I think we all know the story of Jonah and the whale. How he was to go announce God's judgement on the city of Nineveh and how he tried to get out of it..only to land up in the belly of a whale.
Why did God want to go pronounce judgement on a city? What happened to Him being a God of love? Well, the chapter ends with a verse that explains God's heart towards Nineveh and even it's animals.
But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” (Jonah 4:11)God was not rubbing His hands together in glee, just waiting to distroy Nineveh. He wanted SAVE the people and the animals.
After Jonah went to Nineveh and gave them God's judgement, the people repented and changed their ways.
Did Jonah feel happy about it? Oh no! Oh no!
In fact, he complained to God saying the reason he ran away the first time was because he knows God is kind and compassionate and merciful and slow to anger and that if the people of Nineveh repented God would save this city. He went on to say "Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted (the destruction of the city) will not happen." (Jonah 4:1-3)
Can you imagine that? He'd rather be dead than see God save the people of Nineveh?!
What saddens me is that some Christians also react this way when God saves people they think don't deserve it..people they deem sinners, freaks, evil or whatever they have labelled them. How dare God save them? God is love but surely He can't love those people.
Sobering people. Sobering. Are you judging someone God accepts?
1 comment:
I think this is an incredible analogy. Since I don't read the bible literally, I believe that we can find wonderful lessons in the Hebrew stories and you've found it. Keep them coming Karin, I love them!
Post a Comment