The Prayer of the Ninevites!

Coronavirus is unique in many ways. For one thing, it is a great leveler for disease, and death does not spare anyone. Another thing is it has been a great unifier, a unifier of cultures, countries, and continents! Now the thought in every single mind around the globe is the coronavirus! Sitting at home and meditating on the happenings around was edifying! Experience. In almost all countries, self-quarantine and social distancing have been advised. In every country, the situation seems to be the same. This is God's way of throwing a brick at us to get our attention. Now people have returned to their families, and families have returned to playing real games, spending time together, and even cooking! I believe God has allowed it for a reason.

The Lord sent a warning to the people of Nineveh through Jonah saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me" (Jonah 1:1,2). What is interesting is how the people of Nineveh responded to that warning.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and in the time of its temporal prosperity, Nineveh was a center of crime and wickedness. Nineveh had long been an enemy of Judah and Israel, but no one is beyond the mercy of God. The Bible says in Jonah 3:5 that "the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them." The king proclaimed a fast including man and beast, saying, "Who can tell if God will turn and relent and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?" (Jonah 3:9) The Bible goes on to tell us in verse 10 that, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."

My friend, God is allowing us to intercede for the Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Let us confess our sins and return to the Lord and seek His face so that He will stop the angel of destruction and heal the lands!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 24th March 2020 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 25th March 2020

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