Jonah Chapter 4

In this study we will finish this great book of Jonah. 

In the previous chapter, Jonah finally obeyed Yahweh and delivered the proclamation to Nineveh regarding their impending destruction by Yahweh. Nineveh repented just as Jonah feared they would, and Yahweh forgave them and spared Nineveh also just as Jonah feared He would.

It must be pointed out that Yahweh had never asked Nineveh to repent. He simply sent word to them through His Prophet Jonah that He had had enough and was to destroy them in forty days. The show of great faith by the heathen of Nineveh no doubt touched the Lord's heart; and for the sincere change of the heart of one’s who were before such great heathen, Yahweh turned away His wrath from them. Yahweh was no doubt pleasantly impressed by the new-found faith that these once heathen people had in Yahweh's willingness and ability to forgive and show mercy.

Then Yahweh reminds Jonah about his love for the animals. Jonah loved a plant, so he should respect Yahweh’s love for the animals. Those animals would suffer too if Yahweh permitted some great trouble to destroy the city.

So, now Jonah must decide whether Yahweh was right to forgive Nineveh’s people and to save their city.

But many will have an opportunity in the thousand year period in to be taught. Yahweh will judge no one to eternal perdition in their ignorance, all who perish will perish by their own doing, having heard the truth and rejecting it.

Yahweh loves all His children the same. He doesn't like what many of them are doing, but he still loves them all the same.  For Yahweh loves all His children, both good and evil, and he wishes that all would come to repentance and everlasting life:

2 Pet 3:9
 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We sometimes forget that Yahweh has emotions, but we were created in His image and we have emotions. We know through the Bible that Yahweh does have emotions, but we seem to only pay attention to Yahweh's emotions of wrath and anger. Yahshua Messiah is Yahweh manifest in the flesh, and in the shortest verse of the entire Bible we see:

John 11:35
 35 Yahshua wept.

But the saddest thing of all is that Yahweh will have to eternally destroy many of His beloved children whom He created to love Him and give Him good pleasure by their company in the eternity:

Rev 4:11
 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

How about you friend? Have you given Yahweh any pleasure lately? All He really wants is your love. He tells us how to be approved by Him, He wants us to study His Word, to learn of Him, so that we will not be sidetracked into perdition by the wicked one Satan. In the Bible, Yahweh has written us a letter of love, caution, instruction, and direction, but how many of us refuse to even read it? We are either too lazy, too busy, or we just don't care. 

2 Tim 2:15-16
 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Matt 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com