READ: Jonah, Chapter 4
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, 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?”
DEVOTIONAL:
If you preached a great message and everyone repented, how would you feel? Probably pretty excited. Not Jonah. Ironically, Jonah felt angry that his audience repented because he would rather see them destroyed. Even though Jonah learned to obey God, he didn’t yet share the heart of God for the restoration and blessing of all people—even the people we consider enemies.
It’s easy to accept God’s grace and forgiveness for ourselves, but sometimes hard to extend it to those we don’t think deserve it. Jonah’s response reveals the murky part of our humanity—the part that wants people to “get what’s coming to them.” Jesus reveals a better way. He calls us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and forgive those who offend us. It doesn’t come naturally, but the way of Jesus invites us to a better way. It’s a way that frees our soul, grows our compassion, and makes us more like Him.
PRAYER:
God, thank you for your grace and forgiveness in my life. Help me to forgive like you forgive and to extend grace and compassion like you do. Make me more like you. Amen.