落跑又睹氣的先知 The Prophet Who Ran and Raged

Cathy Chen, 9/15/2025

約拿（約拿書1-4章）

《約拿書》是一卷動人而深刻的舊約書卷，篇幅雖短，故事卻非常觸動人心。約拿被大魚吞噬的經歷，常在主日學中贏得孩子們的喜愛。然而，這卷書不僅是故事，更是神對我們的呼喚，邀請我們在掙扎中仰望祂的憐憫，學習順服祂的旨意。

先知的狹隘與悖逆

當神呼召約拿前往尼尼微傳講審判，他卻選擇逃往他施，試圖「躲避耶和華」（約拿1:3），彷彿他真能用自己的方式躲避神。他在約帕登船背道而行，卻在狂風巨浪中被人拋進海裡，再被吞進神所安排的大魚腹中（拿1:17）。在黑暗的三天三夜裡，約拿終於降服了，他向神祈禱、感恩，承認救恩出於耶和華（拿2:1-9）。這一幕提醒我們：即使在悖逆的幽谷中，神仍用慈繩愛索，一步步將我們從岔路領回正軌。

然而，約拿的故事並未在他悔改的禱告中畫下句點。當他前往尼尼微，宣告「再過四十天，尼尼微要傾覆了！」（拿3:4），想不到全城從王到百姓竟然都謙卑悔改，披上麻衣，神也因此改變心意，赦免他們（拿3:10）。約拿不但没有因為事工的果效而歡喜快樂，反而因為神赦免了尼尼微而發怒，甚至埋怨神：「我死了比活著更好！」（拿4:3）。他明知神「有恩惠，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛」（拿4:2），仍為尼尼微蒙恩得救而心懷不平。他的掙扎如此真實，揭示出約拿就像任何選民一樣，會被自己的偏見與情緒所蒙蔽絆倒。

神的憐憫跨越彊界

約拿的軟弱讓我們看見，一個人就算蒙神撿選，並非就自動成為信心勇士，約拿對神有不少認識，但認識得不夠深刻所以無法順服。他需要繼續在屬靈上長進，接受神的教導。令我動容的是，面對他的悖逆與怒氣，神並未斥責或審判他，而是輕聲問道：「你這樣發怒，對嗎？」（拿4:4）。當約拿因一棵蓖麻枯萎再次動怒，神再問一次：「你因這棵蓖麻這樣發怒，對嗎？」（拿4:9）。這份耐心與包容，與耶穌在福音書中與罪人溫柔的互動何其相似！約拿專注在自己糾結的情緒，無法體會神對尼尼微城裡眾多生命的憐惜：「這尼尼微大城，其中不能分辨左右手的就有十二萬多人，還有許多牲畜，我豈能不愛惜呢？」（拿4:11）。

基督徒的身份

回想我們自己，在一件事上需要被提醒多少次，才能正視到神的救恩也向其他人敞開？又想起我們正是為此蒙召與祂同工？約拿的故事像一面鏡子，映照出我們對於順服神的軟弱與掙扎，同時也提醒我們，神的恩典總能引領我們持續長進。

在今日分裂的世代，這份呼召尤其珍貴。上週三（9/10/2025），查理·柯克（Charlie Kirk）在猶他谷大學的活動中不幸被槍殺，這悲劇震動人心，也點燃了激烈的爭論。 有人為他哀悼，有人卻以冷言相對，社會的裂痕愈發明顯。在約拿書的光照下，我們看見基督徒的角色不是加入謾罵，散播仇恨，而是效法神的慈悲與安慰（林後1:3），成為和平的使者（太5:9）。願我們為柯克的遺孀與孩子祈禱，求神撫慰他們的傷痛；帶領他們前面的需要。也為我們的社會禱告，求神撫平分歧，使用我們傳揚福音真理，用生命見證神的榮耀。

