Our Daily Bread Devotional 26 September 2018
Topic: It’s Not About the Fish
Read: Jonah 3:10–4:4 Bible in a Year: Isaiah 1–2; Galatians 5
Scripture: When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented. Jonah 3:10
Message: Sighted numerous times off the coast of Australia’s South Queensland, Migaloo is the first albino humpback whale ever documented. The splendid creature, estimated at more than forty feet long, is so rare that Australia passed a law specifically to protect him.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 26 September 2018 – It’s Not About the Fish
The Bible tells us about a “huge fish” so rare that God had provided it especially to swallow a runaway prophet (Jonah 1:17). Most know the story. God told Jonah to take a message of judgment to Nineveh. But Jonah wanted nothing to do with the Ninevites, who had a reputation for cruelty to just about everyone—including the Hebrews. So he fled. Things went badly. From inside the fish, Jonah repented. Eventually he preached to the Ninevites, and they repented too (3:5–10).
Great story, right? Except it doesn’t end there. While Nineveh repented, Jonah pouted. “Isn’t this what I said, Lord?” he prayed. “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love” (4:2). Having been rescued from certain death, Jonah’s sinful anger grew until even his prayer became suicidal (v. 3).
Our Daily Bread Devotional 26 September 2018 – It’s Not About the Fish
The story of Jonah isn’t about the fish. It’s about our human nature and the nature of the God who pursues us. “The Lord is patient with you,” wrote the apostle Peter, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God offers His love to brutal Ninevites, pouting prophets, and you and me.
Prayer: Father, we tend to look at what others “deserve” and forget we need Your love just as much. Help us live in Your love and tell others about it.
Thought for the Day: Our love has limits; God’s love is limitless.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 26 September 2018 was written by Tim Gustafson (Our Daily Bread Ministries)