leaders and toddlers their rulers. – Isaiah 3:1,4

The Sovereign Lord was pronouncing his judgment on the people of Judah. They would soon turn on one another, oppressing each other. Young people would boldly insult their elders, and vulgarity would disregard what was once considered honorable. They would be without good leadership because no one would be willing to be in charge of the mess their nation had found themselves in.

They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don’t even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.
Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.
Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road. – Isaiah 3:9b-12

On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away
Everything that makes her beautiful…
Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink….
Shame will replace her beauty. – Isaiah 3:18,24-25

They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties —
lyre and harp, tambourine and flute —
But they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing.
So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. – Isaiah 5:12-13a

Why were the people of Judah being led away by the thousands to the land of their enemies? Because at some point they turned their hearts away from the Lord. They no longer knew the God who had led them out of Egypt; they no longer knew the God who had faithfully fought their battles and lived among them. The Lord had given them the land He had promised to them, but they had brought judgment upon themselves when they chose disobedience and idolatry over complete surrender to God.

But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice.
The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness….
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
and think themselves so clever. – Isaiah 5:15,20-21

They had exchanged the truth for a lie, redefining what God had created and forming their own theology based on perverse thinking and false notions. They knew God’s justice would require that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they did them anyway (Romans 1:28-32). God help us, for this sounds like the status of our world today.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. – Romans 1:18-20

But for those who know God to be sovereign and holy, His promises remain. For those who walk in fellowship with God, there will be a beautiful future. Those who worship Him as God and give the Lord thanks for all He has done will experience the riches of His glory. God will protect those who are faith and give them reason to hope for a better day.

But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
of all who survive in Israel. – Isaiah 4:2

He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land.
It will be a shelter from daytime heat
and a hiding place from storms and rain. – Isaiah 4:5b-6

Where do we fall, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation? How will we respond to the culture of the world around us? Will we chase after the lies and ridiculous notions of those who have rejected God, or will we stand firm on the truth of God’s word? God has made the consequences clear, and He leaves us with the freedom of choice. We can choose to succumb to the ridiculous ideologies of man or we can place our confidence in the truth of God.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14

Sovereign Lord, we repent for the status of today’s culture. We grieve for the distance we have moved away from your truth and your plan. We bow before you this morning in submission to all that you are and all that you are calling us to be. May your Spirit convict us when we stray from your truth, and may you be glorified as we faithfully walk in the way you have laid out for us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 1-2, Psalm 38

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 16 years. He did NOT do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done…Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army…At that time King Ahaz of Judah asked the king of Assyria for help…Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. – 2 Chronicles 28:1,5,16,22

BUT SHOULDN’T PEOPLE ASK GOD FOR GUIDANCE?

Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! – Isaiah 8:19b-20a

Ahaz was still a young man when he became king of Judah, so naturally he looked to others for help. But why not look to the One who held the plan? Why not trust in God for rescue? It was during this time in Judah’s history that God called the prophet Isaiah to speak His message loud and clear: You can depend on God and it is foolishness to trust in anything or anyone else but God!

Don’t put your trust in mere humans.
They are as frail as breath. What good are they? – Isaiah 2:22

The horrible time that Judah was experiencing was a consequence of their sin. They needed the reminder that we serve a God who is able to break the power of sin and help us survive the mess we have made. When we look around and trouble surrounds us, when all we can see is the result of bad decisions and sinful actions, we can know that OUR GOD IS THERE TO GUIDE US OUT OF THE PREDICAMENT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. The secret is to surrender and trust in God so that we can experience the grace that rescues God’s people from the consequences of their sins.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
If you will only obey me…” – Isaiah 1:18-19a

WHY DO WE PUT OUR TRUST IN HUMANS?

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future….” – Jeremiah 17:5-6a

God’s grace and mercy are calling out to us. He is eager to wash us clean and restore our relationship with Him. So what keeps us from running back into His arms? Why do we turn to other people when our Creator holds the answers? Why do we seek other solutions for help when our loving Father is beckoning us? Is it pride or arrogance? Do we struggle to find the humility needed to repent of our sins?

Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled.
Only the Lord will be exalted on the day of judgment.
For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning.
He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted…
Human pride will be humbled and human arrogance will be brought down.
Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. – Isaiah 2:11-12,17

SURRENDER TO THE LORD AND TRUST HIM WITH EVERYTHING.

Father God, reveal in us our tendencies to trust more in other people than we do in you. Show us where pride is getting in the way of asking you for help. No matter how big or small the mess we have made, may we humble ourselves and turn to you for rescue. Amen.

I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done…
Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior. — Psalm 38:17-22

Today’s Reading: Amos 8-9; Psalm 73

Then the Sovereign Lord showed me another vision. In it I saw a basket filled with ripe fruit. “What do you see, Amos?” he asked.
I replied, “A basket full of ripe fruit.”
Then the Lord said, “Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment! I will not delay their punishment again. In that day the singing in the temple will turn to wailing. Dead bodies will be scattered everywhere. They will be carried out of the city in silence. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Amos 8:1-3

As we read through the books of the prophets, we hear God consistently referred to as the Sovereign Lord. Judgment is being declared as the prophets recognize that the Lord has supremacy. He holds the power and is the ultimate authority over all of creation. It is time for all people to humble themselves and recognize that God is the Sovereign Lord, and we are unworthy of the mercy and grace He bestows on us.

“I will never forget the wicked thing you have done!
The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn…” – Amos 8:7b-8a

This was God’s response to a nation that continued to rebel against him generation after generation. Their sinful idolatry and religious complacency demonstrated their arrogance towards all of the Lord’s instructions.

THEY WERE LIVING AS IF GOD WERE SMALL RATHER THAN SOVEREIGN.

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“When I will send a famine on the land —
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from border to border
Searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it…” – Amos 8:11-12

God was sending a message through the prophet of Amos, but He was about to go silent for a time. They would not hear from Him during this coming season of punishment. Though they hungered for a word from Him, they would not receive it; though they searched for the voice of God in the midst of their suffering, they would not find it. Their irreverence towards the Lord had brought about a spiritual famine. But the God of mercy gave them a message to hold on to through the difficult days ahead.

I WILL RESTORE. I WILL REPAIR. I WILL REBUILD.

“I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands,
And they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again.
They will plant vineyards and gardens;
They will eat their crops and drink their wine.
I will firmly plant them there in their own land.
They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord. – Amos 9:14-15

We serve a God of restoration and redemption. Yes, He is a just God who punishes wickedness and withholds His blessings on nations who have abandoned Him, but the heart of God is still longing for His people to return to them so that He can restore, repair, and rebuild.

LORD, FORGIVE US FOR IGNORING YOUR SOVEREIGNTY BY DEMANDING OUR OWN WAY.

May our prayer this morning reflect the heart of Asaph as he repented of his foolishness, taking his eyes off people and focusing his heart on God. He turned his complaining and whining to praise, recognizing that the Lord is sovereign! Let’s give the Lord ultimate power and authority in our lives as we stop resisting the Lord who has done wonderful things for us. Let’s show our gratitude for the gift of His presence in our lives, recognizing the impact we experience when He speaks over our lives.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. – Psalm 73:21-28

Today’s Reading: Amos 4-7

The behavior of God’s people could be narrowed down to three words – arrogance, selfishness, and pretense. They put their own selfish desires for luxury before the needs of others around them. They were abusive and oppressive to those who had less than they did – the weak, the needy, and the poor. They ignored the needs of others and filled their hunger for earthly possessions. Because of this, God’s judgment was going to fall HARD on these people.

GOD IS PLEASED WITH HUMILITY, NOT ARROGANCE

This should be of significance for those of us who have been blessed with so much. God was clear in Amos’ prophecies that He was done with the arrogance of a nation who felt they were better than others. He was going to punish this selfish generation who put their own needs ahead of the needs of others. He was bringing judgment on those who continued to go through the motions of worship and the rituals of sacrifice but who were not living a lifestyle of sacrifice and worship.

