The Mercy Of God How You Can Have It

Are you like Jonah? It's ironic to think about. Jonah went the opposite way when told to go to Nineveh in Assyria and preach destruction. Then we all know the story, he gets swallowed by a big fish, repents, and is vomited up on the land. He then goes to Nineveh and brews up the courage to preach destruction. However, something strange happens, all these evil people repent including the King! Yet, Jonah gets up on the side of a mountain to witness their destruction. When it does not happen, he is very pissed!

What Happened?

Well apparently the people of #Nineveh were sorry for their sins and violence. Apparently #Jonah was a pretty good preacher convincing the people of Nineveh of their doom. So much so that the entire city repented, dressed in sackcloth and ashes and fasted. Therefore, God did not destroy them like He said He was going to do.

Jonah's Reaction

So, then, Jonah feels slighted, betrayed by God. Jonah did not understand that the messages was a warning that could of turned out one of two different ways. Yet, Jonah was somewhat of a hypocrite, yes? Even though he repented in the belly of the fish and God spared his life, Jonah wanted to witness the destruction of an entire city who repented!

Get The Big Picture

I think the lesson here with Jonah is to make sure that we are getting the big picture. Know that God's love and mercy are bigger than His ambition to destroy you. Check out what Yehovah said to Jonah.

11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand (120,000) persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? Jonah 4:11

The Other Thing I Picked Up On

One huge thing that I picked up on here that we can compare to today is the fact that God will warn you before He kills you. Think of it, who were Ninevites? They were not even Israelites, yet they threatened Israel. The other thing that I picked up on here is that you do not have to have all your facts straight to gain God's mercy, this was fascinating! A sincere heart, a repentant heart, a humble heart will spare you from God's wrath even though you may be ignorant of some things. Let's talk about who the Ninevites were so you can understand the mercy of God.

The Ninevites were the inhabitants of Nineveh, the ancient capital of the Assyrian Empire, one of the most powerful and brutal empires of the ancient Near East. Here's a breakdown of who they were and what they did:

🏛 Who Were the Ninevites?

• Nation: Assyrians

• Capital City: Nineveh

• Location: Situated on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, near present-day Mosul, Iraq

• Time Period: Peaked between the 9th and 7th centuries BC (especially powerful during the reigns of kings like Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal)

Nineveh was known for its grandeur, massive walls, and impressive palaces. It became the political and military center of Assyria, ruling over a vast region that included modern-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and parts of Egypt.

⚔️ What Did the Ninevites Do?

1. Conquered Ruthlessly

• The Assyrians were feared for their military brutality.

• They employed terror tactics, flaying enemies alive, impaling captives, and deporting entire populations to control rebellion.

• Their records and palace art often depict mass executions and parades of captives.

2. Built a Cultural Empire

• Despite their brutality, they preserved vast knowledge:

  • King Ashurbanipal of Nineveh assembled one of the world’s first libraries, containing over 30,000 clay tablets (including the Epic of Gilgamesh).

  • They advanced in astronomy, medicine, and literature.

3. Oppressed Israel and Judah

• The Assyrians frequently attacked and plundered the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

• 722 BC: They destroyed Samaria and exiled the Northern Kingdom of Israel, a major turning point in Biblical history.

📖 Biblical Account: Jonah and the Ninevites

In the Book of Jonah, God sends the prophet to warn Nineveh of coming judgment:

• Jonah initially refuses, but after being swallowed by a great fish and spit out, he obeys.

• He proclaims: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).

• Shockingly, the Ninevites repent — from the king down to the animals, they fast and cry out to God.

• God spares the city because of their repentance, showing His mercy even to brutal Gentile nations.

This story is unique:

• It reveals that even the most wicked nation can receive forgiveness.

• It underscores God's universal judgment and mercy — not limited to Israel.

🔚 Fall of Nineveh

Despite temporary repentance, #Assyria returned to its brutal ways.

• 612 BC: Nineveh was destroyed by a coalition of Babylonians and Medes.

• The prophet Nahum had foretold its fall, calling Nineveh a "bloody city, full of lies and robbery" (Nahum 3:1).

• Its destruction was so complete that it was buried and forgotten for centuries.

#egoKills