(continued)
So, what happened after Jonah brought this prophecy to the people? Much to Jonah’s chagrin, the Ninevites listened. They repented. They actually believed Jonah. “Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind ….When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” They hoped God would change his mind. And he did. Just like that.
And then comes my favorite verses in the whole book of Jonah. Jonah says (in 4:1-3), “God! I knew it – when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness! So, God, if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!” Wow! What a mouthful! What a statement! Jonah knew God’s heart after all. Even back in 2:8, Jonah said, “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.” Jonah knew that when one turns away from mercy, that person is starting to worship a false god. Jonah knew what God was like, but resisted becoming like God. He knew God was sheer grace and mercy. Sheer grace and mercy. He knew God was not easily angered. He knew God was rich in love. He knew God was ready at the drop of a hat to turn plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness! I love that. How beautiful is that?!
Think about how quickly God granted mercy to the Ninevites. We are so slow to extend mercy, but God’s not. Too often I’m like Jonah, the one standing back in judgment, wishing those who have done evil will get what’s coming to them….payback time! I refuse to celebrate the fact that God has the same mercy for “those evildoers” as he does for me. It’s very difficult for us to grasp the mercy of God. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” When I’ve read these verses in the past, I’ve thought God was saying he is so far above us, that we better not question what he does no matter what it is. God could appear to do something evil, and we dare not question it. But, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t think that is what God is saying at all. I think he’s talking about mercy. We don’t get his mercy. We don’t think like him. We don’t love like him. His mercy is so far above us, it’s hard for us to reach. It’s hard to comprehend. It’s hard to explain. It’s hard to do. I want to get it, but I don’t.
And then the book of Jonah ends. Abruptly. Just like that. There is not an ending. Only a question, “Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” (4:11) Maybe this is the question God wants to leave us with. Shouldn’t God have mercy? Isn’t this his nature? And isn’t this the point of the story? Let’s think about what God feels sorry for. Let’s think about God’s character and nature. Let’s think about what great thing he may do next. We don’t need all the answers. We just need to think.
(scripture quotes taken from the New Living Translation and The Message)
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