God did not choose judgment before first drawing His people to Himself, but they would not listen.

“I brought hunger…but still you would not return to me…
I kept rain from falling when your crops needed it the most…but still you would not return to me…
I struck your farms and vineyards…but still you would not return to me…
I sent plagues…but still you would not return to me…
I destroyed some of your cities…but still you would not return to me…
THEREFORE I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced.
Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!” – Amos 4:6-12

GOD IS LOOKING FOR A GENUINE HEART

God cannot be manipulated; the Lord determines how people can come to him. Attending church regularly, paying tithe, and going through the rituals of being a believer are not substitutes for a genuine heart.

“I hate all of your show and pretense – the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” – Amos 5:21-24

“You sing trivial songs to the sound of a harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David. You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation. Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end.” – Amos 6:5-7

GOD DECLARED – THE PARTY’S OVER!

God’s people had a false notion of privilege. They continued to live a life of self-indulgence and spoke of how they were looking forward to the day of the Lord but they did not realize the Lord was coming not to absolve their sinfulness but to punish them. They believed the covenant God had made with His people allowed them to live as they pleased, even if that looked like arrogance, selfishness and pretense. But God required righteous living. They lived as if God owed them salvation and eternal life because of a decision made a long time ago. But God does not ignore sin (7:8).

Lord, forgive us for our moments of arrogance when we think too much of ourselves and too little of others. Forgive us for living comfortably with all you have blessed us with while others around us are in need. Forgive us for our attitudes of privilege and expectations of rewards because of a decision we made a long time ago. Open our eyes and call us out of our own agendas for today. We desire to respond to your call on our lives and do whatever you are asking us to do. Thank you for being a God who loves us enough to draw us to yourself. Thank you for both your love and your justice. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Amos 1-3, Psalm 14

Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?
Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait?
Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch?
When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared — so who isn’t frightened?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken —
so who can refuse to proclaim his message? – Amos 3:3-8

God used MANY prophets during the days of the kings to warn His people of what was ahead, an attempt to draw them out of their sin and back to Him. They knew that if they kept rebelling against God that they would be punished. They had been warned over and over again. They knew what was expected of them, and they knew that they were not living the way God had called them to. They could not claim ignorance because they were fully aware of their rebellion.

Not only did God use the prophets, he used anyone with a willing and obedient heart. Amos was one of those men. Amos did not consider himself a prophet; he was simply a shepherd with a heart open to doing anything God asked him to do, even if he felt unqualified.

“I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” – Amos 7:14-15

I’M JUST A SHEPHERD WITH A WILLING HEART.

I love how Amos was just minding his own business, doing his own thing, when God called him away to do His work and Amos responded with a willing heart. This is in direct contrast to how Jonah initially responded to God, and it was during a time when God’s people were ignoring the voice of God.

This is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! – Amos 2:4a

The time had come for God to punish His people. He had warned them over and over again; the Lord had forgiven generation after generation. The heart of God was revealed even in this declaration of the coming destruction, for God had displayed His grace time and time again. He had patiently waited for His people to stop sinning and turn their adulterous hearts back to their Creator, but they refused.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. – 2 Peter 3:9

Even in the midst of judgment, God was calling His people to the covenant relationship He had created them for. If only they would cry out to Him with sincere repentance, He would have mercy on them. His desire was to draw them closer to Him, but it required them to choose Him — to run back into His loving arms.

“Come back to me and live!…
Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!
Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.” – Amos 5:4b,14-15

Is there an area of your life that you need to surrender to God? Has the Spirit revealed sin that needs confessed or disobedience that needs submission? Is it time for us to stop feigning innocence or claiming ignorance? He is calling you to run towards the life He designed for you; God wants you to trust Him through the struggles of life rather than pretend you do not know what to do next.

