Have you ever felt like you were running ado. from something that you knew God wanted you to do? Maybe it was a responsibility you didn't want to face, or a difficult conversation you chose to avoid. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been there. We've all been there.
The story of Jonah can resonate with us, as we sometimes try to avoid responsibilities and escape from our duties. To recap his story, God commanded Jonah to visit a thriving but wayward city to urge its people to repent. However, Jonah resisted; he preferred to witness their punishment by God rather than their forgiveness.
When God instructed him to turn right, he turned left instead. Consequently, Jonah boarded a ship and set off in the opposite direction. Soon, a massive storm emerged. Jonah ended up overboard and was consumed by a gigantic fish. Our plans are unlikely to succeed if they contradict what God has directed us to do. This is where the story takes an intriguing turn.
Even inside the fish, Jonah was not alone; God was there with him. God offered Jonah a second opportunity to fulfill his duty, this time Jonah heeded the call. The citizens of Nineveh repented and believed. One would think Jonah would be overjoyed, but he wasn't. Instead, he became resentful towards God. It's something many of us might have experienced. For instance, I felt anger towards God when I married, only to soon lose my first husband to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, that is a topic for another time.
Jonah was angry with God, angry because God affirmed His nature. He is a Gracious God, Merciful, Patient when we are disobedient (Ex. 34:6), Forgiving, and Compassionate. Jonah was beside himself and wanted his life to be taken. But God miraculously sheltered Jonah from the scorching sun, and of course, Jonah was entirely grateful (Jonah 4:6).
However, just as soon as it appeared, it disappeared. Jonah became angry. Here’s where I really laughed. God asked him what right did he have to be angry? He did not plant the seed or make the tree grow, so that it gave him the shade. The point here is, Jonah was obviously more concerned about the plant than for the people of Nineveh.
The same compassion that God extended to Jonah, despite his evident lack of moral discernment, God also extended to us when our human reasoning challenges the forgiveness of evil or wrongdoing. How frequently do we misalign our priorities and settle into the transient comforts of God's blessings, when He has called us to go forth and be a blessing ourselves?
The story of Jonah vividly illustrates the profound depths of God's goodness. Despite Jonah's reluctance and limited viewpoint—a perspective we sometimes share—God consistently showed patience, mercy, and compassion. Like the people of Nineveh, God stands ready to forgive and bestow His grace, regardless of how far we've wandered. We simply need to repent.
His divine mercy transcends human anger and prejudices. We ought to be reminded that His love and compassion are boundless and far exceed our limited understanding.