Jonah was a walking miracle! He’d been the welcome recipient of God’s hand despite his blatantly disobedient life. He’d survived being thrown overboard and swallowed by a fish God created just for him. Followed by praying so intently that God caused that same fish to spit him out on dry ground and make it to a city in one day, which normally took three.
You’d think Jonah would be sitting expectantly to see yet another miracle. But while revival washed over Nineveh, Jonah was embroiled in bitterness and missed the miraculous because of the state of his heart.
He refused to see the common denominator between him and the Ninevites — they both experienced the precious gift of mercy. He could have basked in the sweet aroma of renewal, but instead, he wrung his hands, stomped his feet, and threw himself on a self-made seat of disdain, all because God repented and accepted the city’s sincere spiritual reset.
Drenched in the sweat of finger-pointing at God, Jonah ignored the fact that he was as unworthy of mercy as the Ninevites. He wanted them to die, and that’s where he lived. He received every miracle without resting in the truth that he was wrong also. Miracles flowed his way, and he readily accepted. Yet when the miracle turned toward the Ninevites, he couldn’t see what God saw –repentant hearts turned toward Him.
So, who are we to enjoy the benefits of God’s mercy while arguing against Him for showing mercy to others? He is the God of Mercy for all.
Yes, we know that, and we can easily point at Jonah for not walking that truth out. But I know Jonah, well, because I have been Jonah. Oh, I can see how good He’s been to me when I didn’t deserve it, wasn’t looking for it, and accepted it without blinking. Only to turn around and huff because I saw God hand out mercy to someone who I know didn’t deserve it either. I pull up my mental records, throw the list down, and remind God of their x,y, and z.
Wouldn’t it have been something if Jonah had celebrated the miraculous transformation of an entire city?
That’s where God was directing Jonah to – rejoicing with those who rejoice. Period. Not rejoicing because God vetted the potential recipients against Jonah’s acceptable list. Not rejoicing out of obligation, but because Jonah understood firsthand what it was like to have mercy shower down like rain.
The bottom line is God will show mercy to folks who don’t make the cut on our list. Lord, help me see and appreciate when You offer another soul an opportunity for mercy, as You do for me. Help me live in the light of listening, witnessing, and rejoicing with them!
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:10 KJV)
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (Jonah 4:1-2 KJV)
9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.10 Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:9-11 KJV)
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Romans 12:15 KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)