YOU DON’T GET TO CLAIM IGNORANCE.

Father God, we are listening to you this morning. May we hear your voice calling us back to a place of loving what is good and hating what is evil. May our hearts be fully devoted to you, and may we respond in obedience to anything you ask us to do. Thank you for your patience with us and for the mercy you so generously display. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jonah 4; Luke 15:11-32

As Jonah promised, he obediently went to Nineveh and preached a message of judgment on the city. The people, including their king, started fasting and putting on burlap to show how sorry they were for their sins. God again changed the plan on Jonah. He forgave the people of Nineveh and chose to not destroy the city.

WHY DO WE WHINE, COMPLAIN & ARGUE WITH GOD IN OUR ANGER?

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” – Jonah 4:1-4

Once again, Jonah whined and complained and even argued with God, because he was not happy with God’s plan. He was more consumed with how this change in plans made him look and more disappointed that the people would not be punished than he was thankful for God’s redemption. He went outside of the city and waited to see what would happen to Nineveh.

What happened next tells us a lot about our Lord. He caused a leafy plant to grow and spread its broad leaves over Jonah, shading him from the sun. Jonah had already created a shelter of sorts, but God showed up for Jonah by providing this extra level of comfort and protection from the elements. Instead of responding in appreciation for all God was doing for him, Jonah chose to sit under God’s provision and pout. So God got Jonah’s attention by sending a worm, causing the plant to die, which angered Jonah. Then God sent a scorching hot wind to blow on Jonah while he sulked, until Jonah began to wish that he would die. God asked Jonah a question we should all consider:

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:9-11

WHILE WE ARE FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES, GOD’S HEART IS RESPONDING TO THE LOST.

It is so easy to be fatigued by the sin of this world. Our frustrations with the words and actions of unbelievers cause our hearts to harden towards them, and we forget that we were once sinners in need of a Savior. What a great reminder this morning that God loves the lost, that God cares about those who have bought into the lies of today’s culture.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” – Luke 15:20-24

Oh the heart of a God who loves His creation! Oh the love of a God who would send His Son to die for us! Lord, fill us with this same kind of love for others. Bring us to our knees in prayer for those who are lost. Fill our hearts with your mercy. Get our attention. Forgive us when we whine and complain over your plan because we like our plan better. You are Lord and we have no right to be angry with you when we don’t get our way. Bring our hearts to a point of submission – your will, your way, in your time! We love you, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jonah 3; Romans 6

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” – Jonah 1:1-2

God cared enough about the people of Nineveh that he sent Jonah there to deliver a message — not a soft message of mercy and compassion, but a strong message of judgment and warning. The Lord could have simply administered the punishment they deserved, but He gave them another opportunity to turn from their sin and live the life He had instructed them to live.

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” – Jonah 3:1-2

Even though his initial response had been to run away from God’s plan, this time Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh. He had his work cut out for him. It was a large city with a lot of ground to cover and a lot of people to reach. He could have let this overwhelming assignment paralyze him, but instead he started shouting the Lord’s message on day one!

“Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” – Jonah 3:4b

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH (Romans 6:23a)…

The people of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s message, fasting and dressing in burlap to show their heartfelt sorrow. It was not a soft message of acceptance and grace that brought the people to a place of repentance, but a message of impending judgment.

The king of Nineveh led the way by taking off his royal robes, dressing in burlap, and sitting in a heap of ashes. He sent out a message to all of the people to turn from their evil ways and stop their violence. He told them to pray earnestly to the Lord in hopes that He would change his mind and hold back his fierce anger (3:6-9).

“When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” – Jonah 3:10

…BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD (Romans 6:23b).

Jonah was frustrated with God’s response. He preferred the message of judgment over the gift of salvation God was extending to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was repulsed by the wickedness and violence of Nineveh, and his heart was out of tune with the heart of God.

