Family Worship: Jonah- Learning from Jehovah’s Mercy

John

But John, there’s still plenty you can do in the congregation.

Sure, that sounds good.

But I’m no longer a ministerial servant.

Why did I let my zeal for the ministry cool off? I know what the brothers must think of me
now.

Jane

Hello? Oh, good morning.

My name is Jane.

How are you? Not bad, thanks.

I know you may not be interested, but I have this tract I’d like to leave with you . . . “You may
not be interested?” Where did that come from? Not my best presentation, but it didn’t seem
like she wanted to talk more anyway.

Sister at Doctor’s Surgery

Well, what does that mean? It may be manageable, but long term, given your other
conditions, you’re looking at possibly some further tests . . . Manageable? Long term? Oh,
Jehovah, how can I do this by myself?

John

Of course Jehovah values you.

Try to think of someone in the Bible who may have felt like you do, like Jonah.

Jonah? Felt like I do?

“What comes to your mind when you think of Jonah? Do you think of him as a disobedient
prophet?”

“Reluctant to obey Jehovah’s command, Jonah boarded a ship that carried him farther and
farther away from his assignment.”

“Did Jonah’s recent actions “disqualify him from ever again serving God in an official
capacity?” He sure could have thought so. I know I do.

“No, “Jehovah mercifully and lovingly renewed the prophet’s commission.”

So if Jehovah didn’t see Jonah as a total failure, then what must he think of me?

First Samuel 16:7: “For the way man sees is not the way God sees.”

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 Family Worship: Jonah- Learning from Jehovah’s Mercy

Jane

“Jonah did not see Nineveh as Jehovah did.”

Well, with all that they were doing, how could he view them any differently? But the account
says: ‘When God saw they had turned back from their evil ways, ‘he reconsidered the
calamity, and he did not bring it.’

“Despite the people’s badness, Jehovah cared about them. “He values human life “and the
potential that each individual has for repenting and learning to do what is right.”

Well, of course that’s true.

Why didn’t Jonah see that? But am I seeing people the way Jehovah does? Am I assuming
they won’t listen and then not giving my best? How can I know how a person will respond?

‘Jonah learned to be merciful. Will we?’ Matthew 5:7 says: “Happy are the merciful, since
they will be shown mercy.”

Sister at home

“Then Jonah prayed to Jehovah his God “from the belly of the fish, and he said: “‘Out of my
distress I called out to Jehovah, and he answered me. Out of the depths of the Grave I cried
for help. You heard my voice.’ ”

God heard Jonah and delivered him.

But I can’t expect a miracle.

“Then my prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.”

“My prayer.”

“My prayer came in to you.” Jonah didn’t know if Jehovah would rescue him, but he prayed
in faith that Jehovah cared.

“But as for me, with the voice of thanksgiving I will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will
pay. Salvation is from Jehovah.”

As long as I still can, I’ll keep sacrificing to God.

Salvation is from Jehovah!

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