Jonah

I can relate to Jonah.

God tells Jonah he has a job for him. Go to Nineveh and preach to them, tell them of their destruction, all because they have become wicked in their ways. What does Jonah do? Runs the other way.

Jonah tries to hide by sailing on a ship heading far away. You can’t outrun God. Jonah ends up being thrown overboard to calm God and the seas. He ends up in the belly of a fish for three days, praying to God; telling God he will not disobey again; he will do what God asks. The fish spits Jonah out on land and God says, Go to Nineveh. This time Jonah goes.

After listening to Jonah, the people of Nineveh repent (this is a good thing, right?) and God decides to forgive them. He does not bring on their destruction. And what does Jonah do? Is he happy for them? Is he thrilled his God is so loving and merciful? Nope. Jonah pouts. He is mad that God sent him to tell the people of Nineveh they were going to be destroyed only to have God forgive. Why did he have to go then? (Aren’t we that way when things don’t happen as we planned or expected?)

God tries another tactic. He has a plant grow to shade Jonah…and then he sends worms to kill it. Jonah is upset about the poor plant. God asks why Jonah is so upset about a plant he had nothing to do with, but he has no compassion for all the people of Nineveh? Think about it…

Compassion people! Feel some compassion for those you don’t know or understand.