THE UNIVERSALITY OF GOD'S MERCIES....EPISODE 42!

Welcome to Episode 42. When discussing about the nature of the mercies of God towards Jonah, it should be realised that people go through seasons in life, and we should not expect God to respond emotionally the way humans do. Humans are temperamental, can be forgetful and there’s a limit to what we know, and can endure. Further, humans are prone to errors, limitations and weaknesses. Furthermore, on many occasions people can be seen as weak, gullible, feeble, fragile and vulnerable. God is never like that. That is why we can never realise the extent of His mercy towards us, Jonah included. But note that, Jonah had his own share of tragedy during the near shipwreck. Was it not possible for him to think God wouldn’t be merciful to him? That the end of his life had come? Was it not possible for him to be traumatised after the incident? Imagine if he was caught unprepared in the entire incident? Yet, reflecting over the entire incident we know that God’s mercy was greater than Jonah knew or thought. Do you think God conceded to much to Jonah? God’s approach in handling the situation was totally different. It makes one think that He (God) was condoning and conceding too much to Jonah. How? That is, by allowing the runaway evangelist to indulge in his prejudices and rebellion. As if to suggest to God, “Why not dump Jonah and use someone else?” However, whatever the opinion you hold, it is worth remembering that God keeps His promises and covenant, and He weighs all His actions before starting it. Most importantly, God is beyond all human errors, vulnerabilities and limitations. Therefore, God did not concede too much, rather He was keeping His covenant with the patriarchs in view. We recall that Jonah was an Israelite who comes under the Abrahamic covenant and historically, God had an established covenant with the Israelites since the time of Abraham, and Jonah was one of the great grandchildren of Abraham. The following Bible passages form part of the essential fundamental references, namely, Genesis 12:1-2a; 15:4-5; 17:6-8; 18:16-17; 22:3-5, 15-18. Let’s read them one after the other: Genesis 12:1-2a Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation. Genesis 15:4-5 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 17:6-8 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 18:16-18 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Genesis 22:3-5, 15-18 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you,” … 15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” .