禱告

親愛的天父，祢的話語如晨光，溫柔地照亮我悖逆的心。感謝祢透過《約拿書》提醒我，祢的憐憫從未離棄，即使我試圖從祢的呼召逃跑，又在偏見與情緒中迷失。謝謝祢赦免了我那以自我中心的判斷，求祢賞賜我從祢來的眼光，能夠看見每一個靈魂在祢心中的寶貴。面對柯克的悲劇，我心疼他的家人，求祢以慈愛環繞他們，成為他們的安慰與力量。祢不願一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改（彼後3:9），願我以基督耶穌的心為心，為這片土地祈求和平。求祢引導我們成為祢的使者，守住自己的身份，不加入分裂和謾罵，不讓世界的喧囂淹沒祢的心意。奉主耶穌基督的聖名禱告，阿們！

Devotion on Jonah Ch.1–4

By Cathy Chen, 9/15/2025

The Prophet Who Ran and Raged

The Book of Jonah is a short yet deeply moving story. Children often enjoy hearing about Jonah being swallowed by the great fish, but the message goes far beyond a dramatic tale. It is God’s call to us—to look to His mercy in the midst of our struggles and to learn obedience to His will.

The Prophet’s Narrowness and Rebellion

When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim judgment, he chose instead to flee to Tarshish, trying to “escape from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3)—as if that were even possible. He boarded a ship in Joppa, but soon found himself thrown into the sea during a storm and swallowed by the great fish God had prepared (Jonah 1:17). In the darkness of three days and nights, Jonah finally surrendered. He prayed with thanksgiving and confessed, “Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). This reminds us that even when we wander in rebellion, God lovingly draws us back onto His path.

Yet Jonah’s journey didn’t end with repentance. When he finally went to Nineveh and preached, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” (Jonah 3:4), the people—from the king down—humbled themselves, repented, and God relented (Jonah 3:10). Instead of rejoicing over such incredible fruit, Jonah grew angry. He even complained, “It would be better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3). Though he knew God was “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Jonah 4:2), Jonah resented God’s mercy on Nineveh. His honest struggle reveals how even God’s chosen servants can be blinded by their own prejudice and emotion.

God’s Mercy Without Boundaries

Jonah’s weakness shows us that being chosen by God does not automatically make one a hero of faith. Jonah knew about God, but not deeply enough to fully obey Him. He still needed spiritual growth and God’s patient teaching. What moves me most is that God did not rebuke Jonah harshly but gently asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4). When Jonah became upset again about the withered plant, God repeated the question (Jonah 4:9). This patient, gentle dialogue reminds me of Jesus’ tender way of engaging with sinners in the Gospels. Jonah was caught up in his emotions, unable to see God’s compassion for the many lives in Nineveh: “Should I not be concerned about that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11).

Our Christian Identity

How often do we need to be reminded that God’s salvation is open to others too—and that He calls us to join Him in sharing it? Jonah’s story is like a mirror, exposing our own struggles to obey God, while also reminding us that His grace continually draws us to grow.

This call is especially urgent in our divided world. Just last Wednesday (9/10/2025), Charlie Kirk was tragically shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University. The news shocked many and sparked heated debate. Some mourned; others responded with hostility. The fractures in our society only deepened. In the light of Jonah, we see that Christians are not called to join the chorus of insults or spread hatred, but to reflect God’s compassion and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), and to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). May we pray for Kirk’s widow and children—that God would comfort them and provide for all their needs. And may we also pray for our society—that God would heal divisions and use us to proclaim His truth and bear witness to His glory.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, Your word is like the morning light, gently shining into my rebellious heart. Thank You for showing me through Jonah that Your mercy never leaves me, even when I try to run from Your call or lose myself in prejudice and emotion. Thank You for forgiving my self-centered judgments. Give me Your eyes to see the value of every soul. As I grieve for Kirk’s tragedy, I lift up his family—surround them with Your love and be their comfort and strength. You do not want anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). May I share the heart of Christ, praying for peace in this land. Lead us to be Your messengers, faithful to our identity in You, refusing to join division or slander, and not letting the world’s noise drown out Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.