This displeased Jonah terribly and he became very angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, “Oh, LORD, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.”
Into the Text
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah disobeyed. God subjected Jonah to difficult circumstances to get his attention. After coming to the end of himself in the belly of the fish, Jonah turned to the Lord. God graciously told Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh, and he obeyed.
Jonah proclaimed the Lord’s message to the people of Nineveh. As a result, the Ninevites regretted their sin and repented. His obedience to warn the Ninevites brought about a great revival, and God relented from destroying them.
This should have been wonderful news to Jonah. Instead, Jonah became very angry. Why? The Ninevites were a wicked people. They had mistreated the people of Israel for a very long time, and Jonah’s heart had grown bitter and full of hatred.
Jonah knew God’s gracious and compassionate character. Jonah threw a fit and then expected God to change His mind and destroy Nineveh after all.
Can you imagine thinking that God should bring destruction when He wants to bring mercy? Do you wish ill or harm on someone because of anger or bitterness? We can so easily judge the actions of others while missing the glaring sin in our own hearts.
Even though Jonah eventually obeyed God, his heart was far from doing God’s will. He obeyed because he thought he could change God’s mind not because he trusted the will of God. Though he obeyed remorsefully, God wants us to obey wholeheartedly.
Prayer
Lord God, reveal any hypocrisy in my heart. Help me to obey because I want to do your will. Thank you that you are a gracious and merciful God. Amen.