When God saw… how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them. – Jonah 3:10
Here we have a wonderful window into the heart of God. He relented and had compassion on the Ninevites… and that made Jonah angry! Jonah said, “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful…” (Jon. 4:2). But Jonah was not a gracious and merciful prophet.
God was concerned about the city. He said, “There are 120,000 people in Nineveh, and these people matter to Me!” But Jonah was concerned about the vine. The Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow” (4:10). The contrast is striking. Jonah was concerned about the vine. God was concerned about the city.
We are all concerned about the vine—our jobs, homes, investments, and health. We are concerned about the things that bring us comfort and joy. But do we share God’s concern for our cities? It is easy to be deeply concerned about the vine and yet unmoved by the plight of millions who face eternity without Christ.
Ask God to give you are heart for the cities and for those who do not yet know Jesus Christ.
