But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 NIV
Jonah has an interesting story. He was told to go to Nineveh and preach against the city because of its wickedness. But Jonah did not want to do this and so he fled in another direction. While on a ship fleeing from the task set before him, Jonah told the sailors that he was running from the Lord. When a great storm came, and the sailors were afraid, they woke Jonah from his sleep. The sailors cast lots to see who the cause of the calamity was, and they determined it was Jonah.
They began to question him about what they should do, and Jonah suggested that they throw him into the sea and the sea would be calmed. Jonah felt the guilt of running from the Lord’s command. At first, the men did not cast Jonah into the sea. Instead, they tried to row back to the shore. But the condition only got worse until eventually they threw him overboard and the sea calmed.
We all know what happened next. Jonah was three days in the belly of a great fish and ultimately was expelled onto the shore. He was again commanded to go to Nineveh to preach and compel the inhabitants to repent and he went. Jonah preached and the town repented sparing them from God’s wrath.
God Wants to Forgive Everyone
Normally, a preacher would not be upset but Jonah was angry that God had forgiven the people of Nineveh. Although he had cried out for mercy when lost at sea, he wanted God to punish the wicked people of Nineveh. I wonder how many of us seek the grace and mercy of God but would deny it to other people?
God wants to save everyone. This was difficult for Jonah to accept. Is it right to disobey God in any way? Is it right to be unforgiving? Was it right for Jonah to be angry? To be like God, we must be willing to forgive others just as the Lord forgives us.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the gift of your word. Thank you for the grace of your forgiveness. Help me to love others as I love myself. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Faithful to God
