by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, was wicked and violent. They were a mighty and brutal people with a population of nearly a million. The people were known for their cruelty: skinning their captives alive or maiming them or blinding them. They seemed to be especially cruel to the people of God.  As a matter of fact one of their Assyrian kings was so arrogant that he stated: “Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand (2 Chronicles 32:14)?” The Ninevehites worshiped idols such as Ishtar, the goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex, whose cult involved  prostitution. They were so violent and such a threat to Israel that the people were not safe just walking outside their city gates.  Yet when Jonah reluctantly went to Nineveh to preach their fate at the hands of the true and living God, these people not only did not kill the messenger, they listened and believed Jonah.  And their idol worshiping king, declared a fast.  Not only did the people fast, but all their livestock also.  This city who did not know Jonah’s God, fasted and prayed to the true and living God and at the command of their king who hoped; “Who’s to say that God will not change His mind and relent and turn away from His great anger, that we may not perish (Jonah 3:9)” Mercifully, God honored their fast and repentance, and spared Nineveh.

Here we are a nation birthed by the spirit of God.  A nation established on the precepts of the Bible. Now in this 21st century, a nation full of idolatry and immorality.  Here we are a nation suffering barrenness in the field as they kill babies every minute. Our teenagers are dying violently because of lawlessness or substance abuse.  Our land is burning from wild fires and/or from lack of rain. Cities are being wiped out by floods.  Unemployment is climbing and homeless shelters are growing in occupancy.  As government grows, economy declines and poverty rises, just as Nineveh surmised, we need a heavenly intervention!  This is a nation with more believers in the true and living God then not.  Surely if anyone should believe that fasting and prayer is our hope, it would be the people of this great nation. In hope that God will see our sincere repenting hearts, who knows if He will change His mind and relent and turn away from His great anger and not destroy this nation?  Surely He will answer our prayers, have mercy on us and rescue this land, and let there be peace and prosperity again, if we repent and turn from our wicked ways.  This is my prayer. This is my hope!

“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

See my original creative gift ideas:  http://www.zazzle.com/dmartinpub/?pg=1#homeProducts

All Rights Reserved. (2011)