Jonah 4:2b I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
The prophet Jonah knew the character of God. He was fully aware of His grace and compassion. He wanted the Assyrians (the indomitable enemies of Israel) to be destroyed but was conscious that the Lord relented from sending judgement. Jonah had witnessed His abounding love and enduring patience on the nation of Israel. Hence, he ran away from his commission, to preach the message of repentance, to the brutal Assyrians.
The love of God chose to send one of His esteemed prophets into an enemy nation that looted and rioted the nation of Israel. This dilutes the argument that the God of the Old Testament only favoured the nation of Israel. The Lord God reasoned with Jonah about His abounding love even on the pagan nation that hurt Him and His people. “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11). He even cares about the cats, cattle and camels! The Lord God certainly gives gazillion chances to the disobedient before He permits a plague, pandemonium or pestilence. Only when the wickedness of humanity goes beyond his prolonged patience does the ruckus rock the boat. The half hearted preaching of one prophet saved a nation. God’s love goes far and beyond to stop disaster from belting down humanity.
God’s love turns ends into new beginnings:
1. Violent Storm: When Jonah ran away, God did not strike him with a lightning bolt and look for another prophet. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up (Jonah 1:4). The Lord God disturbed the sea to draw the attention of Jonah. His love never gives up even when we rebel and run away. It is the love of God that disturbs our tranquility.
2. Raging Sea: Stubborn Jonah found his way to the bottom of the ship and fell asleep but the sea was getting rougher and rougher (Jonah 1:11). The rough and raging conditions in our life proves the love and compassion of God. If we pay no attention to His voice, He would rattle the sea and recourse us back to our destiny. It is the unconditional love of God that flusters our serenity.
- Scorching Sun: Insolent Jonah complained about God’s mercy to forgive the people of Nineveh who repented for their virulent and vicious sins. God taught Jonah a lesson by blowing heatwaves on his bald head. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint (Jonah 4:8). The scorching heat is not to burn us down but to smolder the pride, insolence and discontent. It is God’s unconditional love that permits heatwaves that drives us into His shelter.
Help me to see the rocking, raging and rough trials though your compassionate eyes.
Psalm 86:15b Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.
Prayer: Father of Compassion, help me to see that everything that happens in my life is to position me to walk in your will and into my divine calling. Amen.
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