ESOCS Devotional 24 September 2022
TEXT: JONAH 1: 1-16
MEMORY VERSE: “Jonah went on to tell them that he was running away from the Lord. The sailors were terrified, and said to him, ‘that was an awful thing to do!”’ Jonah 1:10 GNB.
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Jonah was a prophet in Israel when Jeroboam II reigned as king (2 Kings 14: 23-25). At this time, the Assyrian nation, with its capital city at Niveveh, posed a severe threat to Israel. Their illegal expansionist policy was becoming worrisome (2 Kings 17). The wickedness of Nineveh was probably why Jonah did not want to preach the preaching of repentance to them. He humanly expected God to punish them for their wickedness, rather than forgiving them for their repentance. It was also probable to Jonah that the Assyrians were future captors of Israel. He therefore did not want to give the Assyrians the opportunity to repent and be saved by the God of grace and mercy. Jonah knew that if Nineveh repented of their wicked acts, God would spare the city from destruction. That was an extreme display of selfishness by a prophet who should rather intercede for sinners.
However, God’s mercy to mankind is unlimited and without racial boundaries. By insisting that Jonah should go to Nineveh, God showed Himself to be the God of the whole universe. His interest cover both the Jews and the Gentiles (Acts 10: 1-48). According to our text, when Jonah tried to run away, the Lord sent a storm. This was to prove to Jonah that God was everywhere present. Even from the belly of the great fish, Jonah was able to reach God through prayer.
The God of the Bible is the God of all creations. He is the Lord over all the earth, and wants salvation proclaimed to all nations of the world (Genesis 22:18; Acts 10: 1-48). Following the raging storm, the sailors were terribly afraid. They decided to cast lots to determine who, or what the problem was. In the midst of all this, God was in control of everything. The One who was the creator of all things was busy creating a situation wherein His prophet would repent and do the needful. Jonah must repent for his lack of submission to His will, (Psalm 8: 1-4; 65:5-7; 107:23-32; Mark 4:35-41).
Child of God, it’s time to preach the good news without fear or favour. Stop being a judge. Judgment should be left in the hands of God alone. That harlot or kidnapper you are judging today, might become God’s vessel of honour the next day. (Acts 9: 1-8). Judge not, lest ye be judged (Matthew 7:1).
CHALLENGES: Believers self-judgment of 1 Corinthians 11:28, means that every man should be his own self-judge, and not another. Do you agree?
PRAYER POINTS: Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to watch the beam in my own eyes and not the speck in another’s.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Judges 15: 1-8; Matthew 12: 9-21; Acts 8: 1-40.
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 24 September 2022