“I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.” – Jonah 4:2b

I think we have a lot to learn from Jonah. We often focus on our need for immediate obedience to what God is asking us to do, learning from Jonah’s unsuccessful attempt to run from God. But perhaps today it would help us to ask the Lord to reveal how we, too, may be struggling with our response to the sin of those around us.

It would be easy for us to celebrate the judgment of God on our enemies to the point that we no longer pray for their repentance. We are eager to tell them what they are doing wrong without providing the light of Jesus to help them find their way back to God. We turn our back in repulsion to the perversions of this world and forget that God’s heart is still FOR them.

But we must also remember that God did not send Jonah to Nineveh with a message of mercy and acceptance regardless of their sin. No, he sent them with a warning of the judgment that was to come because of their sin and violence. The Lord did not soften His stance or redefine righteousness in order to draw sinners to Himself, so why do we? We don’t get to redefine God’s mercy. In doing so, we are robbing sinners from the joy they can experience when they break free from the strongholds of sin.

WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SINFUL SELVES WERE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST SO THAT SIN MIGHT LOSE ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN. (Romans 6:6)

God’s unfailing love is present in His plan of salvation.Out of compassion, God is calling His creation away from the destruction of their sinful behavior. With a heart of mercy, God is giving us a second chance to turn from our evil ways and embrace the holy life He is calling us to live. One lifestyle brings death and one brings life, so why wouldn’t He move heaven and earth to encourage us to draw near to Him?

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. – 2 Peter 3:8-10

Today’s Reading: Jonah 1-2

God used many prophets during the reign of kings over Israel and Judah, sending some of his prophets even to the enemy nations to preach repentance. Some prophets went willingly and some struggled to reflect God’s mercy toward sinners. One of those struggling prophets was Jonah.

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. – Jonah 1:1-3

WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN OUTRUN GOD?

How is it that we think we know what is best? God creates this perfect plan for our lives and we whine, complain and argue that there is a better way. We expect God’s plan to look one way, and then there is what seems to be a change of plans and we rebel. We were content doing what He had previously asked us to do, where He had asked us to do it, but now He is moving us to a new place or in a new direction. We hope to escape from what He is asking us to do but God pursues us because He loves us!

But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. – Jonah 1:4

WHILE WE ARE RUNNING, GOD IS INTERVENING.

God stood between Jonah and Jonah’s alternative plan. He got his attention — not in a quiet whisper but with a violent storm. After trying everything else, the crew on the ship threw Jonah overboard at his suggestion, for they knew Jonah was running from the Lord. God had a plan, God intervened in Jonah’s life, and now God had a way to get Jonah back on track. Granted this was probably not the way Jonah would have chosen, but he was the one who was on a side track from the Lord’s will and this new plan was a consequence of Jonah’s own willful disobedience.

Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. – Jonah 1:17

Jonah recognized God’s intervention and prayed from inside the belly of the fish. Jonah was still not where he wanted to be and still not in a comfortable place in life, yet he knew God was at work and thanked Him for hearing his cry for help. He promised God that he would once more look toward God’s holy temple instead of running the opposite direction.

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’
I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.
Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.
Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” – Jonah 2:2-9

As a child, I pictured this story as if Jonah was immediately swallowed by what I was taught was a whale. I can still see the cartoonish drawing showing Jonah sitting and warming himself beside a fire inside of the belly of the fish. The whale spit Jonah out onto the beach and Jonah waved goodbye to his new friend. But Jonah’s prayer describes a horrifying struggle for his life as Jonah sank below the waves. This prayer describes what many have experienced — an unpleasant traumatic low before finally calling out to God for help.

Do you feel like you have been sinking? Are you drowning in your present circumstances, tangled in a mess you are unable to free yourself of? Perhaps even now you are crying out to God for salvation. I pray that today you will earnestly and passionately surrender your life to God, letting go of the struggle and allowing God to write the remainder of your story. Just like Jonah, God wants to place your feet on dry land because He has plans to use your story for His glory — to use your voice in the life of another individual. He is not finished with you yet, praise be to God!