Tuesday 11 September 2012

Jonah 4



 "But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”"
Jonah 4:4 (NIV1984)

The book of Jonah leaves us hanging. Did Jonah repent of his unforgiving, callous attitude towards these people whom God had compassion on? We don’t know! 
I can understand Jonah’s anger. The Assyrian people did terrible things to the Jewish people. Historians and rock carvings tell us that the Assyrians took torture of captives to a terrible level. No doubt Jonah’s hatred of the people of Nineveh was based on some of these atrocities. 

If you think that I am being harsh by using the word hatred, read through the book again; I think the word aptly describes his actions and attitude. Instead of marveling at the power of the good news of repentance in these pagan’s lives, Jonah preferred death to seeing these people spared. Instead of rejoicing that God is a compassionate God who loves all people, Jonah became angry. 

Friend, what a sad state this man of God was in! He was trapped inside a bad attitude! This question is one we should ask ourselves, when we find ourselves begrudging God’s mercy on certain individuals. The answer is, 'I have no right to be angry, I have been forgiven myself, and am but a fellow sinner saved by the grace of an all-loving God!' 

Friend, the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, was in the same trap as Jonah. Beware! 

May we, this day, accept this trustworthy statement of Paul, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)

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