I think I have found a kindred spirit in Jonah, but I am not proud of it. The biblical account of Jonah tells about God reaching out to save a very sinful nation. The man he chooses to send is unwilling to go. He hates these people, even though God cares for them.
Jonah was called by God to preach to the people of Ninevah. Ninevah was the capital of Assyria and Assyrians were known for their vindictiveness and cruelty. They were the inventors of crucifixtion (Rome adopted the practice later). They were enemies of the Jews and thereby Jonah. Jonah did NOT want to preach to them or warn them of danger, so he did not obey God.
It was not that he was afraid of the Ninevites. It was because he knew God to be gracious and forgiving and if the Ninevites repented, he feared God would forgive them. He did NOT want that! So he ran in the opposite direction, on a ship, was famously thrown overboard and was swallowed by a BIG FISH. God can get your attention!. He finally relented in the belly of the fish, was upchucked onto dry land, and reluctantly went to Ninevah.
Sure enough! They repented…..and Jonah was MAD!
I definitely see myself in Jonah. I have found a lack of forgiveness and even animosity in my own heart toward other Christians who, in my opinion, act ungodly…especially if it is directed at me. And God has been speaking to me about this. Lately, he has used the story of Jonah. I realize my problem in forgiving them is that I think they are getting off too easy. They belong to God and God will forgive them …. and it just seems unfair!
But it is terrible for me to be glad I don’t have to pay for my sins, and yet want someone else to have to pay for theirs! I owe my life to Jesus Christ who paid my debt with His own blood on the cross. I will be eternally grateful that He found a way to pay the price for me. Why am I not just as grateful that my fellow Christians are also not under condemnation for their mistakes? Why do I want them to have to pay….or at least say I’m sorry?? I think it is because I tend to think that my debt was small and theirs is larger. I think I think wrongly!
God is teaching me that my debt is not small, it is HUGE! But Christ paid it anyway. Instead of being grateful for what He has done for me, and wanting others to experience the same wonderful forgiveness, I am using a different standard to judge others. Hypocritical me.
After the Ninevites repented and Jonah realized they were not going to be destroyed, he chose to go out east of the city and pout!
It might not be comfortable to realize the depth of sin in my own heart, but it is needed. It puts God’s gracious sacrifice on my behalf in a clearer light. It makes it much harder to turn around and say He should not do that for someone else. I need to be glad he does that for His children. So the uncomfortable, in the end, brings comfort.
God is not mocked…..but He does go after sinners…..to redeem them. I need to let God handle others, as He has handled me. He came to save ANY sinner who will have Him as Lord. So I aim to give up my desire to be Lord over someone else….trying to leave all my personal Ninevites in His hands.
