Mercy Beyond Understanding...- Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - January 10, 2012

Mercy Beyond Understanding…

Mercy, Love, Grace and Goodness is of the Lord and HE chooses to manifest it the way HE wishes. And God revealing HIS attributes says, “…should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” - Jonah 4:11

EXPLORATION

The Bible tells us a little about a prophet of the Lord called Jonah (whose name also means “Dove”) who was the son of Amittai (whose name means “Truthful”) from the Tribe of Zebulon, one of the tribes in northern kingdom of Israel. There were not so many details about his relationship with the Lord God, or about his life, but we know that the book of 2 Kings mentions how he proclaimed the word of God and it came to pass.

“He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.” - 2 Kings 14:25

In this week’s digest, we will be looking at what God wanted show, reveal, or demonstrate to Jonah and, likewise, many of us who still behave like Jonah.

INSPIRATION

God, for so long has been concerned about the lives of the people HE created. Though God has chosen some people, a nation, the Israelites through Abraham to reveal HIS Glory and to save the world—through the seed of Abraham which is Christ Jesus.

God’s mind and love was for the redemption of the whole world. The Bible says,  “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” – (Ezekiel 33:11)

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” – (John 3:17–18)

God has a global plan and a preordained mission to save the whole world. HE has demonstrated this through HIS Love in CHRIST JESUS. HIS Mercy cannot be comprehended. HIS Grace abounds on the saving of the souls of men. And, HIS Love is beyond measure.

Jonah fails to understand this. He is like many believers in our time who, thought the sinners should be consumed or wiped away from the face of the earth, who believed that they have been saved and so the door to salvation should be closed. Nevertheless they preach the gospel so the world may know that they are better.

Jonah, nursed hatred against the other nation—the Gentiles that does not know God.  When the Lord sent him with a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh, he refused to go, even unto death. That is, he would rather die than to let the people be saved.  It’s like Jonah has a problem with the Gentiles to experience God’s love.  The Bible says,

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” – (Jonah 1:1-3)

The Lord God, took Jonah with an iron hand to the city of Nineveh to deliver HIS word, that the people may be given the opportunity to choose their destiny, the opportunity to hear the TRUTH, and compare the between “Life and Death.”

God in HIS infinite sovereignty has the full knowledge that the people will repent. But HE took Jonah through this process to let him know that HE is GOD and HE is Love—and that HE is a Merciful God, always ready to save the lost, restore the broken hearted, and accept anyone that is willing to turn away from sin.

The Bible says, “All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” – (John 6:37) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – (Romans 10:13)

This week: Are you willing to experience the Love of God and love others the way you are loved of God? When God gives you a revelation of what He is about to do to the sinful world, HE is also expecting you to go on your knees, pray, and intercede for the sinners; for the lost souls.  Don’t just rejoice that God will destroy the ungodly, but to pray that the ungodly may be come godly. Amen!

Remember, the Bible says: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” – (Acts 3:19) 

You are blessed, we love you!

Pastor Wales Goriola

Bliss & Fire Network Team
Copyright © 2012 Bliss & Fire Network

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