Today we looked at the book of Jonah, as well as multiple life scenarios found in the prayer list to be reminded that God is active, God is physically DOING things in the world today, and He has a heart of lovingkindness for the humans that He created (all of us and all of everybody).

Keys from Scripture:

1. The word “appointed” appears 4 times in the book of Jonah. The Hebrew word for “appointed” defines a sense of assignment, placement, or accounting for. All four times in Jonah, it is God “appointing” a physical thing on earth that affects humans. (a large sea animal, a plant, a worm, a scorching weather). God is ACTIVELY doing things in the world even today. Our prayer and praise list shows that He is DOING things. Even the 60-100 mph winds this morning are evidence that God is doing stuff in this world for HIS glory and by HIS will.
2. God is patient, long-suffering, and desires ALL PEOPLE to be in a good relationship with Himself. When Jonah finally ends up going to Ninevah, the king listens to Jonah’s prophetic words and warning that God is a JUST God who delivers wrath on those who deserve it (the Ninevites). So the king makes a command of his people that they repent, pray, and seek God. Therefore, God decides to hold off his wrath and instead give them grace. (There is a HUGE lesson in that back-and-forth for all of us today…God is patient to forgive us because of His love for us. He desires love, not punishment. But God CLEARLY is justified in punishing those who sin against Him. Yet His LOVE is greater than His desire for wrath.)
3. God sees us and hears our cries. He reminded me in 2018 when I left my family left our home and church that was 4 hours away from where we are today by “appointing” a video to be played during our final church service that had 1-1,000,000 odds of happening. He heard the silent cries and prayers of Jonah as he was sinking to the bottom of the ocean by “appointing” a large sea animal to swallow him up, thus saving him. God sees us and hears us wherever we go. He is FOR us.