Read Jonah 4:1-11
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.’”—Jonah 4:1-2
Nineveh was capital of the emerging Assyrian Empire, a growing threat to Israel. When God called Jonah to warn the Ninevites of His judgment for their evil, Jonah sailed in the opposite direction. God caused the ship in which Jonah sailed to face a fierce storm. Jonah was thrown overboard where he was swallowed by a great fish, in whose belly Jonah remained for three days and nights. After Jonah repented of his disobedience, the great fish vomited him out on land, where Jonah traveled to Nineveh and preached to the people.
The Ninevites embraced Jonah’s preaching, declared a fast, and repented of their evil. In turn, God spared the city, over 120,000 people!
Yet, in his personal judgment, Jonah had determined the Ninevites were unworthy of being spared. So instead of celebrating one of the greatest revivals in history, Jonah chose to be angry at God for showing mercy on Nineveh, even to the point of wanting to die (v3). Jonah’s words say, “I knew it! This is exactly why I didn’t want to do this! I knew you were going to be gracious, merciful and forgiving to these people!” What a sad commentary that Jonah would be angry at God for showing compassion on the very people most in need of love and forgiveness.
Is there anyone we despise so deeply we’ve judged them as unworthy of God’s grace, mercy and love? Do we, like Jonah, feel God’s compassion should be reserved for us and those like us? Are we resentful when God showers His lovingkindness on those we’ve determined are unworthy of His mercy and love?
It isn’t our task to cast judgment on others, only to show God’s love to them. For where would we be if God had excluded us from His arc of compassion?
Lesson to Remember: God never called us to judge others, only love them and share His love with them.
“…I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.—Romans 9:15
