When you hear the name Jonah, what comes to mind? Probably a big fish. That’s pretty much all I could pull up about the story of Jonah until I set my mind to further study. Now if you’re a biblical scholar, you probably should be reading someone else’s blog. But if you’re like me, you don’t lack intellectual promise but are far from realizing your potential in understanding the Holy Scriptures. No big deal, you say? Take another look at the state of the union and then try to convince me. The time has never been more crucial for Christians to absorb and apply God’s Word.
So what do I think of now, after further study, when I think of Jonah? I think of a man unworthy to be used by God, a gifted man who was born among the chosen people of God and proud of it. He lacked compassion and mercy for those who were not like him, and did not hesitate to tell God how he felt. He ran from God, whined to God, argued with God and avoided His calling.
What did God do about it? He chastised him, rescued him, used him and continued to teach him. What a loving God! Jonah knew how loving and kind God was, and ironically that’s exactly why he ran from serving Him. Jonah selfishly hated the idea of God showing mercy to an undeserving nation, and even more so, for God to use him in the process.
Conservative Christians, may we ask God to reveal in our own hearts such selfishness! Is it possible that we don’t like the idea of God showing mercy to the undeserving and especially in asking us to be personally involved? After all, their ways are wicked! They have fostered relationships with evildoers! They have chosen death over life and foster fear over hope!
Who are we to have been chosen by God to be a part of his royal family for eternity, but not put on His love, compassion, kindness and mercy, even for those we deem unworthy? And who are we to declare the unworthiness of anyone?
We have a lot of negative to say about our nation and leaders right now. Perhaps rightfully so. But our godly judgment of the circumstances must not create such pride and self-centeredness that we would fail to desire God’s mercy for all people, and fail to be available for Him to use us in the process. If we become so self-seeking as to abhor the idea of God showering His compassion on our own fellow citizens, even refusing God’s directions for our individual involvement, we just show how undeserving of His favor we ourselves are.
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