From Tarshish to Nineveh

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Jonah 2:3

For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

 

Bible Reading for a Year [bible]psalm64[/bible]; [bible]0mark8[/bible]; [bible]numbe11-12[/bible]

 

When God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh for a great purpose did Jonah immediately do what God commanded him?

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

But Jonah apparently ran away from God. He ran to Tarshish. Tarshish was an ancient city in the Mediterranean Sea. So Jonah went to Joppa, and later went to Tarshish. Between Tarshish and Nineveh was a long distance.

Nowadays, many God’s children run away from God or fall into sins for not doing what God asks. Have you done that? When God asks you to go to the right but you decide to go to the left, and in the end you find yourselves in trouble. Or, maybe God has told you to not work in Sabbath day, but you do, and finally you find some problems.

When we fall into sin, does God give us second chance?

Jonah 3:1-2

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."

And during the trip to Tarshish, his ship was about to wreck due to great storm. Later on, the people in the ship threw Jonah away into the sea until he was swallowed by a great fish.

When you are born again, you accept Jesus as Savior, and you repent. But your repentance is not once for all, but happens in of your life. You are born again once, but you repent day after day. So, you have to always be renewed.

The Jonah’s journey from Tarshish to Nineveh was all about being swallowed by a great fish. This reminds us that problem that happens in our life is a way back to Him. Therefore, when you fall into sin, be quick to ask for His forgiveness and turn away from the way of the evil. Even though your sins are like scarlet, He is God of Mercy. If Judas Iscariot had known that his sin was forgivable, he would not have committed suicide.

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

 

Ask God for strength so you can use every chance God has already given you.

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