Deep Thoughts ....

Handsome hubby and I are taking a class right now at church called “Experiencing God Through the Feasts of Israel.” This weeks’ class focused on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and, because God’s just like this, the class was on the day of Yom Kippur. Unlike the other Jewish feasts, this is not a feast or celebration, but a fast. It is a day of dealing with the issue of sin. I won’t go into all the details because, for starters, I am not qualified. But, it is my understanding that on this day, even today, there are five times the Jewish people meet. One of these meetings is called the Minhah. It is an afternoon service that includes the reading of the book of Jonah. Why Jonah? Well, because …

• Jonah is a story about repentance and forgiveness.
• God’s compassion in Jonah is meant to be a model for us to copy.
• It is a great reminder that we cannot flee the service of God … as our teacher stated, God is a good chaser!

You see, Jonah didn’t want to go to Ninevah because he knew God was merciful and he knew the people were likely to repent and he didn’t want them to recieve God's mercy, he wanted them to receive God's wrath. Jonah even said, "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Thank goodness we serve a God who is merciful! Jonah thought he would flee to Tarshish (opposite of Ninevah) thus thwarting God's plan, but God’s plan prevailed … as it always does. And sadly, even after God showed Jonah mercy by releasing him from the big fish, Jonah's heart didn't change. He remained unhappy that the Ninevites repented and sought the Lord.

How sad is that? And, how convicting! How many times is that me, acting just like Jonah? Deciding who "deserves" mercy and who doesn't instead of having God's heart for His people? What is God's heart? "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

Who are MY Ninevites? Who am I needing a heart change over? Serious questions that require serious prayer and truthful answers. We were encouraged in class to ask the Lord who we need to forgive and who we need to ask for forgiveness from. Deep thoughts … deep truth.

So, who are your Ninevites?