In this episode we continue our sermon series, Summer in the Sand: learning from wilderness journeys in the Bible . For this sermon we will move to the sandy wilderness near the city of Nineveh where the Old Testament prophet Jonah, still recovering from his traumatic fishing story, contemplates his next move. God had called the prophet Jonah to preach a message of repentance to the city of Nineveh, a place filled with people he deeply despised. Jonah resisted, not because he feared failure, but because he feared success—he knew that if the Ninevites repented, God would show them mercy, and that thought was unbearable to him. Yet God's lesson to Jonah was clear: His love and compassion extend to all people, even those we consider enemies. Jonah's story confronts us with a tough question—do we struggle with the same problem? Is it difficult for us to love those who have wronged us, even when God's heart is for their redemption? If God loves our enemies enough to pursue them with grace, shouldn't we at least be willing to do the same? This is a difficult teaching, but one that could radically transform your faith. Take a few minutes and check out Jonah chapter four and see what God wants you to do.
