During the past 24 hours, all that seems to be on television is news of the shooting in Connecticut. It was a cowardly act, and the death of those just starting out in life is tragic. How can someone be so insensitive to the value of Human Life; especially of those so young??? The T-shirt gives an answer, for as a nation we have forgotten God and turned to our own desires. Worse than that, there is a movement under way to eliminate God from all aspects of society. Yet, there is hope. God doesn't give up on us easily and to those with an eye to see the sign of the times, there is a chance to be delivered from eventual destruction. And so we come to the book of Jonah, chapter 3...
Jonah, Chapter 3
1 Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. 4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. 6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; 8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. 4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. 6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; 8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh and ran from God. The almighty used both the sea and a "great fish" (maybe a whale) to turn him back onto the straight path. Jonah was in that beast and was undoubtedly bleached by the digestive juices that existed inside. Once on dry land, Jonah did what God commanded him to do in the first place: preach. What a sight and what a message it must have been!!! Enough to change the hearts of the people of Nineveh and avoid destruction. I wonder, what will it take to wake us up to the reality that The United States of America needs to repent of fighting against God? What has to happen to change things? As sad as the shooting in Connecticut is, if it mobilizes a nation to turn to God, then it will accomplish something at least. Perhaps we, as a nation, should begin with a prayer and finish with a movement to change our ways. If God could save Nineveh, HE can save us!!!!