Jonah 3:10–4:2
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 3:10–4:2 (NIV)
“That’s not fair”
It’s a phrase that we all hear and possibly feel often. I know as our summer adventures happen at our house, we hear this phrase often. “It’s not fair that I got in trouble, he did it first!” “ Why didn’t she get in trouble, I did last time!” It’s frustrating when you feel that the consequence is not fair. But as we see in the story about Jonah, God’s love is MUCH bigger than ours. God loves the people we think are "bad" or "mean," and He is always waiting with open arms for them to say, "I'm sorry."
When someone wrongs us, our first reaction might be to react like Jonah and hope they get in trouble. But God invites us to have a big heart just like His—one that is happy when people change for the better. (my kids might need to hear this story a few more times)
Questions for Reflection:
- Is there anyone in your life who is hard to forgive? How can God help you change your heart toward them?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for all that you are and all that you have allowed me to be. Sometimes it's hard when people are mean, and we want to react just like Jonah. Help us to remember how much grace and love you show to us every single day. Give us big hearts so we can show that same love and forgiveness to others. Amen.
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