When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them! 15This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”

But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom. 

 O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”10When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,4:11 Hebrew people who don’t know their right hand from their left. not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from compromise, give me a heart that longs to listen to you. Discipline me as you must to keep me under your authority and my heart humble. Keep my focus on your plan alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen