January 25, 2018 Thursday

“This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 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 4:1-11 NLT)

            What sad words from a prophet of God!  Here is Jonah’s complaint against God.

“I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.”

            Jonah actually complains that God is too merciful and loving and is eager to forgive and to not destroy!  WOW!  I wonder if Jonah is as upset when God loves and forgives Jonah also?

            God’s response to the tirade of Jonah is very simple:  does Jonah have the right to be angry and condemn God for His mercy to Nineveh?

            Isn’t it amazing we actually can convince ourselves that we can judge the conduct of the God and Judge of Creation!  What an arrogance to believe we know better or are more correct than God!  Or even that we can know the heart of another to sit in judgment!

            Years ago Ted Bundy received the death penalty for the horrendous crimes he committed.  When in prison he called for a Christian leader to come and through him Bundy professed faith in Jesus.  Ted Bundy then recorded his testimony of what he had done and the impact pornography had upon him from the time he was a child. 

            When Ted Bundy was put to death the news showed the many people outside the prison celebrating his execution.  There were many buses from Christian congregations.  It saddens me to this day.

            God reminds Jonah that in Nineveh were many God had created and cared for.  There were many, though evil, God desired to come to Him!  Years later Jesus Christ would put it so simply yet with such depth as He declared that only those without sin are qualified to cast a stone.  I like all of them must drop my stone and slink away from judgment.  How about you?

            Days are getting worse but God is so good!  Bonnie is such a blessing as she got me some large print books to help me read.  We also ordered a new super giant print Bible with money from selling books and DVDs off.  I call it my recycled Bible.