IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Learn the Wideness of God's Mercy

Date: Aug. 31, 2014

Passage

Jonah 4:1-11 (ESV)

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 4:11

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

First, Jonah prayed even when angry (1-3). Jonah's ministry was fruitful, but he was bitter at the outcome. Anger makes it hard to pray. But God drew him to pray. Through his prayer we discover that God is gracious and compassionate towards all kinds of people. God reveals himself to those who call upon him, even to those stewing in anger.

Second, the lesson of the vine (4-11). God taught Jonah compassion through a vine, a worm and hot wind. Jonah was thankful for personal grace given to him. But he needed to mature to begin hoping that other people may be blessed. God provided a worm, which killed the vine in the heat. Jonah was uncomfortable, inconvenienced and grew faint. He snapped. The people of Nineveh were withering in sin, but God saved them. God's compassion extends to Jonah and to the Ninevites. Jonah needed to learn this to be a servant of God.

Prayer: "Lord, I am so happy about my own salvation, but what about others? Grant me a wide heart to care about others and lead them to faith in you."

One Word: God's mercy embraces all people

Daily Bread

In the End, Have Faith in God

Genesis 49:29-50:26

Key Verse: 49:50:24

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

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