In the story of Jonah the Lord describes the city of Nineveh as wicked. Nineveh was thought by scholars to be the largest city in the world when Jonah went there proclaiming the word of God. What was it like to live in such a city filled with crime and violence? Were there people crying out to God to do something? The Bible does not say.
The Bible does call Nineveh in Jonah chapter three a great city and a very important city. It was great and important to who? It may have been important in the culture to their nation, but more importantly it was important to God. The wickedness that was going on in Nineveh did not go unnoticed by God. As a good parent the Lord was concerned about these wayward children in Nineveh. It is the Lord’s character to grieve great tears when people turn away from Him and travel down the wrong path. When you become a parent you begin to realize a parent loves their child even when they are naughty.
God does see us when we struggle. He saw Nineveh and sent the prophet Jonah to give them a message of tough love. The good news is the people of Nineveh received the message from God through Jonah and turned back to the Lord.
Where are you struggling today? Do you feel God does not see or feel your pain? The good news is the Lord is with you as you struggle, and we can speak to Him day and night through prayer. We can read His word to give us encouragement and guidance. Like David in the Bible, we can pour our heart to the Lord and tell Him everything that makes us hurt.
One of my favorite Bible verses when I hurt is from 2 Samuel 22:31-32. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lordis flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? [1]
Want to learn more about the Journey of Jonah? Click here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-jonah-1/jonah-preaches
If you would like more teaching about this text, consider listening to these podcasts:
[1]The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (2 Sa 22:31–32). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.