The Whale and the Cucumber Plant

Day 1

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

- Jonah 1:2

God powerfully spoke to Jonah and gave him one clear purpose – to preach against the city of Nineveh.

Nineveh was a city of great importance during Jonah’s time. It was the capital of the country of Assyria, the northern portion of Mesopotamia, and was known to be an inhospitable place. Its unique location on the banks of the Tigris river made it the perfect place for all commercial activities in the region. It linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean – the East with the West – ensuring that visitors and goods from all over the known world would flock to it. What little remains are left of this once great city is today settled in the country of Iraq.

Due to its commercial activity, God knew that one man could have an outsized influence in this trade metropolis that attracted people from all over the known world. He addresses the city as “great” Himself in His message to Jonah. Based on the principle of free will, God allows us as individuals, cities and nations to make our decisions whether it is for good or bad. However, God could not stand the wickedness of this city any longer. Something had to give. But God in His unimaginable grace decided to give Nineveh one more chance – and Jonah was the instrument He decided to use to convey this urgent message.

Are you ready to be used by God?

Going overboard for Christ

Consider how God sees you. Do you believe that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”?

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

- Ezekiel 22:30